[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Why not? The best teams are always adding. Was there a real reason for Tampa to add Ryan McDonagh last year, aside from just making their already terrific defensive core a true embarrassment of riches?

The Flames' top-six with Gaudreau, Stone, Tkachuk, Monahan, Lindholm, and Backlund might be the very best in the NHL. If the Flames have the chance to lock in that top-six for at least the next three years... holy smokes.

Also -- why is Stone a monster where Lindholm isn't? Well, Stone is at a 12.1 relative Corsi on the Senators. Without him, that team is one of the worst teams ever (2016-17 Avalanche levels of bad), and with him, they play at a middle-of-the-pack level. Lindholm was never able to drive play in Carolina the same way that Stone is able to in Ottawa. The Flames acquired Lindholm with the idea that he'd "pop," but Stone doesn't need to do that.

And, if he improved here like Lindholm has, we're talking about a player who could be part of one of the best two-way lines in recent history. Tkachuk, Backlund, and Stone could be as good at both ends of the ice as Gaudreau, Monahan, and Lindholm -- and having two unstoppable forward lines is a hallmark of an elite team.

But how much would that 2nd line cost? Tkachuk and Stone will cost a pretty penny