I don't think he ends up being a #1 or #2 guy, but could be a very good #3 going forward and that is a key guy to have if you're ever hoping to be successful.
The Flames are missing that #1 guy, and that is an issue for a couple of reasons. First, because they hardly ever come available - teams tend to pay out the nose to ensure they never hit UFA, and you saw that even an offer sheet designed to financially cripple the Preds couldn't get Weber out of Nashville. You can't draft them reliably, either - the real, legit #1's don't seem to come out of the top 5 of the draft because defensemen simply don't mature early enough to be recognized at that age (see Johnson, Erik). I think you can basically guarantee that Mackinnon will be a first line player, but you cannot guarantee in any way that Seth Jones will be a first pairing defenseman. So that, for me, is the main challenge going forward - finding that guy.
Subban could be that guy if he goes UFA from the Habs, but I would be shocked if he isn't paid whatever he wants to come back.
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