Can the Flames become successful long term without an ELITE #1C ?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Not to pick on you, but I hear this argument a lot. How do you define "will be fine"? A Stanley Cup champion? Because that is the question in my mind. Not whether Monahan and Bennett are fine players, or even very good players, but will they be good enough to anchor a championship team?

Seems like that is something worth debating, until such time as the answer becomes clearer.

The answer is quite simply yes and this topic is so damn unnecessary with the flames organizational centre depth. This was nothing more than a reactionary thread during a time where several top players are not playing like top players.

Backlund has the advanced stats of a first line centre despite playing 2nd to 3rd line minutes the past two seasons. Bennett has elite skill but is still figuring out the league. Monahan was one of the most consistent forwards for us ever since he entered the league. How many points do the flames have because of all the clutch game winning goals Monahan has scored? We haven't even brought up Jankowski yet who is a ppg ahl player and is getting closer and closer to reaching his ceiling everytime he steps onto the ice or gains a pound of muscle.

Three quarters of the league would love to trade their group of centres for the flames.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

The answer is quite simply yes and this topic is so damn unnecessary with the flames organizational centre depth. This was nothing more than a reactionary thread during a time where several top players are not playing like top players.

Backlund has the advanced stats of a first line centre despite playing 2nd to 3rd line minutes the past two seasons. Bennett has elite skill but is still figuring out the league. Monahan was one of the most consistent forwards for us ever since he entered the league. How many points do the flames have because of all the clutch game winning goals Monahan has scored? We haven't even brought up Jankowski yet who is a ppg ahl player and is getting closer and closer to reaching his ceiling everytime he steps onto the ice or gains a pound of muscle.

Three quarters of the league would love to trade their group of centres for the flames.

I agree with your post but you went full Kevin Lowe there - you never go full Kevin Lowe

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Monahan last season in the first 14 games had 2 goals 5 assists and was minus 7. He did have an injury in pre season 2 years in a row. Too many people are over reacting on here. It's pathetic

Most of the posts in this thread aren't about points. They're about the elements of play that don't up on the scoresheet - which are also the elements that tend to separate good centres from all-around elite centres.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's not an unfair question to ask if we have the foundation to eventually be in that conversation

There is a huge difference between that conversation and "elite? Monahan isn't really even a 1st or 2nd liner."

That's why we can't have nice things. Not because we criticise them, but because we have to follow it up with some ridiculous claim. Balanced conversations are fantastic. It's the same issue that occurred in the Gaudreau thread "Gaudreau isn't just a 1st line winger, he's the best! He's elite! He'll score 100 points! 8.5 is a deal!"

Hide behind "we're just talking, shouldn't we converse on a forum?" all you want, have any conversation you can think up, but funny comments get called out. Defending your right to make those comments isn't the same as defending the logic behind them.

Besides, out of those players you mentioned, there are certainly a handful who have a reputation built by the cup(s) they won. As well as players that won the cup before they were ever considered "elite." It'd be foolish to think Monahan or Bennett need to be at that level first, but it would obviously help.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

There is a huge difference between that conversation and "elite? Monahan isn't really even a 1st or 2nd liner."

How many people said that?

[flamesforcup]

We potentially have 3 second line centres which can offset not having an elite #1 centre. Plus an elite winger helps

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Most of the posts in this thread aren't about points. They're about the elements of play that don't up on the scoresheet - which are also the elements that tend to separate good centres from all-around elite centres.

And the counter arguments are in relation to a 22 year old in his third season coming off a back injury with no training camp and a terrible hairdo. Moot argument, it would have been amazing if he was anything but bad to start the season, but alas he could not overcome the terribleness of his greasy half mullet.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

How many people said that?

Several, between this thread and the Monahan thread. I'm sure significant more in GT and PGT of losses (though, we won't count those because of emotion).

Why? Think I just made up a POV because I missed our banter? Maybe I did...