Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyB
I agree that Johnny's game breaking ability in the playoffs hasn't looked like the players you listed, but he did score the series-winning game 7 OT goal and was the team's top scorer. He was the talent that closed the game and the series in the crucial moment. The Flames don't have a lot of other game breakers waiting in the wings either, including Tkachuk who would have been the most disappointing player if not for Markstrom's second round.
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Tkachuk scored the goal to tie game 7 when they were down 2-1. Albeit on a nice feed by Johnny.
Tkachuk makes a great read to get the puck and 2 nifty passes to keep possession leading to Gaudreau's OT winner (the actual play was him setting up Lindholm and then potting the rebound).
I agree Chucky generally wasn't good though. As has been the case for both he and Gaudreau most of the time in the POs. Caveat Emptor and all that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
Columbus is our beacon of hope for where we could be if we lose Gaudreau? Yikes, lol.
If nothing else our fan base is better than most in the league at accepting and justifying mediocrity. We're the dream fans for ownership groups that don't have the desire to tear down and acquire top end picks, instead aiming for playoffs in any manner each season  |
We're freaking out about losing 1 player when it's inevitable that we have to lose someone important.
CBJ lost 2/3 most important players and some other key pieces. Then made it 3/3 of those players a year later. Leading up to all of that they were just a mediocre+ team, though arguably more consistently competitive than CGY (despite a tougher division & conference): of their 4 straight playoff eliminations 3 times it was the SCC that beat them; the other time it was the Bruins who went to the finals.
They lost
way more and didn't fall off
that far.
I'm actually pretty pessimistic on this team's future regardless of which wingers stay...I just don't see a massive difference between this team with or without Gaudreau when it comes to the playoffs.