[sa226]

I don't disagree that the team on paper is thinner than it was last year.

But success on the ice isn't as simple as 100pt player in, 2 100pt players out. If you lose that many goals and points from your line-up, but somehow with the change of makeup, or personnel change, you become a better transition team, better at faceoffs and your PP goes from 10th to 5th, are you a better or worse team just because your total goal count is down?

The Flames had the best line in hockey last year, but in the playoffs they were largely neutralized by a goalie in round 1 and fixating on McDavid in round 2. It was the Backlund line that emerged as the most effective line.

I saw a rumor about the Flames being interested in Stastny, now he's as old as the hills, but still a decent player and dominant on Faceoffs. He would add veteran depth at centre that would take some of the pressure off Backlund.

There's more than 1 way to skin a cat, I still think the Flames need to add to their top 6 forwards but more for balance, fit and depth, not to try and replace what was lost with Gaudreau and Tkachuk.