Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
That's lots of 4th line C options, but the top 3 is weak unless Jankowski takes a huge step.
I love Monahan, he's a mid range #1 C. That's great but not "high end" for the role he plays on the team.
I love Backlund, he's a mid range #2 C. That's great but not "high end" for the role he plays on the team.
So IMO, we are already behind the real contending teams as far as C goes, and then following that up with a #3 C with 73 NHL games under his belt. And if either Backlund or Monahan play hurt or miss time then we are really in trouble.
I get it. There are some young players we have as C options. Young players can surprise if given an opportunity. Just look at William Karlsson in Vegas. But i wouldn't go betting my season on it if I were Treliving. He did last year and Bennett/Janko/Stajan didn't get the job done.
That's why I love the Tavares pipe dream so much. You add that guy and all of a sudden you have a "high end" #1 C but the side effects are having Monahan and Backlund go from playing in water up to their necks to running around in the kiddie pool. That's the kind of C depth you can win a Cup with.
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Fair enough. I'm kind of on the other side I think. Monahan is seriously under appreciated here. Don't think he needs to be shoved down from the top spot. He's done nothing to earn the level of mistrust some give him. Not saying you per se, but it's funny how much lack of appreciation the guy gets.
I get it, he has the personality of dry toast. But I'll be damned if he isn't equal partners in his and Gaudreaus success. give those two a consistent legit top line RW and they'd be one of the best lines in the league. Hell they dragged Ferland up to 20 goals. Imagine getting a bonafide legit Kessel type.
I mean if we want to talk about where weakness is, it'd be having Backlund @ the #2 center spot. He's the ultimate #3 defensive center on a cup contending team. If you want to go out and get a more offensive minded #2 C Im all for it. I'd be all for Tavares but I've already convinced myself he's not coming anywhere near the Flames.
I'm not nearly as concerned with the center depth as you are so I don't see why we would waste a ton more time and assets addressing the #2 strength on the team when that RW is the absolute worst problem the team has.
Maybe Tree does go out and get an upgrade at #2 center. But I'm betting that he goes hard on a top line RW. Like all or nothing on one.