The Light at the End of the Tunnel: 2016 Flames

[FlameZilla]

Many people around here believe the Calgary Flames can build a solid team within 3 years. When you look at the assets we currently possess do you believe we can build a contender by 2016?

I mentioned in another thread that we need to be looking a few years ahead in order to determine our strategy for this coming draft. Yes we should pick BPA, but in some instances where players are similarly ranked it would be prudent to pick players that play in certain positions over others.

By 2016-2017 all of our current contracts will have expired, with the exception of Dennis Wideman. What sort of line-up could we expect to build around the young players and prospects we currently have?

This is the skeleton of a line-up which I think we may have to build around in 3years, with "_________" denoting a place where there is not an obvious candidate to fill that role to an acceptable level:

Baertschi _______ __________
Gaudreau Backlund _________
Horak Reinhart _______
Bouma Arnold ________

_______ ________
Brodie Wideman
Cundari Wotherspoon

_________
Brossoit

Wildcard/Longshots who could make an impact:

Gillies
Agostino
Ferland
Jankowski
Kulak
Breen
Culkin
Hanowski

Between now and 2016 how can we build a competitive line-up out of this core of young players? It's fairly obvious where our weaknesses are, but do we address them only through the draft, or is there any hope of acquiring top talent through other means?

What would you do as GM?

[StrykerSteve]

Obviously there will be all sorts of trades and draft picks and such, but based on what they currently have in the system...

Baertschi Backlund ________
Gaudreau Jankowski Agostino
Horak Reinhart Hanowski
Bouma Arnold ________

Brodie Wotherspoon
Cundari Wideman
Breen Sieloff

Gillies
Brossoit

[TurnedTheCorner]

Wow, this is fun!! Here's my 2019 Flames line-up using the same methodology.

_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________

_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________

_________
_________

I'm drooling at the possibilities! So exciting!

[Hockey_Ninja]

I don't see Ekblad and McDavid's names in the line-ups...

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Wow, this is fun!! Here's my 2019 Flames line-up using the same methodology.

_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________

_________ __BUTLER_______
_________ _________
_________ _________

_________
_________

I'm drooling at the possibilities! So exciting!

Fixed your post.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Fixed your post.

Nooooooooooooooooooo

[3 Justin 3]

I will probably be in the minority (well I will be, I'll be the StrykerSteve of 2014-2015), but I hope we tank the 2014-2015 season as hard as the Penguins did in 83-84. Next year we can play, but the year after, oh boy.

[nik-]

I don't think we'll need to tank next year, we're just going to suck. Florida had a ton of veteran injuries, Carolina's starting goaltender got hurt and their backups were awful and Colorado should get better. Tampa? ... who knows why they were so bad so who knows where they and Nashville will be. We're likely going into the season with two unproven Euro league goalies or 1+ one career backup and probably not too much from the FA market.

Next year is going to hurt, a top 3 pick is likely.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I will probably be in the minority (well I will be, I'll be the StrykerSteve of 2014-2015), but I hope we tank the 2014-2015 season as hard as the Penguins did in 83-84. Next year we can play, but the year after, oh boy.

I don't think the Flames will have to tank to pick at the top of the 2014 draft. It's going to be a pretty challenging season especially if the goaltending position is unsettled.

[topfiverecords]

2033 lineup

Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid

Regehr's kid Regehr's kid
Regehr's kid Regehr's kid
Regehr's kid Regehr's kid

Kipper's kid
Kipper's kid

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Fixed your post.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

(This is a depth chart rather than line combos)

Baertschi Barkov __________
______ Backlund 2014 1st rounder
Glencross Jankowski Re-tread Iginla
Bouma Arnold Ferland

________ Brodie
Giordano Wideman
Ramage Wotherspoon

Ramo
______



This is a team that is still 3 impact players and probably a stud goalie away from being a contender.

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

2033 lineup

Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid
Iginla's kid Iginla's kid Iginla's kid

Regehr's kid Regehr's kid
Regehr's kid Regehr's kid
Regehr's kid Regehr's kid

Kipper's kid
Kipper's kid

Oh yeah #12 has 12 kids

[korzym12]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think the Flames will have to tank to pick at the top of the 2014 draft. It's going to be a pretty challenging season especially if the goaltending position is unsettled.

Tanking is tanking - whether it's deliberate or not is another debate. Fact is this team doesn't have what it takes to make it to the playoffs.

[pylon]

Canucks 2033 lineup:
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________

_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________

Roberto Luongo
_________

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

I believe the shot at both Ekblad and McD are reason for optimism enough. If we stick to the program and bottom out ie bottom 3 bad, we could have two good shots at two very special players.

Baertshi, Backlund __McDavid____
Gaudreau, Reinhart, __HOrvat____
Bouma, Monohan/Lindholm, ______
byron, Nemisz, _______

Brodie, Wideman
Gio, ___Ekblad___
Wotherspoon, Ramage

Ramo/Berra
Brossoit/Ramo/Berra

[cowtown75]

Ok, I'll play... 3 years from now- (who we currently have)

Baertschi- Backlund- Hudler
Glencross-Reinhart- Cervenka
Cammy-Granlund-Gaudreau
Ferland-Jankowski-Aliu

Brodie-Sieloff
Giordano-Wideman
Breen- Wotherspoon
Ramage-_______

Ramo
Brossoit/Gilles

[cowtown75]

what I would like to see...3 years from now-

Baertschi-Lindholm-Hudler
Nichushkin-Jankowski-Cammy
Glencross-Grandlund-Gaudreau
Ferland-Reinhart-Zykov
*Cervenka
Brodie-Shattenkirk
Giordano-Wideman
Sieloff-Buyfuglien
Ramage-Wotherspoon
*Breen
Ramo/Gilles/Brossoit

[3 Justin 3]

I will say, our goaltending will probably be bad who ever we have in 3 years.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by pylon

Canucks 2033 lineup:
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________

_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________

Roberto Luongo
_________

This actually made me laugh out loud at 3 in the morning..good job.