Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Close but no cigar. Who is a HOFer out of the present crew? That team had a handful.
If Bennett comes anywhere close Ron Roberts though, the team is in great shape. I am of course assuming Jankowski turns into Otto and Dube is Fleury.
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At that time, most of those players were in the prime of their careers, considerably older than our current core.
Best current matches with your list (player I expect to eventually turn out to be superior in bold, taking into account the differential in league scoring in the two different eras):
Gaudreau-Loob
Monahan-
Niewendyk
Lindholm-Mullen (40 is the new 50, better all-around game)
Tkachuk-Gilmour
Bennett-
Roberts
Jankowski-
Otto
Neal-
McDonald
Giordano-
Macinnis (for the shot alone)
Valimaki-
Suter
Backlund-Fleury (less offensive flash and grit but elite defensive capability)
Overall, a I would give the advantage to the Stanley Cup winners, at least among the marquee players, but I believe that the 2nd and 3rd D pairings of the current Flames roster will surpass their counterparts on that team (of course, the goaltending is another story and yet to be determined). And I am predicting that if the current Flames win a Cup, then Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Gio will all be enshrined in the HOF. And who knows whether any of our promising young D will eventually make that list.
I do agree with you, if Bennett turns out to be anywhere near the player Roberts was, then this team will be great, and IMO will win a Cup or two.