Frolik bumped to Flames’ top line
It’s been like clockwork, at least since the middle of the 2014- 15 National Hockey League season.
The Calgary Flames’ top line has remained unchanged: Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler. Hudler and the Kids. Forever and always.
At least that’s what the hockey world thought until Monday morning at WinSport arenas.
“We’re going to split them up for a while,” Bob Hartley said . “After many years of marriage, sometimes a weekend off is good.”
The weekend, for the three amigos, starts Tuesday versus Washington Capitals when they’ll be split up for who knows how long.
Hudler’s spot appears it will be filled by Michael Frolik, who, like Hudler, is a left- handed Czech who plays the right wing.
“( The top line), they were amazing last year, but every year is a little diff erent,” said Frolik, one of Calgary’s heavily advertised off - season pickups. “We need to mix it up a little bit. I’m not sure how long it’ll stay, maybe just a period. But we need to get some guys going.
“We need everybody and hopefully we get the win ( Tuesday).”
The success of Gaudreau, Monahan, and Hudler in 2014- 15 has been well- publicized. All three had career years last season, Hudler with 31 goals and 45 assists in 78 games, Gaudreau with 24 goals and 40 assists in 80 appearances, and Monahan with 31 goals and 31 assists in 81. A fter helping the team to the second round of playoff s , Gaudreau was runner- up for the Calder Trophy while Hudler claimed the Lady Byng.
Since the Flames top line was formed on Feb. 2, they’ve only been apart twice — on March 3 when Mason Raymond was plugged in for Johnny Gaudreau against the Philadelphia Flyers and March 5 when Josh Jooris took Hudler’s spot against the Boston Bruins .
This season, their production hasn’t been terrible.
Gaudreau scored the overtime game- winner in their lone victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 10 and Hudler has two goals and two assists. Monahan has had a relatively slow start with a goal and an assist in fi ve games.
While Frolik moves up, Hudler will team up with Sam Bennett ( if he’s healthy enough for Tuesday’s game against the Capitals) and Mikael Backlund at centre.
Frolik, who has been on three other NHL teams in his career, understands the concept thoroughly.
“When things aren’t going well, you try to mix up the lines a little bit and get some other guys going,” said the 27- year- old who has three assists with the Flames this year. Frolik is adaptable and used to bouncing around diff erent lines. But chemistry always plays a role.
When he was with the Winnipeg Jets, Paul Maurice used him everywhere but his most success came with Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little. With the Chicago Blackhawks, most of his chemistry came with Dave Bolland and Marcus Kruger. The three were on the ice for the fi nal goal of the 2013 Stanley Cup fi nal against the Boston Bruins.
“It’s always changing,” Frolik said. “But wherever the coach puts me, I want to do my job and make sure we’re on the same page.”
And with Monahan and Gaudreau specifically, that page also includes their two- way game.
“They’re very skilled guys, but we have to make sure we play good defence, that’s where it starts ... we just have to fi nd the chemistry now and hopefully we fi nd it pretty soon and hopefully we win ( Tuesday’s) game.
“It hasn’t been very good so far, but it’s just the fi rst fi ve games. We just need to take a deep breath and relax a little bit.”