The Flames have not had a true number one center since Nieuwendyk was traded away. If this club does not take this opportunity to grab two players in the first round with potential to be top line centers they are doomed to be a bottom feeder for a period of time that will make the Oilers struggles look like a walk in the park. Anything short of that is a failure. The two guys I expect the Flames to come away with are Nate McKinnon and Frederick Gauthier. If they don't grab both of these guys they are missing an opportunity of a life time! Can you imagine our center depth with McKinnon, Jankowski, Gauthier, Arnold and Reinhart? That is crazy!
I would be exceptionally happy if the Flames were set at center with that depth. They would have some flexibility to move some guys around to the wing and shore up then have some pretty decent depth all around.
Baertschi-McKinnon-Backlund
Gaudreau-Jankowski-Granlund
Agnostini-Gauthier-Hanowski
Ferland-Reinhart-Arnold
That whole line up can skate with the best of them, has great skill and size on every line. The center depth makes that work. I think this is the most important draft for the Flames since 1984. They need to hit it out of the park and these two centers set them up to do so.
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