Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbsy
My unfortunate prediction is jets in 4.
Jets have equal or better forwards, especially when you consider their top end forwards are way better suited (and proven) to succeed at playoff hockey. As a flame fan, I have overvalued the flames 'depth' at forward. The contribution/points in the 3/4 lines are clear indicators. If the top 2 lines aren't scoring, the whole team isn't scoring.
The difference in the D is far overstated. With Giordano coming back to earth this year, that top pairing, though still a really good top pair, aren't as elite as the past few years. Andersson is definitely good enough to be carry a 2nd pair, but Hanafin is a marginal 4th dman on a truly good, contending team. 3rd pairings are a wash for me. I also think that the jets have a more responsible fwd group and better coaching, which makes the names on the d less important for the jets.
Goalies, obvious win for the jets. The only question I have is if the flames get avg goaltending or if it's costing them games (giving up a bad goal a game).
I really like monahan and gaudreau, but they are Phil kessel level stars. They need to be 2nd tier players on a great team. Instead they are the top tier drivers of a average / above average team.
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Gaudreau isn't a Kessel tier player.
People are really reading too much into a bad individual season for him. Its a pet peeve of mine when we take the most recent play and extrapolate it as the player's ceiling.
People were writing off Backlund in the fall and called him over the hill / declining, then he came out and led the team offensively for the first two months of new year playing maybe the best hockey he ever has.
Gaudreau on his game arguably tops any one on the jets skill wise and if any team acquired him today he would be skating on their top line. For good reason.