[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by blankall

The Flames had the pieces, they just didn't perform. Gaudreau did a lot of the work as a #1 center, he just didn't have the size to actually play center.

Gaudreau often led some of the best lines in hockey. Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Lindholm was the best first line for many stretches.

It was a bad combo of bad luck, untimely poor performances, and coaching that was all over the place. Marstrom not falling apart in 2022. Tkachuk not getting injured in 2020. If Covid/Sutter doesn't happen then Gaudreau and Tkachuk are likely still Flames. Maybe the Flames have a coach that eventually tries Tkachuk/Bennett together and eventually moves up Zary and the other prospects.

If this was the lineup right now, the Flames would be a success:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Zary
Tkachuk-Bennett-Mangiapane
Backlund-Coleman-Toffoli

That's a winning lineup. The lack of success had nothing to do with pulling the rebuild short, lack of personal, or missing a #1 centre.

You be paying a lot of money - dunno if you can keep all those guys.