Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
I'm not as convinced that we're a shoe in the next few years to get guys as good as MacKinnon/Barkov. Didn't this year show us how hard it is to get into the bottom 3? Our goaltending was absolutely abysmal and we still finished 6th last. I don't think we can count on a bottom 3 pick in either of the next two years. Any year we can trade up to take a guy that we think is a true franchise player I think you have to do it. The future holds no guarantees of franchise players.
|
I think that was a function of the short season - just not enough separation between teams.
Had the middle of the season (where poor teams tend to fade) been 30-40 games instead of 10, I think the Flames (and one or two other teams) would have fallen far enough behind the pack that winning a couple games at the end wouldn't have cost them 3 draft positions.
In an 82 game schedule, warts will become apparent.
The single biggest issue, that simply can't be kept contained over that many games, is weak goaltending. And it is a pretty safe bet that the Flames goaltending (and defense) will be mediocre at best for the next little while.