Quote:
Originally Posted by handgroen
maybe better off with the scatter approach. saad himself was a 2nd rounder after all, and we have 3 in this supposedly deep draft.
that said, a seabrooke, or a hamilton, would push this team over the top IMO. i think i'de be alright with seeing the flames spend picks to 'add for the now' so long as it improves the d-core in a younger age bracket. this team is closer than we give them credit for.
i have faith in brodie-gio, who spent half the season as the best tandem in the league, but another top 2 d-man would make us legitimately competitive.
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Brodie and Gio were together as the clear cut Flames #1 d-pairing for 60 games.... They were arguably the best in the league.... certainly in the top-5.
Gio gets hurt and Wideman-Russell take over as the Flames #1 d-pairing.
in the last 19 games with the playoffs on the line (march and April) and in doubt Wideman averaging 27 minutes and Russell 25... Wideman 19 pts in 19 games +11 and Russell 14 pts in the last 19 games +8.... they were in the top-5 d pairing for the NHL for last 20 games if not the best.
To push either one of these guys back to #5 and less than 20 minutes / game goes against the nothing given everything earned.
If somehow the pre-injury Gio was ready at the start of the Ducks series the Flames would not have been near as big of an underdog as they were (legitimately competitive?)
The Flames do need some depth at defense but another top 2 is liable to upset the apple cart. example: Flames adding Bouwmeester and pushing out Sarich and Regher. Blues adding Bouwmeester and pushing out Russell and Polak.
A really strong young #5/6 pushing for and able to play in the top 4 is the top priority.