Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
If this team is going to compete next season, we need a top 4 defenseman and a top line forward, however, we only have enough cap space for one. If I had to choose one, I would go for the forward. I trust this team to have a better chance for defense by committee than scoring by committee, at least with Sutter as coach.
I say go all in on Landeskog then supplement the defense with someone like Suter. Suter might be willing to come because he would have an important role and could get a second wind. Having just been bought out, he might come relatively cheap too.
Obviously far from a guarantee that we could nab them both, but that would be my strategy.
Then re-sign Johnny and if Landeskog is acquired, trade Tkachuk for a natural RW. Don't get me wrong, I love Tkachuk, I just have my doubts that he can be retained long term.
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Disagree, I think they can do both.
A lot of people have been saying they need a #1 defenseman, but I think they just need a top 4. I think there will be some progression from the current guys- Andersson had a bad year and I expect a strong bounce-back. Valimaki expected to make the jump to the NHL easily last year, and discovered that it was anything but - I expect him to show up at camp much more prepared this year. As for Hanifin, I expect some progression, we'll see how much. If Tanev gives us what we got last year, then awesome. Can Mackey or Kyllington step up?
I would expect they sign Stone. That leaves us with:
Hanifin - Andersson
Signing - Tanev
Valimaki - Stone
Mackey - Kyllington
and the signing can be a $3 - $4M guy IMO. Maybe as much as $5M for a guy like Martinez
The big acquisition has to be a top 6 RW - preferably a top line RW, but a 2nd liner will do.
The biggest question mark is Monahan of course - what will he be this year? If he has any kind of decent bounce-back, I think the team will surprise and make the playoffs quite definitively.