TSN: Every team's biggest need heading up to the Trade Deadline

[Flash Walken]

Monahan is fine, it was starting the season with a back injury and no training camp that is largely accounting for his relative lack of production up to this point.

Last year through the first 43 games of the year monahan had 28 points averaging about 20 minutes a game.

This year he has 27 points through 47 games averaging about 18 minutes a game.

The difference for the Flames upfront offensive has been Gaudreau. Point per game through the first 43 last year and a +6, this year 28p in 37gp,-12. He is producing more on the PP (10 points in 37 games, last season 9 points in 43) but his 5-5 play has fallen off a cliff.

Bennett's offence is disappointing but it's mostly stagnant from last season and I dont think playing centre is doing him any good right now. Gaudeau's lack of production 5-5 is much more concerning. I think the article is accurate, if you can get another centre and move bennett to the wing this is a much better lineup in the top 6 that will help the team produce more 5-5.

[djsFlames]

Sam Bennett needed to be moved to wing 20 games ago. It hasn't worked, it still doesn't work. See if he can handle being a productive winger first. Breed Jankowski for the 3rd line C role next season. Move stajan up and use Hamilton on the 4th line. We're bleeding goals against as long as Bennett is playing over his head at center. His line doesn't produce to counteract the goals against. Or bring in a guy, but I think we have guys that can do the job. 2nd pairing dman is more important.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Not clear at all. He said second line Center, not second pairing Center.

He also said to "acquire a second pairing player who could take some of the load off Dennis Wideman's plate" and I can't imagine how a second line centre would accomplish that. It's obviously a typo and the body of the content clearly reads for a second pairing defenceman.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Center is our greatest strength? Could have fooled me. We have Backlund and then Bennett who is bad defensively and then Monahan who is average defensively. Stajan is pretty good for a fourth line Center but I 100% agree we need another Center. Call it second or call it a third line Center but we need another defensively aware Center this season.

Our young guys might become good centers down the road, as of right now they're not good enough.

I'm sure we could trade for all help we need at centre if we want to. And we likely wouldn't have to give up anything more then one of Monahan or Bennett (who are no good anyway, right) I guess if it were Bennett they wanted we'd probably have to make some other moves to make it work cap wise, but I bet it could be done.

If an upgrade at centre is what we need, and we don't like our current centre situation, it's likely a manigable fix and we'll be well on our way to cup contention I guess.

[Geeoff]

If I were Brad, my plan would be to sell off the UFAs for whatever and only buy if a player in their 20s became available. I don't see a long-term 2nd pairing solution becoming available magically at the trade deadline, unless the Jets decided to trade Jacob Trouba after all.

[DJones]

2nd line center is the one thing we don't need haha. We have three of them.