Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason14h
Isn't this a problem though?
No top 2 D (We can hope Andersson or Val gets there), No top line forward. A 2nd line forward and a 3rd line forward.
While it is better then the historically pathetic drafting and developing this team is use too, we arent exactly pumping out NHLers.
The fact we are constantly overpaying for 4th liners or using vets on tryouts to fill out the roster demostrates part of the issue.
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First, aside from the noting of Andersson, Valimaki, Dube and Mangiapane who all may make top positions, the actual criteria may be a bit harsh compared to other teams. A lot of very top end draft picks go immediately to the top line - your Matthews, Laines, Tkachuks, Pettersons, Makars, Heiskenans, etc. They aren't really "developed". After that, if you look at the picks from the last 5 years, it's very very hit and miss as to players who are currently occupying top positions on their teams. You have Fox from 2016, who also wasn't developed. Hughes, who I wouldn't call "developed". a few others. But 5 years from draft to now, not many drafted players are on their team's top lines/top pairings and the ones who are, aside from Makar, are not on good teams (meaning there was room at the top).
If you want to go back further in time, and if you count draftees who went directly to the NHL, the Flames have "graduated" the majority of their top 6 - Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Backlund (sometimes), Mangiapane, Dube (sometimes). They've graduated Gio, Andersson, Valimaki and (formerly) Brodie. Hell, you could argue they developed a top 6 forward in Bennett because that's where he plays in Fla without any time in their system.