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Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Disagree. Horak is competing for a 2nd/3rd line role, not a 4th line role. Reinhart is competing for a 3rd/4th line centre role, Bouma for a winger role IMO. Same with Granlund and Knight who are both centres. Bouma and Hanowski aren't very comparable either although they are perhaps the closest in style amongst your comparisons.
None of the prospects you mentioned are 4th line grinders like Bouma is and thus aren't really competing for the same type of role with the Flames. Bouma is basically a younger version of Jackman. We don't want guys who have higher upsides to be stuck on the 4th line so I don't think they are directly competing. 2nd/3rd line players don't push 4th liners off the team, they push other 2nd/3rd liners off the team that is what you don't seem to be acknowledging. Bouma is competing with guys like Jackman, McGrattan, and a guy like Ferland in the future. Most of the guys you've mentioned have zero impact on Bouma's fight for a 4th line grinding role.
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I think you are missing a very important facet of the development game. I seriously doubt that the Feaster and company are going to look at the lineup and think they are bringing in certain players to play in certain slots, like Bouma on the 4th line. I think they are looking at the lineup and bringing in players that can play in many different roles, which again, hurts Bouma. I think they come to camp and have all positions open. If a player like Horak steps up proves to be worthy or a position, they will bump a veteran down the lineup. If a player like Granlund comes in an shows he can contribute on the wing the team will make room for him by bumping a player down the lineup. This is how you build a good team with depth. Better options push talent down the lineup, not the other way around. I suspect that this is exactly what is going to happen. I see a guy like Jones or Galiardi possibly finding themselves on the 4th line as the team accommodates a couple of young players. For Bouma to make this team he is going to have to not only beat out Jackman for a job, he's going to have to hope the other rookies don't step up and beat out a veteran that will push some talent down the lineup. I don't see either happening to be honest with you. That year away from the game is going to be big to recover from and he's going to have to prove all over that he's better than some of the younger guys coming in. I would really like to know what your lineup looks like that sees Bouma making the club?