Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinordi
Vegas is really challenging some strongly held positions that hockey is a strong link game. Vegas demonstrates the importance of depth better than any other team. No they don't have top level players. But they were able to basically choose the tenth best players on every roster in the league. They have a decent top line and then all young hungry third liners. They also clearly show the value of speed because they were meticulous in picking the fastest players.
The thing is that this mix of depth and speed is overwhelming almost every other team in the league. Their record is 20-9-2. That's like contender level play.
And it's where the Flames have completely fell down. Depth is terrible and the franchise is reluctant to develop it, choosing expensive, slow players and loyalty over youth, speed and hunger.
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If you don't think they're still riding the expansion team high, you're fooling yourself. They're a feel good story and they have all bought in and all the credit in the world to that. They are also very well coached.
But that roster will not sustain this long term. They've got a good enough start that playoffs are absolutely possible but the lack of top end talent will catch up to them this year or next and they will be a bottom feeder. This season will hurt them long term as they wont get anything elite next June in the draft.
Vegas are the best story right now but it's tough to see that roster as it is now have any kind of long term success.