[Sylvanfan]

The Flames did add what was supposed to be a fair bit of talent to the team after 04. They moved on from guys like Lydman, Gelinas, Leopold, Donovan, Niemenen, the `dors' in favor of Amonte, McCarty, Tanguay, Phaneuf, and Hamrlik. Yet these more talented teams never seemed to operate as a very cohesive group, especially when Darryl Sutter was no longer coaching them. It always made me think you a coach has an easier job getting an untalented group to over achieve, than getting a talented group to meet expectations.

I watch this current group and do think back to that 04 group. That team had Iginla score 41 goals, and Shean Donovan finished second on the team with 18 goals. One guy with more than 20 goals. Yet that team finished 19th in the league in goals for because there was like 10 or 11 guys who scored 10 or more. Niememen, Nilson, Gelinas, Saprykin, Simon, Conroy, Clark, McCammond, Donovan, Reinprecht, Lombardi. Not a spectacular lineup at all, but hey all worked for a common thing, and guys were able to score goals throughout the lineup at times.

This year the forward group does lack that impact front line guy. But the depth might be there again, and this unit on the backend can contribute it's share of offence. The talent isn't eye popping...but there are a lot of guys who can play at the NHL level in the organization. Difference is that the big star is on the backend now and not up front. Who knows where things end up, but if Giordano continues to play like a Norris trophy player, and the rest of the group do their jobs, maybe this team is a lot better than many of us thought. Myself included.