This is also the best surrounding cast Gaudreau has had imo. The Flames have seven legit top six players. Coleman is what Brouwer and Neal were supposed to be. Mangiapane is there now. If Dube takes a step forward that could mean 8 legit top six forwards.
I'm in the minority here, but on paper this looks like the best flames team in a while. I've even really liked what I've seen from the defence. Tanev/Hanifin in a solid top pairing. Zadarov has looked like a great #4/5 so far. Kylington, Valimaki, and Zadarov leaves more than enough bodies to fill that #4 role, even if they are situationally rotating in and out of the top 6.
I'm excited to see Gaudreau unleashed, without having to worry about being bullied. Anyone who cares to touch him is going to get absolutely pummeled. I see Gaudreau continuing his play from the last 15-20 games of last year and being a 90 point player.
Even if Gaudreau decides he won't stay, I see him vastly increasing his value in a trade.
The worst case scenario here is the team clicks in the regular season, flops in the playoffs, and then Gaudreau walks for nothing. I don't see a Sutter led team totally flopping in the playoffs though.
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