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Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan
I think this is where some of the disconnect is happening between some of the posters here (between myself and you as well I'm guessing?).
Honest question - is there a chance this roster just isn't as good as you think it should be?
I agree with Jiri and a few others here - obviously the goaltending this season is great, I like the blueline a lot for the most part (too bad Gio is declining), but the forwards I really don't like much at all. They are pretty slow. We do not have an elite center. The 4th line is pretty bad and doesn't bring any energy. The forwards are wildly inconsistent. Look at the team's highest paid player - he can have great games, but he's slow and there's been many games this season I forgot he was even playing. That's your highest paid guy. That's not good. There's some nice pieces mixed in there, but overall I don't think it's a great/fast/consistent group at all.
I think some posters that think this is a very good/elite/contending team on paper put the vast majority of blame on the coach/systems. I get that.
And I think that some posters that like some of this team but don't see it as an elite team at all have no problem shipping the coach out but think the bigger issue is the makeup of the team, mainly the forward group.
I get both arguments. But I just don't see an elite/contending team, even on paper.
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I have no thanks but thanks. This is my opinion as well, right down to the major flaw in the forwards - just not enough speed. It does so many things to help with breakout, backing off the D. I think Johnny’s early success was in part because defenders thought he was a shade faster and they had to be careful lest he bust around them. Now they know he’s only average speed and they can play a little tighter to him.
I think Dube and Mangiapane are pretty fast but then again, I’m comparing them to other Flames.
I know the Flames have used a skating coach from time to time but I think they could really use sending some of these guys to skating school for the whole off season. Especially Tkachuk.