Who is the Flames #1 star forward over the course of the next 5 years?

[EVERLAST]

E2

[Freddy]

Rittich? Dube?

Edit: reread the thread title, Rittich not being a forward rules him out, but could be Kipper V2 which could make him a face of the franchise.

So I’ll go with Dube, he has all the tools and intangibles and the game is evolving in a direction that his size doesn’t limit his ability to be ‘elite’. I could see him as a heart & soul, PP, PK, clutch scorer, grinder, and leader in mold of Bergeron.

[David Struch]

2019-20 Johnny Gaudreau
2020-21 Johnny Gaudreau
2021-22 Johnny Gaudreau
2022-23 Matthew Tkachuk or Jakob Pelletier
2023-24 Matthew Tkachuk or Jakob Pelletier

[ricardodw]

Where will Tkachuk be relative to the 9 other ELC/RFA's

Aho
Marner
Point
Laine
Rantanen
Werenski
Mcavoy
Meier
Boeser
Connor

These all would be very welcome on the Flames and at least half of then would have higher upsides (hard to tell exactly which ones) than Tkachuk.

All of these guys have a chance to be the #1 guy on their teams but other than Aho they are not expected to.

Also out of this list of 10 how many are going to be disappointments


Which on of these 10 would it be worth for LA or Ottawa to make an offer sheet?

If these guys are are going to be the face of a franchise (sort of #1 or 2 draft pick overall) in 5 years then it would be worth the picks.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

...Aho
Marner
Point
Laine
Rantanen
Werenski
Mcavoy
Meier
Boeser
Connor

These all would be very welcome on the Flames and at least half of then would have higher upsides (hard to tell exactly which ones) than Tkachuk...

Do tell...

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Do tell...

It's hard to tell which ones, without at least a comprehensive analysis of ice time and +/-.

[wired]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How great is it that Flames fans can have a meaningful discussion about this that centres on four or five great players?

Just imagine how this same conversation would go in Edmonton...


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I have been chatting with Oilers fans while at work lately, most have stopped watching the team. The thing I hear most, is they think McJesus will ask for a trade in a year or two.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Do tell...

I noticed rather than adding your evaluations you just took a cheap shot.

Where do you think Tkachuk will rank among these 10 guys now and in 5 years?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I noticed rather than adding your evaluations you just took a cheap shot.

Where do you think Tkachuk will rank among these 10 guys now and in 5 years?

It is impossible to tell.

But the only guys that I would say are likely to be better, are Marner and Point. For all the rest, it could land anywhere.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I noticed rather than adding your evaluations you just took a cheap shot...

YOU made the claim. YOU back it up.

Please enlighten us about all these players from other teams with higher upsides than Tkachuk's.

As for my own opinion, I don't really care about where he ranks compared to others. Tkachuk is a great player whom I expect to be an important part of the Flames for many years to come. I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would be in a hurry to move him.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I am just going to go off on a limb and say Dube. Think he has great top line potential to kick off Monahan as the #1C in a few years. That's also assuming that Tkachuk and Gaudreau are gone, but I think we can retain at least one of them.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I noticed rather than adding your evaluations you just took a cheap shot.

Where do you think Tkachuk will rank among these 10 guys now and in 5 years?

Asking for clarification is the new "cheap shot".

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Assuming no major blockbuster trades, but just based on the players and prospects we have now?

Gaudreau is obviously the guy now. I personally have my doubts as to whether he will be the type of player you bank on carrying or leading the team to a Cup. Monahan is a nice player and I think he will be consistent for a long time, but he lacks and edge and his two-way game is just adequate. Pelletier is very intriguing to me, as is Pospisil, not neither have proven anything at the NHL level.

My money is on Tkachuk, which is why not having him signed long term makes me anxious. I think within 2 seasons, he will be the name synomomous with the Flames.

It sounds like he wants the quickest route to free agency, which if he signs such a contract, it probably means that nothing short of a Cup or 2 in the next 5 years would motivate him to sign an extension into his UFA years. That is quite a gamble. I really think the owners should try a heavily front loaded contract, say 8 years and $64 million dollars with as much of that being paid in the first couple of seasons, at least as much as the CBA allows. That money up front would be really enticing considering the growth potential through investments.

Of course, that would be quite a favour to ask from the owners, so I am not sure if they would agree.

Good post, except I think 8 years 64 million is a lowball contract for 8 years. If he's as important as you think, you need to sweeten the pot.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

YOU made the claim. YOU back it up.

Please enlighten us about all these players from other teams with higher upsides than Tkachuk's.

As for my own opinion, I don't really care about where he ranks compared to others. Tkachuk is a great player whom I expect to be an important part of the Flames for many years to come. I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would be in a hurry to move him.

Par for the course. You have no opinions of your own. Just like taking pot shots at anyone else who does.

I think you are the very first poster suggesting Tkachuk would be moved.

Pretty save opinion that the Flames should keep Tkachuk. Get out in front of that parade.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Asking for clarification is the new "cheap shot".

.... do tell

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Par for the course. You have no opinions of your own. Just like taking pot shots at anyone else who does...

Insisting on clarification of an opaque assertion is not “taking pot shots.” You made an off-handed, vague claim about Matthew Tkachuk’s potential. Explain.


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[Badgers Nose]

It would be great if Tkatchuk could eclipse Johnny in importance to the Flames - because Johnny is so incredible, but in the current NHL I don’t see that ever happening. Tkatchuk is slower and less crafty. His skill level is lower and his edge doesn’t compensate.

Without Johnny this team is crap. I doubt Tkatchuk will ever be able to carry that sort of load on his shoulders.

As long as he is here, Johnny will be the guy.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Without Johnny this team is crap. I doubt Tkatchuk will ever be able to carry that sort of load on his shoulders.

As long as he is here, Johnny will be the guy.

No doubt about it: the Flames are s better team with Gaudreau than they are without him. However, it is a huge exaggeration to say that the team in his absence is “crap.” And I tend to think that Tkachuk could realistically be more important to this franchise than Gaudreau in the near future.


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[dino7c]

IDK Tkachuk is great but I can't see him scoring 99 points...they are very different players so its hard to compare. Gaudreau stands out in best on best competitions though, I think if the Flames had a little more in the top six so other teams couldn't just focus on him we would see it even more. Honestly I think he is top 5 skill on the planet.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It is impossible to tell.

But the only guys that I would say are likely to be better, are Marner and Point. For all the rest, it could land anywhere.

People can call us homers but TSN had Matty ranked #3 best RFA behind those two so its not just a Flames fan thing.