The light at the end of the tunnel is further off than 2016. I think it's probably another two years off as we are just organizationally bereft of anyone on right wing. Our depth is so bad we are going to be forced to convert guys to that position. I think we have enough depth at the other forward positions we should be able to make that happen. Here's how I could see a lineup being cobbled together.
Baertschi, [First Rounder 2013], Backlund
Gaudreau, Jankowski, Granlund
Agostino, Reinhart, Horak
Ferland, Arnold, Hanowski
Wildcards: Glencross, Deblouw
Brodie, Giordano
Cundari, Wotherspoon
Sieloff, Ramage
Wideman, Breen
Wildcards: Culkin, Kulak
Ramo/Berra
Brossoit
Wildcard: Gillies
This is based on nothing but depth chart projection. I see a few wild card players that could either push themselves into the mix or still be hanging around for veteran presence.
Some random comments. I think we see a veteran presence existing on the blue line for a while. Giordano will likely be the next captain and will carry the torch until the next star steps forward. Bouma will be long gone and his spot taken by someone else. A year out of hockey really hurts players and their development. Tough luck for Bouma but I think his opportunity window is closed. Player movement is a great unknown so trades or waiver wire pickups will have an impact. This year's draft picks will have a major impact. The only thing that concerns me about this lineup is the lack of true top end talent. Realistically you want to see the top line on this play as your second line, but we're not the Oilers and we don't have 10 early first round picks to make up our top six. I see a really competitive team, a team similar to that late 80's Flames team, but not one that knocks your socks off with top end talent. Maybe after they make some noise people will make comments that elevates some of these players, but these are Flames we're talking about. They will be crap until they prove otherwise.
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