Quote:
Originally Posted by Macindoc
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.
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I think Lindholm and Nieuwendyk are closer in skillset.
Tkachuk is much more like Roberts than Bennett is.
I don't see anyone on the present Flames even close to Otto
and Fleury and Backlund? no way, total opposites in character and what they did on the ice. I don't think Fleury was ever used to shut down top lines.