Do we have an elite A+ player on our team? Who does this team lean on?

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The Flames have still never picked top 3.

Actually the Flames have had a top 3 pick before. The Flames have drafted 2nd overall twice in the teams history (Lysiak and Richard).

[codynw]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Then no one is elite. Except maybe Tyler Johnson and Mike Smith.

Two players with no championships are your only examples of "players that can perform consistently in crunch time"?

Makes sense.

[SOMBRI]

Originally Posted by Wyguy

What do you guys think Tavares will sign for? Any chance it is with the Islanders, or does he leave?

I always think there is a chance and we need that true superstar to take this team.over the top. I am.very high on Tavares.

But may be it takes a Bennett to get it done?

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[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SOMBRI

I always think there is a chance and we need that true superstar to take this team.over the top. I am.very high on Tavares.

But may be it takes a Bennett to get it done?

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Tavares, if he doesn’t sign with NYI, is a free agent on July 1st. We’re not trading for him.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Tavares is a pipe dream until you get Brouwer off the books.

[Wyguy]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Tavares is a pipe dream until you get Brouwer off the books.

I'd trade a good prospect away for someone to take Brouwer so that we can sign Tavares.

We got Stajan's 3m coming off, with Brouwer gone, Backlunds extension (Which we may not need if we sign Tavares), and Bennett to extend in two years. Also, mike Smiths contract will be coming off which will give us 4m more to work with, but then signing Gillies for like a million. The way I see it, Tkachuk takes Stajans 3m. Brouwers 4.5m and smiths 4.5m could be enough if Tavares will sign for 9m. It will make things like a Backlund raise and a Bennett raise. But can be simply fixed if we trade Stone away for a pick and replace with a cheap prospect. Still a small chance it happens, but it could work!

[Greybeard]

Tavares is not signing for $9mil. He is an elite player and going to get over $10.

[SOMBRI]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Tavares, if he doesn’t sign with NYI, is a free agent on July 1st. We’re not trading for him.

I understood that part. If he isnt signed, I doubt the Isles would let him walk for free.

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[Samonadreau]

Let me start by saying in no way am I saying this is what the Flames should do, this purely a hypothetical but the only way the flames go after Tavares is if they let Backlund walk or trade Monahan. That and Stajan/Versteeg/Jagr/Lack (all over 1M) coming of the books opens more then enough to sign him. Also there is the option of the Brouwer Buyout.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Let me start by saying in no way am I saying this is what the Flames should do, this purely a hypothetical but the only way the flames go after Tavares is if they let Backlund walk or trade Monahan. That and Stajan/Versteeg/Jagr/Lack (all over 1M) coming of the books opens more then enough to sign him. Also there is the option of the Brouwer Buyout.

I would give up one of Backlund or Monahan for Tavares in a heartbeat. That's not even a difficult choice in my opinion. Tavares is awesome.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

Yeah, how about that Huselius 2.0?

Huselius, at his peak, scored 77 points in 81 games. Not quite as good as Gaudreau, but not far off. Gaudreau is the better player, but for most other players and prospects the team has, Huselius 2.0 would hardly be a bad thing.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by SebC

Huselius, at his peak, scored 77 points in 81 games. Not quite as good as Gaudreau, but not far off. Gaudreau is the better player, but for most other players and prospects the team has, Huselius 2.0 would hardly be a bad thing.

Yeah, I agree, but I don't agree with the people here acting like Johnny had plateaued as "just" a complimentary player after the game against the Oilers, and I sure felt like he proved me right with that second period effort against the Jets.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Tavares is not signing for $9mil. He is an elite player and going to get over $10.

if he hits the open market he is getting near a max contract

[JohnnyB]

Even most stars are complementary players a decent amount of the time. Unless you've got someone like a Crosby who can do everything on the ice to make the team win, or a McDavid that can just score all the goals by himself, then even the stars are just playing a part. Those players who can consistently change the nature of the game through their play are extraordinarily rare, and the Flames don't have any of them. What the Flames do have is a good number of players who will stand out and drive results from time to time or for stretches of the season and otherwise be solid contributors to a team game.

That's not so bad. It just means the Flames don't have that one person to lean on to carry them to success whenever the going gets tough. The Flames need a rotation where different players stand up and get it done at different times.

[Fan69]

I don't get some of the comparisons some posters make. It seems to me that their is a constant discussion about where our players stand.
Usually goes like this
Gosh if we don't have this player(insert any of the top three players of the last 25 years) we just can't win.
Those top players dusualy didn't peak at 24.
Take the top ten teams first second lines usually comparable.top 4 usually comparable. It's when you get beyond that that character and DEPTH.usualy win out. Crosby and Malkin are great but still have t won them a cup every year a whole lot of other things had to go right. We have a comparable top 2 lines we have a comparable top 4. Smith looks very solid. Now we see where this team really is a and what they can do even without a mcmuffin in the line up and I feel pretty good about it.

I see the same thing when talkin g about prospects. Well yes he doesn't have the same numbers as ( again insert of the top players of last 25 years) so obviously he's a total bum.

[calgaryblood]

I think it's safe to say that player is Gaudreau.

He's just on another level.

[smiggy77]

Lol @ Huselius 2.0


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[Wyguy]

he continues playing like he has been for the last two games, he is without a doubt that elite player.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Wyguy

he continues playing like he has been for the last two games, he is without a doubt that elite player.

No “ifs” here. Gaudreau is an elite player period.

[Poe969]

Sure, but isn't McDavid fast!

Gaudreau is amazing, he's just really good at everything he needs to do. He reads the play so well and knows when to get to the right places. He's amazingly fun to watch