Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
It's funny to me how so many people seem more excited about the idea of a Finn than Matthews, the clear #1. Is it they want a winger to play with Bennett at Centre or something? Don't get me wrong, I'd like any of the top 3, but Matthews is ideal.
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I don't necessarily think Matthews is a clear #1 as in he's a whole tier above the rest. In fact I think Laine is roughly on the same level and Matthews only edges him out because he's plays the more important position at centre.
The Flames are already deepest at centre with arguably two future #1 centres and a guy playing like a #2 centre in Backlund who can have as our #3 when Bennett is more developed. Laine looks like a big franchise winger. He's a right shot which we lack, has the size we lack, and is a pure sniper which we lack, especially on the power play. Laine looks like he could be one of the top goalscorers in the NHL if he hits his potential. Laine is the fantastic fit for the Flames even though Matthews looks like a franchise centre and would be great too. We could certainly fit Matthews in somewhere.
I think fans hoping for Laine seems only natural, we'd be just peachy at centre without Matthews and Laine ticks all the boxes that we need. Now I wouldn't prefer Puljujarvi over Matthews, but Puljujarvi would be another fantastic fit for us as a big, strong, hard driving, playmaking, scoring, right shot RW.
We don't need to be greedy and hope for #1, we're just hoping for anywhere in that top 3
The guys projected to go 2 and 3 fit our immediate and long term needs. Laine would have the bonus IMO of being one of two players who should be an impact player right away in the NHL IMO.
IMO Laine-Monahan-Gaudreau could be the best line in the entire NHL in 2 years.
Matthews would be great too! But we'd settle for one of the big Finnish wingers quite easily.