Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
Okay, but then by this same measure Huberdeau is well ahead of all of them. That off-sets things enough to shift the balance closer to even if not in the current roster's favour.
But rather than focus on individual production, I prefer to see the changes made for how they have dramatically reshaped the entire roster. Last year the Lindholm · Gaudreau · Tkachuk combination was the best line in the League, but the Flames forwards behind them were not nearly as good. Now, by shifting some of that offensive production down the lineup by adding a 1B/2 centre, which slots the existing #2 centre on the third line, then suddenly the new balance throughout the lineup should theoretically make the team as a whole much, MUCH harder to play against. Yes, the top line where both Gaudreau and Tkachuk played will not be as good, but lines #2 and #3 should be substantially better. This will make a huge difference overall.
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I agree with you on the premise. Our forward depth wasn't great last season, and since our first line couldn't keep up their domination in the playoffs (and Tkachuk IMO being the weak link), we didn't look like contenders.
However, the only difference in our forward depth is that a top 6 winger was turned into a top 6 center.
Now, centers are more important than wingers, and I do agree that having 3 quality centers COULD make a big difference in depth just because wingers more commonly get elevated by centers rather than the other way around.
But I don't think it's
likely to make much of a difference.
(EDIT: Changed "offensive depth" into "forward depth", because obviously there's more to depth than points.)