How important is centre depth?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Not sure I agree. Backlund is still really an unknown and Stajan has 20 games of being a quality top 2 center in three plus years, so I could argue we don't really even have two yet.

Stajan has had more than just 20 games as a good center, he was actually quite useful as well in T.O don't understand why you would omit his tenure with the Leafs. Backlund has injury issues but has impressed under Hartley so yes, Backlund is still yet unproven but has shown positive signs of being a productive center in the league.

[Vedder]

Stajan would be an ideal third line center on a good team. I think Backlund can be a decent number 2 if he continues to improve.

It really bothers me that Feaster didn't at least address faceoff situation. The Flames are embarrassing in that department.

[moon]

All that Stajan has shown in these 20 games and in TO that on bad teams he can be okay if force fed minutes and winning isn't a concern.

He would be fine as 3rd/4th line center on good teams.

[Sakari]

That man will be our future franchise player.

[bubbsy]

Why the green text, he very well might be? At least flames can remain optimistic until proven otherwise, though it could be 5 years before he dawns the flames jersey as a regular, so patience is needed...

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Vedder

Stajan would be an ideal third line center on a good team. I think Backlund can be a decent number 2 if he continues to improve.

It really bothers me that Feaster didn't at least address faceoff situation. The Flames are embarrassing in that department.

That would be where I see Stajan if the Flames somehow managed to get a good 1a/1b center.

line one: Backlund/TBD other center
line 2: " " "
line 3: Horak/Stajan
line 4: Bouma/Begin

[Sakari]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Why the green text, he very well might be? At least flames can remain optimistic until proven otherwise, though it could be 5 years before he dawns the flames jersey as a regular, so patience is needed...

I personally do have faith that he'll make the NHL. Not sure that he's the number one center that we so badly need, which is why I used the green text.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Yakbutter

Not only does Calgary not have a first line center, they don't even have 3 legitimate nhl centers. How stupid was it to go into the season with Backlund and Stajan as the only two centers.

Feaster should be fired for such incompetence. I understand top 6 centers are not easy to come by, but this "who needs centers lets just force wingers to play the position" strategy is so bizarre. Failed to land Richards, could not land ROR, can't make a trade for one.

Feasters days of blaming Daryl's mess are over. He's been on the job for more than 2 years now. This is his vision of a good team, and it doesn't make any sense.

This ROR gaff along with this centre issue he has created clearly shows he's not the man for the job. I fear what more damage he's going to bring to the team since he isn't going away anytime soon.

[DeluxeMoustache]

The Flames made the playoffs quite handily with Conroy and/or Langkow as their main centre and Stephane Yelle. All 3 very smart players, and most would argue that neither was a true top line center... though both when primarily centering Iggy were able to put up 1A numbers.

At least once in each of the LA and Anaheim games Comeau was covering the slot and completely failed to pay attention to the opposing player entering the slot, who scored. This is representative of the biggest problem facing this team.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The real question is how do we get a number one centre, hell even a number two centre. Unless we trade Bart and Iggy I do not see us getting a young up and coming centre.

You have to draft them. You can maybe acquire a secondary centre via trade, and even that will cost you a fortune (Schenn + Simmonds for a Richards). Teams don't trade #1 centres. And the move to acquire these bigger name pieces should only be made when the other pieces are in place to go on a legitimate cup run.

If we look at LA, they developed Kopitar (number 1 centre) Doughty (number 1 D) Quick (number 1 goalie) from within. They fleeced the Oilers to get Stoll and Greene. Scuderi and Mitchell were excellent free agent acquisitions.

When it became obvious they needed a little something extra to get over the hump, they went out and got Richards and Carter. The pieces for them to be great were already in place. The LA Kings were actually a fairly good point by point model of how to build a successful NHL franchise, their struggles this season notwithstanding.

Bottom line is, centre depth is the most important thing you can have. It's like having a franchise quarterback; it masks a lot of other issues and allows you to consistently be in a position to have success.

[BigBird]

pretty important look at all the teams who have won a championship they all had depth at center.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

The Flames made the playoffs quite handily with Conroy and/or Langkow as their main centre and Stephane Yelle. All 3 very smart players, and most would argue that neither was a true top line center... though both when primarily centering Iggy were able to put up 1A numbers.

At least once in each of the LA and Anaheim games Comeau was covering the slot and completely failed to pay attention to the opposing player entering the slot, who scored. This is representative of the biggest problem facing this team.

Numbers are irrelevant. Because despite making the playoffs relatively handily for several years after the lockout, when Calgary ran into teams with better centre depth, they lost.

Anaheim, Detroit, San Jose, Chicago. Are we seeing a trend?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Sakari

That man will be our future franchise player.

There is an excellent chance that he could be. He's also the highest ceiling centre the team has acquired in 20 years. So by all means, continue sh8tting on a bright spot.