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Lanny_McDonald · 09-19-2021, 02:25 PM

Thoughts on the "new" roster?

Still too many questions. Not much has changed where it matters. The top six is pretty well untouched, and that group hasn't been good enough. The top end of the blueline is still missing that offensive dynamic, and the blueline still looks thin to me. Goaltending is still a question mark. Do we get Markstrom pre-injury, or post-injury. Will Darth be a good enough backup?

The team has gotten bigger and should be more aggressive. The concern is whether they can skate with the top dogs in the division. That is a significant concern that we will have to see play out. I see this team being a crash and bang defense first, meaning they will be taking a lot of penalties, so special teams will be the difference maker in most games. Not sure I see a team with good enough talent to keep pucks out on the PK, or score enough when they have the PP. Seems to be pretty much the same problems we faced last year, so you have to wonder why this year will be different.

I think this is going to be a year of distractions. Gaudreau's contract extension should have been worked out by now. The longer that plays out, and the closer he gets to UFA status, the bigger the media circus will be. The Tkachuk situation has potential to be a distraction as well. How he comes into camp will determine how much of a pain in the ass to the Flames he will be this season. I think Sutter is going to squeeze him to finally play up to the level of his mouth/ego and there will be a crossroads at some point. Either he buys in, or he's going to be a problem like he was last season. Monahan needs to get out of the gate quickly as well, or he's going to be the target of the fans looking for someone to blame. The expectations for Mangiapane are going to be crazy high, so he's another guy that really needs to step up or there could be problems there. Same with Dube. Like I said, lots of possible distractions.

The Flames will be a team under scrutiny, no doubt. What could really help here is a fast start out of the gate. Here's hoping that happens, because this fanbase is hungry for some success.

09-19-2021, 02:25 PM	#33
Lanny_McDonald Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2013 Exp:	Thoughts on the "new" roster? Still too many questions. Not much has changed where it matters. The top six is pretty well untouched, and that group hasn't been good enough. The top end of the blueline is still missing that offensive dynamic, and the blueline still looks thin to me. Goaltending is still a question mark. Do we get Markstrom pre-injury, or post-injury. Will Darth be a good enough backup? The team has gotten bigger and should be more aggressive. The concern is whether they can skate with the top dogs in the division. That is a significant concern that we will have to see play out. I see this team being a crash and bang defense first, meaning they will be taking a lot of penalties, so special teams will be the difference maker in most games. Not sure I see a team with good enough talent to keep pucks out on the PK, or score enough when they have the PP. Seems to be pretty much the same problems we faced last year, so you have to wonder why this year will be different. I think this is going to be a year of distractions. Gaudreau's contract extension should have been worked out by now. The longer that plays out, and the closer he gets to UFA status, the bigger the media circus will be. The Tkachuk situation has potential to be a distraction as well. How he comes into camp will determine how much of a pain in the ass to the Flames he will be this season. I think Sutter is going to squeeze him to finally play up to the level of his mouth/ego and there will be a crossroads at some point. Either he buys in, or he's going to be a problem like he was last season. Monahan needs to get out of the gate quickly as well, or he's going to be the target of the fans looking for someone to blame. The expectations for Mangiapane are going to be crazy high, so he's another guy that really needs to step up or there could be problems there. Same with Dube. Like I said, lots of possible distractions. The Flames will be a team under scrutiny, no doubt. What could really help here is a fast start out of the gate. Here's hoping that happens, because this fanbase is hungry for some success.