Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
The Blues are in the same spot as the 2009-10 Flames when the Flames signed Bouwmeester.
They have made the playoffs the last couple of years and been knocked out in the first round.
They are both very physical team that would need to add skill.
They have added Bouwmeester same as the Flames added Bouwmeester,
They have added ageing high scoring centre Roy Flames added Jokinen
They have lost skilled high scoring wingers MacDonald - Flames lost Cammalleri.
They both have important large scoring RW's that don't play like they are always interested: Stewart and Bourque.
They have a young Norris calibre d-man signed to a huge Long term contract who was a lock to be on the Olympic team Pietroangelo - Flames Phanuef.
Both have the best defense corp in the league on paper: Pietroangelo-Bouwmeester,Shatenkirk, Jackman, Polak whereas the Flames had Phanuef-Bouwmeester-Regehr-Sarich-Giordano.
Both teams have/had very highly respected no-nonsense defence first coaches - Hitchcock and Brent Sutter.
Both Teams have spent right up to the Cap. and have lost useful players becuase of the Cap.... Flames lost Bertuzzi and the Blues Perron
The Blues , Like the 2009-10 Flames have incredibly high expectations that will almost be impossible to meet.
After a poor start (27-20-8) 62 pts in 55 games good for 8th spot the Flames panicked and blew up the team trading away Phanuef.
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the main difference between the two teams is that the blues core is in their prime (all their best players are in their 20s), whereas the flames core at that stage was exiting their prime.
Unless they completely screw up (ie. are not a playoff team) i think there will be no reason for worry or large changes.