Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cobra
What happens if the Flames do rebound so some extent, are contending for a playoff spot next year?
Do we walk half out team to UFA?
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Well I think they need a plan that hopefully includes maximizing assets. I don’t really think they will be contending though if they walk back this same team. They are down 21 goals as a result of the Toffoli trade from last year. I don’t think even the most optimistic Yegor fan thinks he will pot 34. So they will be down something there, call it 12 goals (which would give Yegor 22 goals). I suspect they Zadorov does not get 14 goals again, doubt he gets to that number again, if you cut him in half that puts them down 19 goals. Doubt Backlund gets to 19 again, maybe shave another 3 goals there and they are down 22.
In order to be 10th last year they would have to have scored 20 more goals than they did. I don’t see where one finds 42 more goals with the rest of the lineup. You give Huberdeau, Lindholm and Mangiapane 30 goals each and you get 36 but that is a pretty rosy picture. That would get you close but you would need Coleman to get 18 goals again, you would need your forwards outside your top 9 scoring forwards averaging 7 goals each.
That Flames team last year had top guys who disappointed and 4th liners that put up pretty good numbers from a goals perspective. Flames had the 3rd most goals by dmen of any team in the league. All those things (both positive and negative) likely balance out and they will be a team that is not all of the sudden going to be a top 4, guaranteed playoff team at the deadline.