QOTD: What is the Flame's current core?

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah my response is how is core defined? Rather than attempt to read the mind of Brad Treliving, I have made the assumption that a Core player is a guy you would keep at nearly any cost, be wiling to give a maximum termed contract to avoid losing or having to trade the player.

From that I have a 6 player core of Sam Bennet, Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund, T.J. Brodie, and Mark Giordano, which are the 6 most popular choices, and Backlund really was borderline for me. It provides 3 centers, two defenceman, and a winger. In time you could easily swap out Backlund for a franchise goaltender. Ortio could grow into that player, but as of now he still has much to prove to me. Bennett hasn't played a game yet so it is silly to consider him a core player, but he's definitely a guy that I am not willing to trade for established veteran help that might be available. Obvioulsy if Tavares is offered to you for Bennet a first, and something else...I'm all over that. But I'm not moving him to get Jason Spezza or Phil Kessel. Whereas if a Cory Schneider type could be had for Ortio I have no problem making that deal.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Backlund is a 25-year old #2 center that defends most high quality #1s exceptionally well, while being a driving offensive force. Just because this team has three players capable of playing on the Top 6 doesn't mean that if they're pushed down the depth chart it's a bad thing - in fact it's a sign of a very strong team. Remember the 2011 and 2012 Bruins with Krejci / Bergeron / Seguin?

It's huge mistakes like that (being unable/unwilling to retain a centerman like Seguin) that lead pretty young cores (Bergeron 29 Krejci 27 Lucic 26 Marchand 26 Rask 26 Hamilton 21 Krug 23) to fall apart like they are right now. The Bruins are both an example of how TO build a team and how NOT to manage a team. Of course, letting Boychuk go was another mistake.

Going off topic but the Bruins core starts and basically ends with Chara. He is no longer dominate so he make the the rest of the core average.

The Bruins getting back Seguin and losing some other strong support players that the cap forced does not make them significantly better without Chara being on the ice for 25 minutes a game as Norris trophy type d-man...

Somehow Krug become part of the Boston core..... Then add Wideman to the Flames.. more goals points a lot more ice-time .

[ricardodw]

so if Backlund is part of the core does he get a 5M four year deal like Brodie? This sets up Monahan and Gaudreau for the 6+ for 6 year deal in 2016.

Is Bouma core enough to get Clarkson type money this summer? Most folks would expect him to take the 4 2.5 deal that Glencross took at the similar time in his career. If you really have trouble given Bouma 4 mil / year over 4-5 years then he is not in your core.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

so if Backlund is part of the core does he get a 5M four year deal like Brodie? This sets up Monahan and Gaudreau for the 6+ for 6 year deal in 2016.

Is Bouma core enough to get Clarkson type money this summer? Most folks would expect him to take the 4 2.5 deal that Glencross took at the similar time in his career. If you really have trouble given Bouma 4 mil / year over 4-5 years then he is not in your core.

Who you consider an integral part of the team going forward has little to do with their salaries.

To suggest a player has to be above a certain pay grade to be considered a core piece makes no sense.

[1991 Canadian]

For what its worth, I think role players / grinders like Bouma can be part of a teams core. Ask any Red Wings fan if Kris Draper or Kirk Maltby were part of their core back in the day. They'd probably say yes.

[dissentowner]

How can people not vote Russell here? The Flames are not even close to a playoff team without his blocked shots and good play.

[edn88]

Our core is Bennett, Gaudreau, Monahan, Bouma and Backlund on the front and Gio and Brodie on the back. I think everyone else could be traded for the right price (the core guys could be traded for the right price, but that price is pretty high). Guys like Klimchuck, Poirier, Wolf etc have to prove themselves

[SebC]

Monahan
Gaudreau
Hudler
Giordano
Brodie

I wanted to add Backlund, but I can forsee him becoming this team's Jordan Staal.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian

For what its worth, I think role players / grinders like Bouma can be part of a teams core. Ask any Red Wings fan if Kris Draper or Kirk Maltby were part of their core back in the day. They'd probably say yes.

I said something similar in another thread earlier today. While they might not be core players guys like Backlund and Bouma are pretty darn important and not too far from it. I cited McCarty and Draper.

[Mister Yamoto]

Only 45% have Hudler as a core player?? Wow. The guy is playing on the top line and leading the team in points. Also led the team in points last season.

It's like the fanbase has bought into the youth movement so much that they think the ultimate sin a player can commit is to celebrate a 30th birthday.

And how can you be a part of the core of a team without ever playing a single game? Almost 10% have Gillies in the core. He has never even been to a Flames training camp.

[Fire in the disco]

Completely agree, Hudler is absolutely core. With the exception of Gio he is the best veteran presence on the team, and our most consistent forward veteran presence. I hope he is here playing top 6 for a long time

[Lucifer]

Just because I could, I clicked all the players.

My core is Monahan, Gaudreau, Giordano, Brodie, and Ortio. I'll throw in Bennett as well, and Backlund.

[Itse]

I think you can put this in tiers. (Or I guess layers.)

I: Monahan, Giordano, Bennett
II: Brodie, Gaudreau
III: Bouma, Hudler, Backlund
IV: Ortio, Poirier, Russell. Maybe Colborne? (Hard to know how the management sees him, but I see him as an extremely useful player for this team.)

I fully expect all these guys to be important parts of the team in 2017 when the Flames are hopefully a serious cup contender.

I get that some are hesitant to put Bennett that high, but judging from everything I hear, they seem to have him pretty much pencilled in as "future franchise player". (Which I get is a not unreasonable, but still makes me uncomfortable.)

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by united

Players who have never played an NHL game are not core players...

I really think that that is ridiculous. In my understanding of the term, "core" implies a certainty about the player's importance to the team's future success. It also suggests that these are assets that are almost too valuable to move in a trade. What could be more important to future success, and what could be more valuable than elite level blue chip prospects?

Treliving WILL NOT TRADE his first ever draft pick. Bennett WILL PLAY for the Calgary Flames, and he is such a good player that it is a practical certainty that he will be one of the best players on this team very soon.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I really think that that is ridiculous. In my understanding of the term, "core" implies a certainty about the player's importance to the team's future success. It also suggests that these are assets that are almost too valuable to move in a trade. What could be more important to future success, and what could be more valuable than elite level blue chip prospects?

Treliving WILL NOT TRADE his first ever draft pick. Bennett WILL PLAY for the Calgary Flames, and he is such a good player that it is a practical certainty that he will be one of the best players on this team very soon.

Take off your homer glasses for a moment and consider if Nurse and Draisaitl are considered part of the Oiler Core?

Not everyone steps in like Monahan and Gaudreau...

Bennett has looked great so far and might be part of the core this time next year. He was not as a sure thing to be part of the core as was Baertschi was 2 years ago.