Quote:
Originally Posted by heep223
I've said this before but in the cap era I think it's completely unrealistic to have 6 actual top 6 forwards. If you look at how most teams are built these days they have pairs of top 9 forwards that play together and they rotate other guys through when they find chemistry. You just can't pay 6 actual top 6 forwards in today's era.
So the Flames have:
Gaudreau/Monahan
Bennett/2016 Draft Pick
Backlund/Frolik
Ie. you have Ferland, Colborne, Shinkaruk, Bouma, Jooris rotating up and through this lineup until chemistry is found for a while. You hope that some prospects like Poirier, Jankowski can step up and become top 9 NHLers.
With the addition of this year's pick, assuming he can step in and play top 6 next season (which is a big assumption) but at least for the following season, actually the top 9 is looking really good with where things stand. Maybe you try to add 1 top six forward but I think it's completely unrealistic to say that this team needs 2 more top 6 forwards to complete the group. That would create possibly the best forward group in the NHL and especially with how much cap the Flames have committed on the blueline is just unrealistic.
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This is pretty much where I was going.
With three very good centers, you need three good wingers and after that you see the upgrade I was getting at.
The six you name (with a top pick winger) sets that core, and then it's upgrading or getting a step from the likes of Ferland, Shinkaruk etc.
Colborne is making that case now.
I think the steps from Nakladal (resign) and Jokipakka are well on the way as well.
So to is Ortio as the backup.