[ricardodw]

I was waiting for someone else to put up this thread but just as a starting point are my grades for the the Flames.

C is an average NHL player that could play on any NHL team.

Gaudreau – A

Monahan – B Needs to score at Gaudreau level as a one-dimensional player to get an A

Ferland – C exceeded all expectations as top-6 player, and then had 2 goals in his last 29 games, seems to be high risk high reward and high maintenance.

Tkachuk A+

Backlund C- Is asked and being paid to for more than he can. Not a great fit on the Flames as a non-aggressive player on a team where the top players are Lady Byng candidates.

Frolik D Big contract on the other side of 30. If he is a Flame next year then he will move into the Stajan role. Similar career trajectory to Hudler, top player to out of the league in a short time.

Bennett C Can play on pretty much any NHL team. Was not expected to be an average to below average player. Plays hard on a team that doesn’t

Jankowski C Can Play on pretty much any NHL team. Solid rookie year probably could be part of a gang and use his size better if properly led and managed.

Brouwer D Big contract on the other side of 30. Had a career as a gang member and took the big contract to be the gang leader and will retire well.

Gio A+

Hamilton C defensive liability, has to be looked after by Gio. Would benefit from the rest of the team being more competitive and let him be the small shooting d-man

Brodie C another in the group of small skilled players . Huge disappointment as just 3 years ago he was better than Gio and arguably the best player on the Flames . He skill set is exactly what the new NHL requires.

Hamonic C an average serviceable NHL d-man. Has been in decline for a couple of years. Was better at the end than the start. He peaked in 2014-15. ( same season as Brodie) That was the Hamonic that the Flames wanted when they traded a 1st and a couple of 2nds for him. He was expected to be the most physical regular player on the team team but with the Flames he makes about half the hits that he did on the Islanders.

Stone C an average serviceable d-man on the Flames. His play at the end of last year(B+) and clicking with Brodie made the need to over pay for Hamonic puzzling.

Kulak C+ established himself as a NHL player. Was not given an opportunity to be more than a #6 d-man on the team. On most other teams chances are he would have had a few games in a top-4 role with a better player than Stone. He will make it hard for the Flames to bring up Andersen but not easy enough to trade one of the big three. Would benefit from having more aggressive teammates to cover his lack of aggression

Smith C a serviceable NHL goal tender that is not good enough to carry a team for a whole season Hasn’t had a winning record over his long career or a winning season in 4 years. He is not a valid option for the Flames going forward.

Rittich and Gillies…C both are proven AHL goal tenders and need a chance to be a #1 in the NHL for at least 20-30 game stretch. It will not necessarily be pretty but is needed before they can become playoff team goalies in the NHL.