Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
This is going to make me sick to my stomach to type, but the Canucks rebuild is already in way better shape than the Flames because:
1) They actually have an elite, play driving #1C (Petterson)
2) They also have a strong two way #2C that still produces offense (Horvat)
3) They have yet another young C who looks like a future star (Gaudette)
4) They drafted an elite #1 Dman who will likely compete for the Norris regularly (Hughes)
5) They may have actually drafted a future #1 goalie who is already in the NHL (Demko)
As long as they leave enough money to pay those guys, and quit pumping money into players like Myers, Roussel and Beagle they're in really good shape with that young core.
Bennett flopped for CGY
Gillies and McDonald flopped
Our #1 Norris dman is now 36
3 of our 4 best forwards are wingers (Lindholm sort of a C maybe)
It's kind of a mess. Still a competitive team, but weak down the middle, no stud #1 Dman in the works, and goaltending as always a huge question mark.
Well now, that was depressing.
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Horvat isn't that great.
Demko although filling in admirably hasn't come close to proving himself at the top level.
Boeser after impressing early is in and out of the lineup now and not making much the same impact.
Hughes looks like a great D but the depth chart after him looks like crud.
Pettersen is a producer but I'm not sure with his stick like frame that still hasn't bulked up that he's going to impact the big games like some of the best Cs who can lean on guys too. Dude is super lanky and has finesse but lacks strength to go with it.
Despite all their awesome adds and whatnot they were still falling off the rails without markstrom's well above average goaltending.
And despite being beat a couple times by them in some crappy home performances, the Flames have generally severely dominated games in vancouver with their 'worse' rebuild.
Guess it all depends on how their guys develop but I wouldn't be so quick to anoint guys as their ceilings until they reach them.
Grass is greener effect really has a hold of this place sometimes.
With a couple important moves and signings in the coming months the Flames can take a big step to correct the course of their rebuild.
I also think its silly to overlook capturing 2nd in the NHL with this group. I dont see the canucks doing that any time soon.