Quote:
Originally Posted by Aarongavey
There are a lot of first line centers
McDavid
Matthews
Pettersson
MacKinnon
Hughes
Point
Crosby
Zibanajed
Stutzle
Malkin
Miller
Tavares
Hischier
Larkin
Eichel
Benn
Barkov
Pavelski
Kopitar
Aho
Horvat
Scheifele
Cozens
Draisaitl
I guess the question is whether Lindholm puts the Flames on a Stanley Cup trajectory for me. If the answer is no get some pieces that help put the team on that trajectory. I would say he is the 15th to 20th best center in the league who will be in his 30’s for the contract. Unless he is Pavelski he will be worse rather than better throughout that contract. If he is starting as the 17th best center in the league right now, what is he in 5 years?
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Huberdeau, the season before last, set a record for most points by a LW. Any center that has chemistry with Huberdeau is going to create a top end offensive line. Even better if that center can play a shut down role at the same time.
Does Lindholm have chemistry with Huberdeau? Who knows. The Flames, due to Sutter's frustrating system, have no idea what they actually have in terms of offence. We know Toffoli could score by jamming the net, but not much else.
IMO Lindholm does appear to be getting better with age. He is getting more vision and was clearly a late bloomer.