Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I honestly think make the playoffs and anything can happen is the strategic plan for the franchise.
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It might be now because of Wolf. There might not be another option if the team wants to keep Andersson, Kadri and Coleman.
It comes down to how do the flames get a top 10 centre in the league? I think that is the most important part of any team being successful. You need a top centreman. The options to get one are:
1. Draft one in the top 10 of a good draft
2. Draft one outside the top 10 of a draft
3. Trade for one when they are a proven top centre in the league.
4. Trade for a distressed asset that at one point was projected to be a top centre but has not lived up to it (eg. Cozens or Zegras)
5. Sign one in free agency.
#1 likely takes a scorched earth rebuild and is no guarantee of working out. It needs to be a Bedard/Cellebrini/McKenna draft with high-end centres in it. Don’t think this year is one of those IMO. If you are bad at the right time and get some lottery luck, this one is the surest way to make it happen.
#2 can happen to any team but is rare. Hard to plan this way of acquiring one because it means a player exceeds what was ever projected for them by pretty much everyone. Not saying it can’t happen but it’s really tough.
#3 is tough because virtually all top centres have a NTC and will not waive to go to Calgary
#4 is a gamble but can pay off. Depends so much on the player and the environment they have been in. Every metric tells us that Cozens is a 3rd line forward except his rookie season production and his draft pedigree. But you could have said the same thing about Kakko and he’s turned into a first line forward in Seattle. There are examples of things turning the other way though - Pulljarvi is a recent one. Everyone thought it was the situation he was in but it turns out he’s just not that good of a player.
#5 is really tough because Calgary is not a preferred destination and the flames would have to overpay to get someone to sign. Also, it’s very rare for top centres to make it to free agency. I think Tavares was the last one to do it.
If the flames don’t make any moves to drop in the standings this year or next year, I think their only options for trying to get a top centre are options #2 and #4.