Quote:
Originally Posted by TheScorpion
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.
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On this we agree.
And at times I would like the Flames to give more of the young players a chance. But I would have liked to have seen a young guy grab that opportunity in the pre-season. Now you can counter that they weren't given a chance. And maybe there's truth in that.
But then I look around the NHL and see other higher touted prospects also down in the AHL. The guys that stick seem to stick because they grabbed that spot.
But the packaging around the Flames not graduating a single draft pick I think is actually not the point you are trying to make. Because indeed the larger factor in that is probably lack of picks.
At minimum interesting to think about and talk about which is the point of any good article.