Bennett is the one who needs to find a player that fits on his wing - or if it's Matthews then Bennett shifts to be the winger on his line. You have 3 strong pairings of players like that and then you can easily fill the holes with other young players, current roster players and UFAS.
I'd agree with this. The top line is a threat. Yes we can make it a much greater threat, but it would be nice to get someone to be the pairing with Bennett for the future so we have two lines to throw out to really cause problems.
April 30th needs to hurry up and get here, and if we don't win a top 3 lottery, draft day needs to hurry up and get here.
Gaudreau is smart enough to play RW if need be as well. Ferland has looked somewhat promising on RW as well. So Dubois or Tkachuk would give us a great LWer to pair with either centre.
I think unless we draft top 3, I don't think our first rounder will play in the NHL next year.
Agreed.
Drafting for current roster needs is pointless unless we are in that top 3.
We don't know who will or won't pan out, or who will leave or arrive as a free agent by the time this year's top picks are ready. After the top 3, it should be BPA all the way.
A guy like Tkachuk might be a dark horse to make the NHL next season, but you can't really make plans around that.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
3 x 2nd round pics. Keep them? Package them for a player?
Oh absolutely try to package them. Maybe not for a player though, maybe to try and move up. This year, where there's a separation after the top dozen or so, packaging for an additional first might be realistic.
In order to win the Cup you need two lines that have elite talent on it.
Kings have it with Kopitar and Carter anchoring two separate lines.
Hawks had it with the crazy Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp groups that they would switch around at times.
If the Flames get a strong winger for Bennett then they are set up to have two elite scoring lines, plus a really good 3rd line Anchored by Backlund.
Say it works out to something like this for next season:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Laine/Dubois/Puljujaarvi (I think those 3 could be NHL ready due to size/skill)
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Hathaway
Bollig
That is a pretty strong forward group that is still pretty young and has lots of potential. Plus you'd still have Jankowski, Poirier, Klimchuk, Arnold, Pollock, Agostino, Smith, Carroll, & Mangiapane developing in the minors.
With the d-core that we have, if you'd add a goalie to that group we'd be in pretty good shape.
Some are too focused on a RW for Gaudreau-Monahan. Those guys can produce already and are already a good line.
I do think adding a right handed shot forward is something that Johnny/Monny line can use, but I'm just not desperately looking at the draft to fill the hole. It doesn't need to be a core piece. It can be a cheap deadline rental... like... Jarome Iginla or an older UFA like Patrick Sharp. The key to making it work is for Bennett's line to be our "dominant" line so that the Gaudreau line gets to be sheltered from the major checking assignments that they've been slapped with this year.
When is the stupid lottery anyways? Surely some Oiler fans on here have it circled on their calendar.
April 30.
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The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
In order to win the Cup you need two lines that have elite talent on it.
Kings have it with Kopitar and Carter anchoring two separate lines.
Hawks had it with the crazy Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp groups that they would switch around at times.
If the Flames get a strong winger for Bennett then they are set up to have two elite scoring lines, plus a really good 3rd line Anchored by Backlund.
Say it works out to something like this for next season:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Laine/Dubois/Puljujaarvi (I think those 3 could be NHL ready due to size/skill)
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Hathaway
Bollig
That is a pretty strong forward group that is still pretty young and has lots of potential. Plus you'd still have Jankowski, Poirier, Klimchuk, Arnold, Pollock, Agostino, Smith, Carroll, & Mangiapane developing in the minors.
With the d-core that we have, if you'd add a goalie to that group we'd be in pretty good shape.
agree 100%
Bennett has had is offence dry up because a) He's a rookie but also b) he's been pretty much alone on that third line
The Backlund/Frolik pairing is built to be a 2b/3a line like few teams can boast in the circuit.
But we are a winger shy of creating the other two lines and it doesn't matter what wing they get. Sure the Flames are shy on right shooting wingers and a rightie would be ideal but it's certainly not a must.
Laine is my first choice for all-around fit, and I do think he will end up becoming an elite player in the NHL with time.
With that being said, one thing I can't get enough of is seeing Pulujarvi's huge smile and excitement in his youtube goal scoring clips. He must have the most infectious smile out of the entire draft class.
Bennett is the one who needs to find a player that fits on his wing - or if it's Matthews then Bennett shifts to be the winger on his line. You have 3 strong pairings of players like that and then you can easily fill the holes with other young players, current roster players and UFAS.
That's what Conroy said yesterday as well. Having 3 pairs.
Gaudreau-Monahan combo don't need an elite talent for their right side. They need a space creator especially on the road. Having seen Ferland now I don't think he's the answer. As Conroy said they want to get a big snarly RW this summer. Not sure if and who they get but this guy will play on the top line if they can land him. I still think Hornqvist and Coyle would be great fits in that spot.
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik line is set. Try to get Colborne as cheap as possible. The guy loves playing here and is durable. Line has size, speed, good board game and some skill. All are former 1st round picks.
Bennett, the guy Flames get in this draft is to play with Bennett. I've liked Shinkaruk so he can potentially be the 3rd piece on this line. Having a legit Bennett line will open up line matchups for the top line as well.
Ferland-Grant-Hathaway-Arnold-Hamilton-Elson-Stajan would be the 4th liners.
