Quote:
Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard
The 1988-89 Flames were obviously a great team (most any Stanley Cup Champion is) but of course an old Lanny McDonald and Colin Patterson were 9 and 10 forwards. The real story is the abundance of youth on that team as the following players were 25 years old or younger at the time: Nieuwendyk, MacInnis, Suter, Gilmour, Roberts, Fleury, and Vernon. That is an exceptional group of young talent - maybe not the same elite level of talent as the Oilers had but likely more depth, especially on defense.
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The Flames were probably the most well rounded team in the NHL that year, and possibly even for a few seasons before and after. They could beat teams in a number of ways like a Swiss Army Knife.
The defense was particularly strong. Everyone remembers MacInnis and Suter, but guys like Macoun and McCrimmon were also extremely effective defensive guys in an era that didn't really reward defensive play as much as it should have. And for forwards, Otto may have quite possibly been IMO the best important cog in the machine. He could do everything.