Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
What is the premise you started with when you started the article?
Honest question
Was it that the Flames have drafted poorly? Developed poorly? Or that they aren't giving young kids enough chance.
It seems like you started with a conclusion that the Flames failed to give some guys a real chance, and the you found a data point that supported that.
Love your work generally, but I think it would be a better balanced piece if you didn't start with your conclusion already in mind (which my impression is you did).
Intended to be constructive criticism not harsh.
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I don't think the Flames have drafted poorly at all, although their lack of picks has been to their detriment.
I don't think they're developing guys poorly, otherwise I don't think they wouldn't have had all the playoff success in the A they had last year. (I touched on both these points in the piece).
I think the issue is the attributes they prioritize when it comes to promoting guys. I'm with Bingo, I don't think guys like Ritchie, Lewis, Lucic have really been problems at all this year when they've been deployed in situations befitting their roles. What I can't wrap my head around is why Lucic is the guy they're going to for second-line minutes, or Ritchie is the guy getting PP2 minutes, when they have highly skilled prospects who have developed well and are pining for roles.
Like ... the sentiment all along is that some of these guys need to play top-six roles, or bust. Well, right now, the top-six guys are the ones who are struggling. But asking Milan Lucic to play on a scoring line when he hasn't scored a goal with his stick in 68 games isn't the answer.