Backlund is not a top six player (on a good team). I think the team will look a lot better than that in four years time.
Really, the Flames greatest hope is to draft MacKinnon this year and Reinhart next year. They really need to re-establish a core and build around not only those picks but also the other assets they would acquire from their veterans. This is such a key moment in time for the team.
It is going to take time, though. But I think it can be successful if you get that good young core together and then complement them with good free agents when the time is right.
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Backlund is not a top six player (on a good team). I think the team will look a lot better than that in four years time.
Really, the Flames greatest hope is to draft MacKinnon this year and Reinhart next year. They really need to re-establish a core and build around not only those picks but also the other assets they would acquire from their veterans. This is such a key moment in time for the team.
It is going to take time, though. But I think it can be successful if you get that good young core together and then complement them with good free agents when the time is right.
People who are expecting this team to compete for a playoff spot in the next few years may have to temper their expectations. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I doubt it happens. I agree with a few people here in that we should build with youth and try and get as many young-mid twenty's players as possible and let them grow as a team.... I do wanna see a team full of younger players (with some vets, especially McGrattan) give each game 100%. I'm ready for it...
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People who are expecting this team to compete for a playoff spot in the next few years may have to temper their expectations. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I doubt it happens. I agree with a few people here in that we should build with youth and try and get as many young-mid twenty's players as possible and let them grow as a team.... I do wanna see a team full of younger players (with some vets, especially McGrattan) give each game 100%. I'm ready for it...
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Last edited by GreenLantern2814; 03-29-2013 at 06:24 PM.
Backlund is not a top six player (on a good team).
I think he will develop (over the next 4 years) into a decent 2nd line centre. But is still getting better every year. So not only does a 2013 draft pick have to close the gap between himself of today and the Backlund of today, but he has to overtake Backlund's own development as well.
Yes, I could see our 2013 1st rounder in his 2nd NHL season, at 21/22 years old, being a better centreman than Backlund is as a 27/28 year old veteran. But I can also very easily see the opposite being true. Even if the new kid has more talent/potential/"it".
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Going forward I would love the Flames to get at least one guy who's a good agitator and can pot a few goals from time to time, our own version of Cal Clutterbuck. We haven't had a guy who get's under the opponents skin in a long time.
Backlund is not a top six player (on a good team). I think the team will look a lot better than that in four years time.
Really, the Flames greatest hope is to draft MacKinnon this year and Reinhart next year. They really need to re-establish a core and build around not only those picks but also the other assets they would acquire from their veterans. This is such a key moment in time for the team.
It is going to take time, though. But I think it can be successful if you get that good young core together and then complement them with good free agents when the time is right.
Did you mean top line player?
II definitely agree with that but I do think he is a top 6/2nd line player.
Going forward I would love the Flames to get at least one guy who's a good agitator and can pot a few goals from time to time, our own version of Cal Clutterbuck. We haven't had a guy who get's under the opponents skin in a long time.
i saw a little bit of Niemo 2.0 in Blair Jones. but again, he was not good enough...i hope he is being developed in the Heat.
II definitely agree with that but I do think he is a top 6/2nd line player.
I just don't see him as a second-line centre on a good NHL team. I think he tops out as a low 40 point guy who maybe has a career year of 50 points one season. Sure he can and probably will play second-line centre for a lot of seasons on a lot of teams but he's not one on a good team in my opinion.
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Backlund is not a top six player (on a good team). I think the team will look a lot better than that in four years time.
I disagree. The thing about Backlund that I find exciting (albeit, im a big fan of the kid so choke down a salt grain) is that you can see the offensive potential coming, yet he already has a very mature two-way game.
He gets a bunch of take aways, works hard in all zone, seems very to have a high IQ and good sense and is committed defensively. The offense seems to be clicking a little more this season, and if that growth continues i see him as a Plekanec/Bergeron type centre. (Patrice might be pushin it) A solid 2nd line C, which would be great for this team long term
I am really starting to prefer MacKinnon more and more as I think about it. That non-stop motor is the kind of guy you want as the leader of your team (not to mention the obvious skill and potential, of course). That is something that has been lacking on this team for a while now - that consistent will to play hard.
Don't get me wrong - I think you can make valid arguments for any of the 'Fab 4' this year for going 1st over-all, but that constant motor is looking more and more attractive.
I just don't see him as a second-line centre on a good NHL team. I think he tops out as a low 40 point guy who maybe has a career year of 50 points one season. Sure he can and probably will play second-line centre for a lot of seasons on a lot of teams but he's not one on a good team in my opinion.
What, in your opinion, is holding him back from being a legitimate top 6 center at this point (and in the future)?
I think he definitely has the defensive acumen to be a shut-down center at this point, and produces enough offense to be considered a legit #3. So what do you think is holding him back from taking that next step? Consistency? Size? Will-power?
The key is next week, how many assets can we multiply?
There's no point of keeping JBo, Gio, Tanguay, Cammi, Kipper etc. Sell them and see what prospects you can bring into the system. Some of them have to turn out ok.
Go after guys that will not have the greatest interest in the UFA + throw big money at Weiss.
P-M Bouchard
Clarke MacArthur
Mason Raymond
Toni Lydman
Doug Murray
Chris Summers
Anton Khudobin
Ray Emery
Sell some of these guys next trade deadline and hope the likes of Backlund/Baertschi/out top 5 pick others int eh system are ready for the next step.
I'm hoping they get as few roster players as possible during the Great Fire Sale, stockpile on prospects+picks as much as you can.
Then in the offseason fill out the rest of the roster with unwanted UFAs on SHORT TERM deals, so they will be gone by the time youngsters are ready to step up.
I have left off Jankoski, DeBlouw & Gillies because in 5 years I expect them to be in the AHL still, in 7-8 years I see them as integral parts of the team.
The problem is management. Everyone outside of Calgary could see the writing on the wall 4 years ago. It was obvious we needed to rebuild.
Trade your assets now they said. Before they depreciate in value and you're left with an aging core that won't net you high end prospects they said. If you wait you'll be a basement team for years they said. And what did we do? We laughed at them, made vapid quips about the Detroit model, and said that if we get in the playoffs anything can happen.
Well, now we are going to have to swallow our pride and build through top 5 picks just like Edmonton did. And look how that is working out for them... Ugh. Disgusting.
What does our future look like? How does potentially not making the playoffs for a decade sound?
It's a damn near guarantee that the Flames will not, at any point, have four first round draft selections for the 2013 draft.
4 seems like a stretch, but I think 3 is within reach. If the rumors of the Flames looking to ship out more players are true, I'd actually be surprised if we didn't get one more 1st rounder out of it.
I'm not the biggest prospects guy, but does anyone know how the 2014 draft compares to 2013?
