Quote:
Originally Posted by Caged Great
Of course not every team has a Johnny Gaudreau. However, most teams have several prospects that could be top 2 line players but have some flaws that might prevent them from becoming that. We have guys like Agostino, Granlund, Jankowski, and Gaudreau that fall in that group, just like everyone else. I like Gaudreau quite a bit, but even if he sticks in the NHL, he's more of a 2nd line player (Even Briere and Cammalleri have primarily been used as 2nd liners with #1 PP ice time)
So all in all, the Flames have 1 player that is a 1st/2nd line wing (Baertschi), a possible 2nd line wing (Gaudreau), and a 2nd/3rd line Center in Backlund, with everyone else in the prospect pool being at least 2 years away from being possible NHL players or are players that have limited upside (3rd/4th liners).
That is as paper thin of a prospect pool/NHL line up as you can probably get in the modern Cap era.
Until the Flames have 10 forwards with Baertschi/Gaudreau's potential, we are not going to be solid. Realistically, we need to be closer to 15 prospects that have potential in order to become a contender as we will be able to take the best of the bunch and build around them, and deal from the depth of quality to get pieces that are necessary to put the finishing touches on it (see Simmonds + Schenn for Richards trade as an example)
This team is 3-5 years away from that. It's going to be a while.
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It does look like it is going to be a while. Unfortunately the prospect base really does not match up that well with organizational needs.
The Flames issues this year were C, third line, D, then G. Wingers are not as much of an issue, relatively speaking.
Backlund and Stajan are both best suited as 2nd line C's, definitely not 3rd line, and that is a problem. If you have a strong enough C to go head to head on the top line like a Datsyuk or Crosby, that is one thing. The Flames don't have this, so the third line has to be built to start in the zone, shut down the other team's top line and move the puck up ice. Backlund could potentially have played on a top line, but this would be fully dependent on two things - firstly on having top line wingers, and secondly on having a third line to handle some heavy lifting. And the Flames third line was built wrong.
C is as much of a problem in the prospect pool as it is on the big team. I don't suppose Reinhart projects to be more than a third liner. Haven't seen much of Granlund, and Jankowski really needs to show growth next year.
The Flames D was also built wrong. If you don't have a tough D that can also move the puck well, pairing a softer mobile guy with a physical defender is an approach. Somebody to clear the dirty areas in front of the net in your own zone, and another guy to man the breakouts and jump in the rush. Also, want to mention that Gio showed that on a good team, his ceiling is 3/4, nothing wrong with that, but he is not great as a top pairing D.
Cundari looked pretty servicable this year. Looking forward, Wotherspoon and Seiloff look somewhat promising as well.
G I didn't see as that big of an issue this year. I point squarely to the above problems with skaters. The article points to save percentage, as always. The team was built wrong and they were outmatched. (Ask Craig Anderson about whether or not scoring chances or shot quality exist. .950 against Montreal and .883 against Pittsburgh. That is what happens when your skaters are outmatched. Sadly, the Flames were outmatched regularly by most teams.) I personally hope Kipper comes back because that was a very unglamorous way to go out and he is better than that.
If one of Ramo or Berra works out, having Gillies and Brossoit waiting does not make the G situation glaring.
But man that C situation is ugly. You are right, it is going to be a while.