[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Here's my overall POV.

Things I like
- The roster is more aligned to how Darryl Sutter wants the team to play. If you are going to have him as a head coach you need to give him a squad he can work with
- I'm confident Tkachuk will be much better this year and he looked good in the pre-season
- I'm also confident Markstrom will have a better season and early returns (pre-season) are good with Vladar. Might have something there
- If Monahan IS healthy that's a big add back too in terms of a productive (even 25 goals) guy up the middle
- I think Coleman is going to be a strong add.

Things I do not like
- The defense is going to be worse without Gio unless Hanifin takes a big step. Which he might. But then you need someone else to take a big step behind him (Rasmus?)
- Not a fan of Gudbranson being on the team
- I'm also not a fan of Ritchie being around, though hopefully he's the 13th forward and not a regular day guy
- I'm just kinda tired with the forward group and yearning for bigger changes there
- Overall I don't think this team matches up well with teams that have truly elite players. The Flames simply do not have an upper tier of "best players" to match up.

I think this team can make the playoffs and if they do - I would not count out any group led by the old farmer. If they falter, I hope they used the TDL to make some tough decisions about the team and use it as an opportunity for a larger re-shaping.

I would say my emotion heading in is not excitement but more intrigued.

Get out of my head!!!