How many STAR players do we have?

[Chonger]

Define star however you will but im going off who I think is proven and top of their class positionally.

I think we only have 3

Gaudreau
Giordano
Brodie

[Textcritic]

^
Monahan?

He was top-15 in scoring among all centres last season, which was up from 20th in scoring in his sophomore year.

[Strange Brew]

Interesting question and depends on one's own definition of star. It is obviously very subjective.

Johnny is a star by any measure IMO. Other than winning at the pro level I suppose. To me, a star makes you come out of your seat and is a player that opposing fans will grudgingly admit they admire and fear. Maybe the Flames only have one right now. I don't believe there are too many true stars in the NHL. A star has the potential to be in the HHOF one day.

I definitely say no to Monahan at this point. Top 15 at your position might make you a great player but not a star.

[TheScorpion]

Four.

Gaudreau
Monahan
Giordano
Brodie

Monahan is a 70+ point player next year and for the foreseeable future, IMO. He'll blossom into a premier two-way centre in this league. He's no superstar, but he's definitely a prodigal Sun.

[savemedrzaius]

Gaudreau
Giordano

[GoJetsGo]

I think an argument can be made that Gaudreau is approaching super-star status.

6th in league scoring, one of the most exciting and dynamic players to watch in the NHL, an all-star in his first two NHL seasons, and one of the most covered players when the Flames are on US road trips.

[Dion]

I would add Brian Elliot to the mix.

[dying4acup]

Gaudreau, Brodie, Monahan, Gio, Bennett

In that order.

Gaudreau: no question
Brodie: game changing skater, a poor mans Niedermeier
Monahan: a 2-way star. Best is yet to come. Will score a game 7 winner or 2, and will make everyone who plays with him a better player. He has already.
Gio: was good enough to win a Norris, if not for an injury. Great leader. 20g defenseman are rare in the NHL.
Bennett: most already see it. In the playoffs it was MOST EVIDENT. 4g game in rookie season? Ok. If you aren't buying it, I'll bet pubes!

[TheScorpion]

Brian Elliott is a very good goalie, but he's no star. Sure, he was an all star before. So was Wideman.

[Karl]

Gaudreau, Gio, Brodie. Possibly Monahan too.

It's too early to refer to Bennett as a star. He's got that potential, but not quite there yet.

[savemedrzaius]

To me a "star" is someone who is known league-wide, no matter what team you cheer for you respect that player, is someone you would go out of your way to watch in a game even though you are not a fan of either team.

Maybe Monahan will be one later. I know Brodie is a great D-man but I don't think people really know much/care much about him outside the western conference.

For example by my standards the Leafs have no stars, but I think they have quite a few players who could develop into stars down the road.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

To me a "star" is someone who is known league-wide, no matter what team you cheer for you respect that player, is someone you would go out of your way to watch in a game even though you are not a fan of either team.

Maybe Monahan will be one later. I know Brodie is a great D-man but I don't think people really know much/care much about him outside the western conference.

For example by my standards the Leafs have no stars, but I think they have quite a few players who could develop into stars down the road.

Van Riemsdyk is the closest the Leafs have to being a star IMO at this very moment.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

To me a "star" is someone who is known league-wide, no matter what team you cheer for you respect that player, is someone you would go out of your way to watch in a game even though you are not a fan of either team.

Maybe Monahan will be one later. I know Brodie is a great D-man but I don't think people really know much/care much about him outside the western conference.

For example by my standards the Leafs have no stars, but I think they have quite a few players who could develop into stars down the road.

Matthews. I'd pay to watch his debut.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Matthews. I'd pay to watch his debut.

Yeah, there's a couple who I am really excited to see develop and who I think could turn into "stars", but as you Flames fans like to say I don't want to go "full Oilers" and declare him a star before he even plays in the NHL.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Karl

Van Riemsdyk is the closest the Leafs have to being a star IMO at this very moment.

Rielly to me is the closest to potential star. But yeah, JVR is for sure the best player at the moment.

[The Professor]

By my definition I'd say one.

Monahan, Brodie, maybe even Bennett could get there. Gio is debatable for sure. If he maintains his quality of play for another couple years then yes, him too.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

^
Monahan?

He was top-15 in scoring among all centres last season, which was up from 20th in scoring in his sophomore year.

Monahan's a bonafide second line center. He may be a star player playing first line with Gaudreau (and Hudler) on the Flames, but you move him to elite teams or even the top 16 teams of this league, he may not be. If Hudler was still part of the Flames, would you consider him a star? Hudler's good, but I'd consider him a good second line utility forward.

I think the bonafide stars on the Flames are really Gaudreau and Brodie. Gio was one, but I think his stardom will fade fairly quickly as age will start to take over soon.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

To me a "star" is someone who is known league-wide, no matter what team you cheer for you respect that player, is someone you would go out of your way to watch in a game even though you are not a fan of either team.

Maybe Monahan will be one later. I know Brodie is a great D-man but I don't think people really know much/care much about him outside the western conference.

For example by my standards the Leafs have no stars, but I think they have quite a few players who could develop into stars down the road.

Agreed. Just Gaudreau and Gio right now. Bennett has the potential to become a popular name. As well as Tkachuk.

Brodie is as good as he will get it and doesn't get the recognition. Monahan will always be the guy who plays with Gaudreau, we disagree with that but that's what other fan bases think.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Only Gaudreau.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Chonger

Define star however you will but im going off who I think is proven and top of their class positionally.

I think we only have 3

Gaudreau
Giordano
Brodie

The main issue, as you realize, is defining 'star'. It is now a 3rd tier behind generational and superstar.