Who can take the step to legitimate, cup-contending eliteness?
Gaudreau can be considered at that level, but as a small winger, he can't be our main guy.
Neal, Backlund, and Frolik are part of a cup winning middle 6.
Two of Monahan, Lindholm, and Tkachuk need to take a step beyond realistic expectations. I think Tkachuk is likely - but we would still be lacking a cup calibre C. Kuznetsov or Backstrom (whoever you consider #1) is probably the worst #1C to win the cup since the lockout. That is the bare minimum level to be reached before the Flames can even enter the conversation IMO.
Otherwise, we need a Kiprusoff-type to come out of nowhere to at least have a shot at a run.
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