TSN: Flames covet top 9 forward as trade deadline nears
Not really a lot of info and no names mentioned but FWIW:
According to LeBrun on TSN the Flames are looking for a top 9 forward heading into the trade deadline. The Flames want "a little more jam for their offence."
According to Lebrun, not much on the market right now, but they are looking into it.
Meh...I think the Flames top 9 is fine, they just need guys like Gaudreau, Bennett, and Brouwer to play better. And let's face it, if Gaudreau isn't performing, the team is going nowhere. So adding another forward becomes a waste of time. With the emergence of Tkachuk and the insane chemistry his line with Backlund and Frolik is having, our forward depth is actually pretty solid. It's the top end I'm worried about.
I actually like the Flames forward depth right now and would prefer to target a d-man. Specifically a hard hitting stay at home #4 type.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to blankall For This Useful Post:
Meh...I think the Flames top 9 is fine, they just need guys like Gaudreau, Bennett, and Brouwer to play better. And let's face it, if Gaudreau isn't performing, the team is going nowhere. So adding another forward becomes a waste of time. With the emergence of Tkachuk and the insane chemistry his line with Backlund and Frolik is having, our forward depth is actually pretty solid. It's the top end I'm worried about.
I actually like the Flames forward depth right now and would prefer to target a d-man. Specifically a hard hitting stay at home #4 type.
If Alex Chiasson is the best winger you can find for Gaudreau then your top-9 has some issues. I'd say their top-9 is decent but definitely could use some upgrades. They need a RW badly. No use in targeting a #4 d-man until after the expansion draft. I think we're stuck with what we have for the season.
The Following User Says Thank You to N-E-B For This Useful Post:
I think the Flames are looking for a long-term solution, not necessarily a deadline acquisition.
Versteeg is a prominent member of this team's offense for crying out loud, the need is real.
Wouldn't surprise me if Eberle found his way onto this roster but I think there is a deal out there for a player like one of the Hayes bros or someone of that pedigree.
The need is there (although I think it's a Top 3 need, not a Top 9), I just hope it's one that makes sense for the next few years, as opposed to just the next few months. This is not a team that should be playing the rental market... at least not as a buyer.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Table 5 For This Useful Post:
The top 9 is the biggest weakness they have right now. The defense can be addressed in the off season. Will it be great when we don't have to pay Wideman and Engelland as much as Stamkos? Absolutely. Is the defense really costing us games? I don't think so.
Lack of scoring depth is killing them. They aren't playing Chiasson where they are because Alex Chiasson is the best person to occupy the right side of Johnny Gaudreau.
I think Gulutzan has the right idea with the way he's setting up his lines. He needs one more guy to make it work. In the event they can't afford to pay the acquisition cost, then we need to start auditioning guys from the minors. Guys we've never seen. I need to see Klimchuk in that spot. Poirier. Eat Bread.
If we don't have anyone on the farm that can come up right now and be better than Alex Chiasson, then we have been vastly overrating our own farm system.
Versteeg is a prominent member of this team's offense for crying out loud, the need is real.
Why is that an issue?
The guy is a 0.57 PPG player for his career - that is pretty good.
The fact that he bounces around a lot has more to do with his previous contract and his injury history - he always seems to produce no matter where he plays.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SuperMatt18 For This Useful Post:
The guy is a 0.57 PPG player for his career - that is pretty good.
The fact that he bounces around a lot has more to do with his previous contract and his injury history - he always seems to produce no matter where he plays.
Just because he's not the answer. He's having a bit of a resurgent season (fyi, I freakin' love watching him) but he's not a legitimate solution to Calgary's top 6 scoring problems beyond this season, and even with him, the Flames are having trouble scoring goals 5-5, so they probably need to add an offensive top 6 forward in ADDITION to having Versteeg in the lineup.
With Bennett likely getting a bridge deal, I see Versteeg absolutely coming back next year. He's a perfect middle-six player.
As for a top six forward, how about Leo Komarov?
__________________
"This has been TheScorpion's shtick for years. All these hot takes, clickbait nonsense just to feed his social media algorithms." –Tuco
TSN: Flames covet top 9 forward as trade deadline nears
