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stemit14 · 03-04-2024, 08:28 AM

As with any rebuild, the speed and success will be dependent on developing enough of these draft picks and prospects into impact NHL players in a timely fashion. 2027 is a very fast rebuild by most standards but you never know… Conroy could pull it off. A lot of the flames’ current success can be attributed to 3 things:

1. Markstrom having a great year where he is a likely Vezina candidate if they make the playoffs.
2. Kadri and Backlund outplaying the opposing centres of other teams on a nightly basis. Both of them are not looking like they are on the back nine of their career at all. It’s very impressive.
3. Defensive depth and scoring from the back end. The flames may be at the tipping point with this one but Kyllington looks more and more like his old self every game so that is making up for the loss of Tanev.

Looking at that list… the flames biggest contributors to their success this year are Markstrom (34 years old), Kadri (33 years old), Backlund (34 years old) and their defensive core (two of their top four will be gone by Friday) IMO. For the flames to be competitive again as early as 2027, that means they have 3-4 years to replace the defensive depth, establish Wolf (or some other goalie) as an NHL starter and they’ll have to replace their top two centers. Not saying Backlund and Kadri won’t still be here by then… just that the flames likely cannot be depending on both of them to be their #1 and #2 centres in 3-4 years.

Developing or acquiring two young top 2 centres in the NHL can be tough. Very hard to trade for (as we have seen from the Devils negotiations) and difficult to draft without a top 10 pick. Even then, unless they are an elite prospect usually taken in the top 2-3 spots of the draft, it usually takes at least 4 years to develop a prospect into being an impact top two centre in the NHL. If Zary is still going to be shifted back to centre, there’s a chance he could be one of them but I think they desperately need to start drafting and developing a #1 centre from either this draft or next years draft if they want to make the 2027 season their return to being competitive.

03-04-2024, 08:28 AM	#26545
stemit14 #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jul 2013 Exp:	As with any rebuild, the speed and success will be dependent on developing enough of these draft picks and prospects into impact NHL players in a timely fashion. 2027 is a very fast rebuild by most standards but you never know… Conroy could pull it off. A lot of the flames’ current success can be attributed to 3 things: 1. Markstrom having a great year where he is a likely Vezina candidate if they make the playoffs. 2. Kadri and Backlund outplaying the opposing centres of other teams on a nightly basis. Both of them are not looking like they are on the back nine of their career at all. It’s very impressive. 3. Defensive depth and scoring from the back end. The flames may be at the tipping point with this one but Kyllington looks more and more like his old self every game so that is making up for the loss of Tanev. Looking at that list… the flames biggest contributors to their success this year are Markstrom (34 years old), Kadri (33 years old), Backlund (34 years old) and their defensive core (two of their top four will be gone by Friday) IMO. For the flames to be competitive again as early as 2027, that means they have 3-4 years to replace the defensive depth, establish Wolf (or some other goalie) as an NHL starter and they’ll have to replace their top two centers. Not saying Backlund and Kadri won’t still be here by then… just that the flames likely cannot be depending on both of them to be their #1 and #2 centres in 3-4 years. Developing or acquiring two young top 2 centres in the NHL can be tough. Very hard to trade for (as we have seen from the Devils negotiations) and difficult to draft without a top 10 pick. Even then, unless they are an elite prospect usually taken in the top 2-3 spots of the draft, it usually takes at least 4 years to develop a prospect into being an impact top two centre in the NHL. If Zary is still going to be shifted back to centre, there’s a chance he could be one of them but I think they desperately need to start drafting and developing a #1 centre from either this draft or next years draft if they want to make the 2027 season their return to being competitive.