It is a curious question as to how good this team really is.
Was goaltending THAT bad, and then THAT good to save the season?
Was the slow start attributed THAT much to 'learning the systems'? Was it simply a softer schedule near the end that propelled the Flames into the playoffs?
My bet is that last year's squad was good enough for the playoffs. I think just a consistent goalie tandem and an upgrade on Bartkowski in the 6th spot and Stone alongside Brodie all season will show the quality of this team. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I think.
I also think that the young players are getting better - if they just take even a small step forward, it will really make a difference (and I am just speaking 'as a unit' here - not every single one of them has to take a step forward, but I do expect the young core to move forward a bit as a unit). I think properly slotting guys from the get-go is vital this year. No Chiasson on the top line, no Brouwer in the top 6 (and preferably away from Bennett), etc.
I hope that Chiasson and Versteeg are both re-signed - they were very effective last season. Chiasson scored at a good clip from the bottom 6 IIRC, and I think he was solid all over the ice. Versteeg was a magician at times, though inconsistently. He is skilled enough to play with Monahan effectively if Gaudreau gets injured or gets moved to another line, and gritty enough to play a checking role.
An upgrade is an upgrade on the RW, but I don't see that as crucial any longer. Few teams have three high scorers on any line (short of one just kind of mooching off the other two and playing a role to help the other two more effective as scorers - i.e. Anisimov playing defence/big body/faceoff guy for Kane and Panarin).
Goalies>>>>>>defence (if Stone is re-signed) >> RW
That's how I see it. It may not be ideal at the moment, but I think the Flames have enough skilled guys for a good top 6 and a great top 9.
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg/Lazar
Sure, not enough RHS, but that's ok. It was good enough for the Red Army, it is good enough for the Flames. I just think it isn't a vital upgrade.
Goaltending and re-signing or acquiring someone to play with Brodie are the two most crucial elements. Finding a guy that can play top 4 minutes in a bottom pairing role in case of injuries is imperative too (which is why I am fine with re-signing Engelland, though I hope the term is short, as he should be a heck of a lot cheaper than Alzner).
I also don't think this is a soft team at all. Who is soft. Let's count them:
Gaudreau.
Monahan. Sort of. Takes a lot of abuse, so I wouldn't call him 'soft', but whatever.
Hmm...
Yeah. Nobody else. Frolik maybe, but he is hard to play against. Backlund plays physical. Versteeg is definitely pretty gritty. For those of you who aren't familiar with Lazar, he is very physical (and beat up Perry while in Ottawa).
Jankowski isn't 'soft' - he is kind of like Monahan where he is a big body that takes a abuse. We will see how he is in the NHL though.
I count 1 soft player, one 'sort of soft' guy in Monahan, and 1 unknown. That isn't including the 4th line with Brouwer, Bouma, Hathaway, Hamilton, and Stajan (Stajan is soft).
This is not a pugnacious, truculent team, but it isn't soft. Not by a long shot.
They are much softer on D, especially if Engelland moves on. Will be interesting to see who Treliving ends up acquiring.
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