Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
They did, but "top 6 production" is not "top line production". Second liners like Frolik and Backlund have top 6 production especially at 5v5. Now what you're talking about is top line production, and I would say you want four 55-70 point forwards and at least one of them should shoot with different handedness from the others. Ideally two of the four should play centre. That is pretty consistent a trend IMO. If they don't hit 55+ that season they still have to be guys who have done it in the recent past/immediate future and can summon it up in the playoffs. If you only have three such forwards then you need even more elite capability from them.
2006 Hurricanes
C Brind'Amour L
C Staal L
W Williams R
W Stillman L
2007 Ducks
C McDonald L
W Selanne R
C Getzlaf R
W Kunitz L
2008 Red Wings
C Datsyuk L
C Zetterberg L
W Franzen L
W Holmstrom L
2009 Penguins
C Malkin L
C Crosby L
W Kunitz L
2010/13/15 Blackhawks
C Toews L
W Kane L
W Hossa L
C Sharp R (2010)
W Sharp R (2013/2015)
2011 Bruins
W Horton R
C Krejci R
W Lucic L
C Bergeron R
2012 Kings
C Kopitar L
W Carter R
W Williams R
W Brown R
2014 Kings
C Kopitar L
C Carter R
W Gaborik R
W Williams R
2016 Penguins
Crosby L
Malkin L
Kessel R
There are gonna be exceptions but I think that is the blueprint. I guess we're banking on guys like Brouwer and Chiasson to compensate the handed-ness, with Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau as our four expected 55+ point guys.
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Even if only 3 of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau are 55 to 70+ players, the Flames have three 40 to 60 point defensemen to help make up the difference as well. But I think it's not unreasonable to expect all of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau to get there soon. Not this year likely, but next year and certainly the year after that they should all be in that range.
The pessimists will disagree, but I think playoffs this year and true contenders starting in 17/18 with a window that lasts as long as Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau/Brodie/Hamilton remain top players or are replaced by similar. Hopefully that window is at least a decade before having to return to another rebuild.