Quote:
Originally Posted by Caged Great
From my point of view, moving forward, we likely have the following spots filled with young players
not filled-not filled-not filled
Baertschi-Jankowski-Gaudreau
Backlund-Knight-not filled
Horak-Reinhart-Bouma
Brodie-not filled
not filled-not filled
Wotherspoon-Sieloff
Breen
Gillies/Ortio/Brossoit (all maybes)
I know some might question Sven being on the 2nd line, but I figure that we need star players on our first line to be a contender, and while Sven is really good, I don't know if he is that good.
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1) Baertschi definitely looks like more of a first line talent. You've also short changed Backlund. He developed very well this year.
2) Judging defencemen is difficult. Any of those guys you listed could become #2-4 guys.
3) Even the guys you listed are all unlikely to reach their potential. But we are bound to luck out with other prospects like Hankowski, Cundari, etc.. That's the benefit to having prospect depth.
4) You don't need a top line consisted of 3 bonafide #1 line players. Very few rosters do. Look at Vancouver...it's Sedin-Sedin-whoever. Look at Boston, arguably the best team in the NHL right now: They essentially have a top line full of second liners that step up when needed.
5) We can acquire players through free agency. Especially second line wingers, second pairing d-men etc...
The Flames are missing the big pieces right now. #1 centre. #1 defenceman. #1 goalie. Our success in the future will depend on our ability to fill those roles. #1 centres are easier to predict and normally acquired via draft in the top of the draft. #1 d-men are less easy to predict and are also normally acquired via draft, but can come from later in the draft. #1 goalies are very unpredictable and come from all over. Lundqvist, one of the very few consistent #1s, was drafted in the 7th round.
Basically, what I am saying is all we can really do is draft a #1 centre. Develop our defencemen and hope that we find a goalie from our group. Stock up on prospects and not worry too much about the rest. The Flames have more pieces than people think. We just need the right ones.