Quote:
Originally Posted by timbit
IMO, the rebuild is not done and some key pieces are far from fully reaching their potential.
Bennett , Mark Jankowski, and some other not so clearly defined NHL prospects at forward
Parsons, Gillies, Rittich, in Goal
Andersson, Fox, Valimaki, Kylington, Kulak, Hamilton, on D.
With some realistic hopefulness, all or most of the above are close (1 to 3 seasons) to being legitimate NHL contributors.
They hold moderate to considerable value as Flame improvements ( replacements), allowing Flames to trade active Flame players or trading these young assets to ameliorate the Flames specific needs. ( primary ,secondary and tertiary offense for starters).
IMO, the Flames are two to four seasons away from being legitimately done with their rebuild.
Smith and potentially Giordano being the only major cogs that will be on their downside or done.
That is how the bottom 6 will legitimately improve , as well as the bottom 4 D and goaltending....leading to a legitimate and sustainable contender.
|
I think you are likely right on most of this.
The part that worries me is that organizationally for as long as I can remember our development at the ahl level has been well below average in the nhl. We don’t have the internal assets to really upgrade forwards from within and we are very thin in terms of trade chips.
I have always been worried about the development of talent within this org and I guess we will see if they can get better at it and help us reach the next level.
If Bennett and janko can take over as the second line pair and let backlund frolik go down to third line and have ferland tkachuk and someone you sign or trade for step in on the other side we will be fine.