[Game Takes] Senators 3 Flames 1

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's kind of escaped criticism because everyone thinks he plays a well rounded game but outside of playing the Oilers (seems to be the only time he hits that 2nd gear) he's been as lethargic as the rest of the core players.

He’s much better as Monahan’s winger but it seems like he really really wants to be a centre. For all the “he carries the play better than Monahan”, he really doesn’t carry the puck as much on that line. Tkachuk does a fair bit and Dube did when he was on it. Dube really likes to carry.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

And do not have a single prospect who is going to do this.

It's honestly pretty bleak moving forward.

I'm annoyingly optimistic, but I'm not seeing it all that bleak.

The Flames have a lot of good young pieces, the key is to move the pieces that don't fit what you will be doing in two to three years and keep the ones that will fit that plan.

The team has shown to be a pretty shrewd drafting crew in recent years, and that's big in both using additional picks, and in potentially identifying players to acquire that are ready to pop.

The league has shown more of a retool process instead of the full blown rebuild in recent years.

At least the team isn't facing the economics that they were coming into the mid 90s that made that era the definition of bleak.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm annoyingly optimistic, but I'm not seeing it all that bleak.

The Flames have a lot of good young pieces, the key is to move the pieces that don't fit what you will be doing in two to three years and keep the ones that will fit that plan.

The team has shown to be a pretty shrewd drafting crew in recent years, and that's big in both using additional picks, and in potentially identifying players to acquire that are ready to pop.

The league has shown more of a retool process instead of the full blown rebuild in recent years.

At least the team isn't facing the economics that they were coming into the mid 90s that made that era the definition of bleak.

The roster isn't terrible but they badly need a legit top line center that drives the play and distributes the puck. They got by with Monahan when he was a dangerous shooter and Gaudreau was on his game to get him the puck but now neither of those things are happening they just don't have an offense that scares anyone. It's been weeks now that the opposition has been limiting them to a single goal on most nights. I just don't see where this retool fix is as first line centers typically only become available via top 10 draft pick. Look at how much interest was in Dubois and it's not even clear if he's going to be a legit 1st line center. Really tough when your organization is a have not at the most critical skater position.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The roster isn't terrible but they badly need a legit top line center that drives the play and distributes the puck. They got by with Monahan when he was a dangerous shooter and Gaudreau was on his game to get him the puck but now neither of those things are happening they just don't have an offense that scares anyone. It's been weeks now that the opposition has been limiting them to a single goal on most nights. I just don't see where this retool fix is as those players typically only become available via top 10 draft pick.

Yeah getting the game breaking core player is never easy.

I'm just saying this isn't an aged out team with 34 year olds on long term contracts ... they have a lot of good young pieces.

You don't have to tear this down to the studs to go forward.

Maybe you move some assets, gain some futures, and finish with a top ten pick one year, draft well and bounce back.

We've certainly seen that.