Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
I'm not convinced that switching out Hathaway and Neal for Lucic is a net positive for the Flames.
I think Lucic - Jankowski - Bennett is worse than Hathaway - Jankowski - Bennett
But
Bennett - Ryan - Mangiapane is better than Bennett - Ryan - Neal
It's not earth shattering but I don't think the Flames are better than they were last year at this point and will get worse barring a home run for Frolik and Brodie, which still has to happen because Lucic is still making 5+
At this point I think the best possible outcome for Calgary is this is a lateral move.
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Yeah it's a small margin either way.
But Hathaway was a time bomb on a stick. I liked the guy, and he found a niche on the PK, but five on five he was a play destroyer, not enabler.
Neal wasn't much better to be honest when it came to the flow of the game.
I'm not about to go watch 10 Oiler games, but any time a guy pulls on the Calgary jersey you see him more closely. If Lucic is a tire fire with the puck and coming out of his own zone then it's toughness only. If he can get pucks deep, be part of a forecheck and not get owned when he's on the ice he's a step forward.