Flames have had some not-so-incredible coaches, but the team build was never right to go deep. I've maintained for years that Monahan as a 1C was not a competitive enough player, a "rather die than lose" type. We see Gaudreau sign with a middling team with no real expectations now.
So I see this as the "Friendly Flames" era, an era where the best players were highly skilled, but had zero mean-ness in their games. Other players were brought in to supplement team toughness - Gudbrandson had a good effect that way last year. But the Hartley Flames never hit, they just skated and skated and skated. The Gulutzan Flames weren't a punishing group. I don't have any idea what the Ward Flames were. Adequate, barely, but hardly threatening, not surly.
I'm not bothered by either of these players leaving. It's the end of an era in a way, but it's been a very mediocre era. I hope Sean can have a good season and I hope it's not his last, he is one crunched up dude. But Kadri's a huge upgrade for the Flames, fast, nasty, and skilled.
I hope nothing for Gaudreau, I just don't care what happens to him. He's had some great moments as a Flame, but he's also been a total weak link in many situations. We'll get on without him.
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