If the flames aren't up for a big splash trade/signing, and intend to fill the top 6 organically, then it absolutely requires Bennett moving up into the top 6, as early as next season.
Here's the biggest problem i think the flames are having (based on their regular forwards of use this year):
Right Handed forwards: Brouwer, Hathaway, Lazar, Versteeg
Left Handed Forwards: Monahan, Gaudreau, Ferland, Tkachuk, Backlund, Frolik, Bennett, Jankowski, Stajan
Quantity aside, there is also a major disparity on the quality of the 2 groups. Flames have no high skill guys that are right handed. I think this is a major issue that has plagued the PP also. Their limited in the types of set plays, cross seam/one-timer setups, based on the personnel.
of course hind sight is 20/20, but i wonder how the flames would have fared having iggy play a 3rd/4th line, PP specialist role rather than taking the gamble on Jagr. I would have voted for jagr no doubt, but looking back, perhaps that may have been a move that could have filled a need a bit better.
On a side note. I think i read that only 10% of the world are left handed. How come we see such a dominance in Hockey for lefthanded shooters?? I remember being a righty, whether it was a stick, bat, racket, i always was taught and played sports as a righty too. Perhaps a stupid question, and one where the answer is obvious, but i've got no clue.
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