Quote:
Originally Posted by Hackey
You're nitpicking words. Depth is obviously the key for almost all Cup winners. Part of good depth is good talent. Regardless of what you want to call it. Vegas had Eichel and Marchessault, Stone and Chandler, Karlsson and Smith. Then key depth players filling out the lines like Barbashev, Howden, Roy. Their top 6 defence is very strong. So strong top end talent with strong depth talent on both the forward and D group. It's pretty much the recipe for every cup winner. Some elite talent with very good depth. If you're missing either its pretty tough to win it all.
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That's the thing - as soon as a team has success, fans label their players as great. I have already stated my thoughts on Eichel and Stone, but Marchessault, Chandler, Karlsson and Smith are not elite. They are solid depth.
Again, your entire argument is demonstrating that Vegas has the most depth in the NHL - on that we agree. What drives me nuts is people look at players like that and then claim the Flames' players - Huberdeau, Lindholm, Toffoli, Kadri, Backlund, Mangiapane - are talentless and not good enough. These players are every bit as good as the Vegas guys. And our defense has more depth than most teams as well.
Our problem isn't a lack of talent, it's that we need MORE good players. And that's why cap management is so important, and such a problem for Canadian teams. If you have to overpay for your players, it becomes even harder to accumulate enough depth.
The Oilers certainly have the talent, but they are unable to build the depth.
The Flames have a very deep team, but they are a couple solid players short. That's their problem. It isn't that their players suck (which seems to be the prevailing viewpoint around here these days). Add a Marchessault and a Karlsson to the team, and we the Flames are serious contenders too.