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Originally Posted by bubbsy
The flames are in a really bad spot.
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No, they really aren't.
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The bottoming out, draft high part of the rebuild is done.
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Not really. There are still players that can step in and supplement the current crop.
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Out of that they have Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk Bennett to show for it. Outside of that, they have some goaltending lottery balls (parson, Gilles, Rittich), some good d prospects (Valimaki, Andersson, kylington, fox). Up front, there's practically no players in the system that are high probability top 6ers.
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Jankowski says hi. Definitely a future player, especially if you're including Bennett in the mix.
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They have Monahan and Backlund as their top 2 centers. Monahan is a lower echelon top line center, and offensively speaking, is a lower echelon 2nd line center.
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On what planet is Monahan a lower echelon 2nd line center? I mean, give me a break. Monahan is currently 18th in scoring for centers. He's 9th for goals scored. That is not a lower echelon 2nd line center. I really wish Monahan would get the respect he deserves.
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With the high picks handed out, there is no way to really improve this organically. So it's ufa or trades. The only way out of this is some very savvy hockey deals,where a combination of a nhl dman and prospects are moved for another elite forward. Could be tough in a league where offensive output is likely to be a higher premium....
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Unless you're picking top three, it is unlikely you're going to see any draft picks step right in and contribute to a team you hope to be a playoff contender. Fortunately, the Flames have more than enough options to improve the team in terms of trade. Brodie is still an attractive piece. As are some of our prospects. I know its popular to crap all over the team right now, but this is still a team with some damn good prospects that could be used to get a scorer.
So no, things are not bleak, and the team is not in a bad spot. Remove the coach and bring in a guy who knows how to put lines together and you are likely going to see a really positive change and a quick rebound.