[GT] Jets at Flames

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Guys over 30

Iginla 32 Langkow 32 Jokinen 30 Kipper 32 Sarich 31 Conroy 37 in 2009-10


Gio 34 Brouwer 32 Elliott 32 Frolik 30 Stajan 33 in 2017-18


What is in the Flames current cupboard better than Backlund and Brodie? keep in mind I expect Tkachuk to be a real NHL player next year filling in a ????

Oh no you don't you cherry picker.

Current top two centers are 22 and 20 with our 3rd line center being 27 (compared to 30/32/37 from the 2009/10 team)

Current best winger is 23 (compared to 32 from the 2010 team)

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Guys over 30

Iginla 32 Langkow 32 Jokinen 30 Kipper 32 Sarich 31 Conroy 37 in 2009-10


Gio 34 Brouwer 32 Elliott 32 Frolik 30 Stajan 33 in 2017-18


What is in the Flames current cupboard better than Backlund and Brodie? keep in mind I expect Tkachuk to be a real NHL player next year filling in a ????

come on now...you have more sense than that

compare the top lines in age, top 3 centers in age

Stajan is maybe playing on the 4th line and likely done after the season

[Plaedo]

Originally Posted by dino7c

come on now...you have more sense than that

compare the top lines in age, top 3 centers in age

Stajan is maybe playing on the 4th line and likely done after the season

Not to mention, I think one could argue that Gio currently plays more like a 25 year old, not a 34 year old. The guy is a beast. IIRC, Sarich was already slowing down in 09-10, and he was only 31. Just goes to show that the very validity of the age argument is moot. Conditioning seems to be a better indicator of trajectory and the sustainment of a high level of play, but everyone is different, with different genes...

A lot of people get down on ricardodw, but they say to surround yourself with people that think differently than you do. I don't known if I ever understand ricardodw's logic. So maybe that's a good thing?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Guys over 30

Iginla 32 Langkow 32 Jokinen 30 Kipper 32 Sarich 31 Conroy 37 in 2009-10


Gio 34 Brouwer 32 Elliott 32 Frolik 30 Stajan 33 in 2017-18


What is in the Flames current cupboard better than Backlund and Brodie? keep in mind I expect Tkachuk to be a real NHL player next year filling in a ????

I see you didn't even bother to dispute that the current talent level is better, or that the D is far superior.

Of the six 09 players you list, you could argue Iginla was still at or near the top of his game. But all of the rest of your list of 09 Flames except arguably Kipper were sliding seriously. Jokinen had never delivered, Conroy was 37(!), Langkow was a decent semi-skilled journeyman and Sarich hardly a core piece.

Whereas of the five present players, I doubt anyone would say Gio doesn't have a lot left in the tank - he's at a peak plateau IMO, Frolik is nowhere near going downhill, Elliot is not old for a goalie and doesn't have near the mileage of Kipper and Stajan is a fourth liner.

Anyway, you ignore that the collection of older players from 09 was almost all the talent they had, whereas the core of the Flames going forward is Gio, sure, but also Monahan, Bennett, Gaudreau, Backlund, Brodie and Hamilton. That's six younger players who the 09 team can't match. Seven since you granted Tkatchuk. I'm not even counting Ferland and Bouma there, and they can contribute.

And in the cupboard? Gillies, Kylington, Jankowski, Andersson, Shinkaruk, Klimchuk, Wotherspoon, Poirier all have pretty good shots at the NHL, maybe Morrison as well, and a fair bit of depth guys like Hamilton, Kulak, Culkin. There's longer shots like Mangiapane as well. Remember where Brodie was drafted, or Gaudreau.