Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Elias Lindholm was never considered a number one centre... until he got to play with Gaudreau.
Kent Johnson is arguably sporting superior upside and will probably win the Calder if he plays next to Gaudreau.
Tkachuk is a great player, but Laine's probably more effective at his peak since he can bomb from anywhere on the ice and is a superior skater. He was a big part of Winnipeg's WCF run.
Zach Werenski is also a bonafide #1D with elite skating ability.
Kekkalainen is also no worse a GM than Treliving.
Is that every part pf the picture? No, but I so nonr real reason the CBJ can't be as competitive over the next ~four years as Calgary would have been. Coaching, maybe. Outside of that though our roster sans Gaudreau is pretty underwhelming.
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Nah, Laine is nowhere near what people thought and “at his peak” is doing a lot of work there. There’s a reason he’s in Columbus. And while no one thought Lindholm was a 1C (which actually isn’t true - he was drafted as one), he is now considered one and was a top 3 Selke nominee. Johnson might become a 1C one day. But that’s years away, and Gaudreau is 29. When Johnson hits his peak, Gaudreau is 35. The next four years Calgary would have been the same or better (assuming some minor additions, and guys like Coleman and Toffoli getting their game back). CBJ would have been still trying to make up 20 points on the caps.