Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
That is not WAY better depth.
What is different is that Hartley let them loose. The current team handles the puck like a grenade - they are all afraid to make a mistake. And they are reacting to the other team instead of driving the play more.
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Whie the system/style of play also factors in, I still maintain that 2014-15 Flames had simply more NHL quality forwards. If you count in Glencross and Baertchi, who were traded awaybat the deadline, the difference in sheer number of NHL caliber skaters is huge.
2014-15 regular season forwards, sorted by goals, from 7th onwards
Raymond
Backlund
Glencross
Colbourne
Granlund
Stajan
Byron
Ferland
Bollig
Baertchi
Bennett (played only 1 game because of the injury, but played in playoffs)
That's 11 players after top six who were NHLers, borderline at least. It took me some time to digest - eleven legit NHLers after top six. That's deep no matter how you slice it.
Now the group from this season sorted by goals and games played, let's list next 11 after the top 6 goalscorers:
Bennett
Frolik
Brouwer
Versteeg
Hathaway
Jagr
Stajan
Lazar
Familton
Mangiapane
Glass
That's AHL quality after Versteeg (or Hathaway if you really like him). The 2014-15 team was miles deeper.