Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Say the flames acquire Hayes. That pushes backlund down a line, which also pushes Jankowski down a line. Do both Backlund and Jankowski improve their goal totals playing 3rd and 4th line centre minutes? Does backlund score more goals playing less minutes and without tkachuk? In my opinion no. That is an unreasonable expectation. Does Jankowski improve his totals now playing with Hathaway and Lazar for 12 minutes a night? In my opinion, no, that is an unreasonable expectation.
Could those players improve their offensive totals this season if they stay where they are in the lineup? In my opinion yes, that is a reasonable expectation. The problem is though that the team improves from 22nd to 19th like you said and struggles to make the dance.
In my opinion this only works out if the flames are able to acquire a legitimate top line player in the mold of a Kessel, but what does it cost to get that guy? Only picks and defenders? I don't think so. So then does the down roster improvements for janko happen without Bennett or Ferland? Without Janko? Something will need to be subtracted from that group to get that guy which dilutes the talent in the roster for guys down the lineup to play with.
Say it costs Brodie and Bennett to get a guy. Does that enhance or detract from jankos ability to put up points and goals if he now plays between foo and Hathaway or Hathaway and mangiapane? I don't know if that scenario is reasonable for this season. Maybe it is, but if I am Tre, I'm not interested in once again hoping that is enough to get me to the promised Land.
You don't just get to grab player to take big offensive minutes for free and then also expect everyone else to improve their totals with lesser minutes or opportunity. Not unless it costs you an arm and a leg in salary that then impacta the tea ability to fill out the roster.
It is possible, but only in a scenario where you are landing an elite talent like tavares in my opinion, OR are grabbing multiple lesser talents like statsny and and Neal. Anything that has an acquisition cost other than money will have a knock-on impact to the roster and I don't think Brodie is going to get you a legit forward.
Any acquisition that comes at the cost of any roster player will hurt the team imo. Free agency, prospects or picks going out is the only way to really get the totals you're predicting imo. Tre will indeed be a wizard if that happens.
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Number one I don't see it as a center, I don't think it's needed.
Monahan is improving every year and is young and a sniper. Backlund is an elite third or a middling second, and then you have two other guys that could evolve into 2nd or 3rd line centers in Jankowski and Bennett.
I don't see a point in moving a center in and having one of them on the fourth line.
If it happens you convert both to wingers, but it wouldn't be my call.