lol very true.

One more top 4 dman for EDM and they 'should' be competitive for many years.

Not sure I'm sold on the Flames situation though. Jury is out on Elliott for me as they should have went hard after Bishop IMO. Their D is real good but like many bottom 10 clubs beyond their top 3 D what do they have? Is their prospect D system looking good? Is there another Brodie coming up? And beyond their top 6 forwards who is going to do the 3rd and 4th line scoring for that team? What does their goalie prospects look like?

I actually think the Flames situation is eerily similar to our own. Scoring beyond their top 6 forwards remains a serious question and even though their top 3 D are better than what we have currently have they need to look at their bottom 3 D quickly.

Elliott was ok in STL in front of an excellent D core can he repeat that in Calgary? That's gonna be a tough one.

Our goalie prospects might be slightly better than the Flames but that's not saying much right now. I'm willing to bet we are neck/neck with the Flames in the standings this year.

And if the Oilers find that 4th Dman we and the Flames will be looking up at EDM.
- LordHumungous

I think the main difference is they each have franchise players in McDavid and Gaudreau. We still havent found those and are still riding our franchise players in the Sedins that are approaching 40. Its funny still that people think they are only found in top 5 picks. Its a higher percentage for sure but not impossible to find them in other rounds even. How about that for a discussion. Listing the last 10 years of franchise/elite type players and where they were drafted.

Sadly I think the Flames are looking good going forward, they've got some really really good young players IN the NHL already. They've got Monahan and Bennett down the middle and they're only 21 & 20 years old.

They've also got Gaudreau who's a star at 22, just turned 23, and now they have Tkachuk as well.

On defence they've got Hamilton who's what, 23? Brodie just turned 26, both already established top end players.

I hate them but they're only missing a few parts, goaltending being the biggest one.
- LeftCoaster

Yup. Future looks bright in Calgary

I think the main difference is they each have franchise players in McDavid and Gaudreau. We still havent found those and are still riding our franchise players in the Sedins that are approaching 40. Its funny still that people think they are only found in top 5 picks. Its a higher percentage for sure but not impossible to find them in other rounds even. How about that for a discussion. Listing the last 10 years of franchise/elite type players and where they were drafted.
- WhatTheNuck

98% of them, I'd guess, are in the first round or second round.

98% of them, I'd guess, are in the first round or second round.
- LeftCoaster

Ill try to compose a list and see what I come up with.

Which one displaces Hank and when?
- VanHockeyGuy

Right now Bo

Ill try to compose a list and see what I come up with.
- WhatTheNuck

I guess you'd have to establish what "franchise/elite" level talent is first.

Calgary and Edmonton are miles ahead of Vancouver when it comes to building. When the Canucks hit rock bottom the Flames and Oilers will be winning the division and battling it out for a Western Conference title.
- LeftCoaster

Miles ahead?

Edmonton has been in the bottom 10 for a decade. We finished ahead of them last year.

Calgary has spent a fair share of the decade in the bottom half also . The finished one spot ahead of us last year and one below the year before.

I guess we look at the term miles ahead differently

lol very true.

One more top 4 dman for EDM and they 'should' be competitive for many years.

Not sure I'm sold on the Flames situation though. Jury is out on Elliott for me as they should have went hard after Bishop IMO. Their D is real good but like many bottom 10 clubs beyond their top 3 D what do they have? Is their prospect D system looking good? Is there another Brodie coming up? And beyond their top 6 forwards who is going to do the 3rd and 4th line scoring for that team? What does their goalie prospects look like?

I actually think the Flames situation is eerily similar to our own. Scoring beyond their top 6 forwards remains a serious question and even though their top 3 D are better than what we have currently have they need to look at their bottom 3 D quickly.

Elliott was ok in STL in front of an excellent D core can he repeat that in Calgary? That's gonna be a tough one.

Our goalie prospects might be slightly better than the Flames but that's not saying much right now. I'm willing to bet we are neck/neck with the Flames in the standings this year.

And if the Oilers find that 4th Dman we and the Flames will be looking up at EDM.
- LordHumungous

Vancouver Canucks ‏@Canucks 5m5 minutes ago
Midway through Team Ohlund/Team McLean scrimmage, teams are tied 1-1. Valk & Hamilton with the goals; Stecher stopped by Demko on breakaway.

Sadly I think the Flames are looking good going forward, they've got some really really good young players IN the NHL already. They've got Monahan and Bennett down the middle and they're only 21 & 20 years old.

They've also got Gaudreau who's a star at 22, just turned 23, and now they have Tkachuk as well.

On defence they've got Hamilton who's what, 23? Brodie just turned 26, both already established top end players.

I hate them but they're only missing a few parts, goaltending being the biggest one.
- LeftCoaster

Tkachuk has proven nothing so far.

Three very good forwards and Dougie . Nice start but that is not miles ahead

Miles ahead?

Edmonton has been in the bottom 10 for a decade. We finished ahead of them last year.

Calgary has spent a fair share of the decade in the bottom half also . The finished one spot ahead of us last year and one below the year before.

I guess we look at the term miles ahead differently
- VANTEL

Maybe you have the same definition of miles but it's building that you differ on

Tkachuk has proven nothing so far.

Three very good forwards and Dougie . Nice start but that is not miles ahead
- VANTEL

TJ Brodie is pretty good too

Right now Bo
- VANTEL

They can't be comfortable with only one option.

Tkachuk has proven nothing so far.

Three very good forwards and Dougie . Nice start but that is not miles ahead
- VANTEL

Brodie was only 25 last year, he just turned 26, damn good young established dman.

Tkachuk has proven nothing so far.

Three very good forwards and Dougie . Nice start but that is not miles ahead
- VANTEL

Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Hamilton, Brodie.

vs

Horvat, Virtanen, Hutton, Baertschi, Markstrom.


I dunno….their's looks better in terms of quality NHL players.

Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Hamilton, Brodie.

vs

Horvat, Virtanen, Hutton, Baertschi, Markstrom.


I dunno….there's looks better in terms of quality NHL players.
- LeftCoaster

Sorry Lefty, but you are wrong. Happens to the best of us

Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Hamilton, Brodie.

vs

Horvat, Virtanen, Hutton, Baertschi, Markstrom.


I dunno….their's looks better in terms of quality NHL players.
- LeftCoaster

Calgary probably one of the best up and coming teams I'd say.

Sorry Lefty, but you are wrong. Happens to the best of us
- CanuckDon

You can't be serious

Sorry Lefty, but you are wrong. Happens to the best of us
- CanuckDon

well it wouldn't be the first time. Truthfully though, Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Hamilton blow our current young guys out of the water. But ours can definitely get better in a hurry. I'm just going on what they've done to date.

Monahan and Gaudreau put up 141 points last year at 20 & 22, the Sedins put up 116 at 35 years old. Although Henrik was hurt.

Calgary probably one of the best up and coming teams I'd say.
- ClarksonDavid

Just need to find a franchise goalie and most of the main building blocks will be there

The leafs are well on their way as well ....that Russian kid looks pretty decent on the back end

well it wouldn't be the first time. Truthfully though, Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Hamilton blow our current young guys out of the water. But ours can definitely get better in a hurry. I'm just going on what they've done to date.

Monahan and Gaudreau put up 141 points last year at 21 & 22, the Sedins put up 116 at 35 years old. Although Henrik was hurt.
- LeftCoaster

If demko, boeser, and OJ become what you hope the Canucks will be in a good position as well

If demko, boeser, and OJ become what you hope the Canucks will be in a good position as well
- Redmile247

Virtanen is gonna be a 30 goal 50 point player before long

Virtanen is gonna be a 30 goal 50 point player before long
- LeftCoaster

I think the other 3 will be more important than jv ...in a year or two maybe I'm wrong ...

Daniel to Henrik - looked to be tipped by Eriksson - we're heading to OT

Maybe you have the same definition of miles but it's building that you differ on

- Redmile247

No we differ on both , not just building . I take Hawks miles ahead , Calgary and Oilers not so much.