Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
You have to be pretty clueless to not realize that what the Flames have done in the last few years is the worst thing you can do - miss the playoffs...but barely.
But it is moreso based around the quality of player available at the high end of this year's draft, and the need for this organization to need a new centerpiece to move on from the Iginla/Kipper era.
That centerpiece will be available at the top of this year's draft.
All of a sudden you start to look ahead a few years and the future isn't as dim, as you start to drop in key pieces.
XX-Mackinnon-Sven
Gaudreau-Jankowski-XX
Arnold-Reinhart-XX
Bouma-Horak-XX
XX-Brodie
Sieloff-Wotherspoon (shutdown pair)
XX-XX
Ramo
Gillies/Broissot
I think pieces start to fall into place as long as some kids continue to develop.
I think the Flames can address one long-term need in this year's draft - either the elite centerman or #1 dman (Jones). They then need to find the other piece in next year's draft.
|
Eric Duhatschek on 960 this afternoon said that he believes there will be only a small handfull of teams out of it by the deadline due to the abbreviated schedule and that there may me much more buyers than sellers. Said if the Flames lose another few games and win maybe 2 of the first 10 and plod along after that they could capitalize on a big sellers market if they choose. Would be a great draft to pick up multiple picks in the first two rounds and end up with a good quantity of quality young players. Just the type of springboard this franchise could use to accelerate the rebuilding.