Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
If the Flames go out and get Cozens I think we have to look at this a strictly a retool which for some is unacceptable but for others will be welcomed.
We had our big 4 prospects that remained under Treliving and while Pelletier was used in a deal to upgrade the team has graduated Wolf, Zary and Coronato who are now our #1 goalie and 2 top 9 forwards all with more upside.
In addition to that Conroy has restocked the prospect pool and it remains in better shape now than when he took it over. Some guys who are 30+ like Markstrom, Lindholm, Toffoli, and Tanev were all moved out for younger pieces like Bahl, Sharangovich, Frost, Farabee who combined with the 3 prospects that graduated have helped lower the age of this team.
If they could land Cozens they would have a pretty strong center group 1-4. No superstar elite but 3 guys with at least #2 ability and Backlund being a responsible bottom 6 option. With Wolf it is a bit tough to see multiple years picking high as he could single handily keep this team out of the basement.
This team is also posed to pick 2x 1st rounder for 3 straight drafts which will help keep the pool/asset base strong.
If they get Cozens though I think those hoping for a tankbuild will be left disappointed
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Wolf - #1 goalie
Cozens - Top 6 centre
Zary/Corronato - Top 6 forwards
Parekh - Top paring D-man
That group alone is better than what the average "Tank" rebuild would produce. The tank is only to get you the difficult pieces. The rest has to be done with good asset management. Sure it'd be great to have a better quality centre in that group, but, even in a full blow tank, the odds of that happening aren't great. Even the #1 picks aren't guaranteed to be great: Slafkovsky, Lafreniere, and Hischier are all good players, but not the franchise style game changer.
The Flames prospect development is too good so far to allow them to draft a Bedard type.
The only issue with acquiring Cozens, is that I don't see how that happens without Andersson going the other way. There are likely a bunch of teams all throwing offers at Buffalo, and any lesser pieces the Flames move are likely to be outbid. Maybe Zary?