Calgary Flames center Connor Zary could return after the break and that offers the team a lot of options for line combinations
Calgary Flames center Connor Zary could return after the break and that offers the team a lot of options for line combinations
When Connor Zary returns to the Calgary Flames lineup, things are going to look a lot different than when he left.
The sophomore Flames center was knocked out of action back in early January, the victim of a knee-on-knee collision that looked initially like it could have been season-ending.
But the 23-year-old got (relatively) good news and avoided surgery, and he resumed skating before the current 4-Nations Face-off break. While he was recovering, the Flames made some fairly large shakeups to the front end, bringing in another center, Morgan Frost, and winger Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers.
It cost Flames GM Craig Conroy a couple of popular locker-room players in Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier — with Pelletier flanking Zary on the right side at the time of Zary's injury.
With Zary sidelined, the Flames lines have been in flux. Before the break, they looked like this:
Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich - Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Dryden Hunt
Ryan Lomberg - Kevin Rooney - Martin Pospisil
Adam Klapka and Hunt have been sent back to the AHL Calgary Wranglers during the break, leaving an open door to them or other prospects coming up.
Although the Flames are still looking for a right-handed center, they do have an increasing number of options at the position after the addition of Frost. When Zary returns, they'll have Kadri, Backlund, Frost and Rooney as natural centers and Pospisil, Sharangovich and Zary as additional players who have suited up down the middle this season.
When Zary returns, It will be interesting to see where he lands. You can rule out the fourth line. Aside from that, anything is possible.
We're going to assume Zary lands back on the wing with the knowledge he can move to the middle at any time given his experience prior to being hurt.
Option 1:
Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato
Connor Zary- Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Yegor Sharangovich
Ryan Lomberg - Martin Pospisil - Adam Klapka
Kevin Rooney
The Calgary Flames are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league this season. But they like to balance scoring with responsibility, and this lineup of forwards seems to offer that. Zary could give newcomers Frost and Farabee the spark they need and might get first crack at filling out the Philly line. Coronato was promoted to the top scoring line before the break and brings another layer to it, and Sharangovich continues to seek a spark and playing with stalwarts like Coleman and Backlund tends to benefit players struggling to find their best.
An ideal lineup has Rooney serving as the 13th man, and Klapka would fit in perfectly with fellow bangers Pospisil and Lomberg on the fourth line.
Option 2:
Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich- Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee
Connor Zary - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman
Ryan Lomberg - Martin Pospisil - Adam Klapka
Kevin Rooney
A slightly less intrusive version keeps Coronato at the top and puts Sharangovich on the wing with the new guys and Zary with the stabiliizng forces to help him adjust to game speed again.
Option 3:
Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Connor Zary
Matt Coronato - Morgan Frost - Joel Farabee
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Yegor Sharangovich
Ryan Lomberg - Martin Pospisil - Adam Klapka
Kevin Rooney
This approach mixes things up on the first three lines with Zary instantly joining the top offensive line to help spark some scoring. Matt Coronato has formed a solid relationship driving the newcomers around and that chemistry may show on the ice, too. And Sharangovich could use some time with the veterans and take some.chances to rediscover his mojo.
