Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bozek
Unless Dube and Mangiapane improve over last year, the forwards are not going to be as good as last year. Huberdeau and Kadri are not an improvement over Tkachuk and Gaudreau (and a healthier Monahan). Although coming off career seasons their age suggests Kadri and Huberdeau are not going to be building on last year’s season. Consequently, I think offense is going to be weaker this season.
On the other hand, Weegar strengthens the defence a bit over Gudbranson, but apart from the injuries (especially Tanev’s) during the playoffs, the defence last year was excellent, so I don’t see a slightly improved defence making up for what I see as a decline in the production by the forwards.
I’m still not completely sold on Markstrom, but if Vladar improves over last year, maybe the goalirs will carry the Flames to a division win - a fairly big “if”.
Hate to be a pessimist, but that’s the way I see it.
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I agree with the bold. However, someone is going to graduate to 1st line RW (likely Toffoli), and will increase their production as a result. Dube is still progressing, and is going to get a larger role this year. With Kadri carrying a lot of weight, Backlund and Coleman might get some lighter assignments and are likely to generate more offence than the 3rd line did last year. And the D, as a group, will be better at transitioning the puck.
The 4th line sill likely continue to be an offensive wasteland.