Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames 2019-20 player profile: Mikael Backlund

I’d be concerned with depth at centre. The prospect pool isn’t helping. The forever search for a true starter in goal & relying on the D can only goes so far. Sustaining long term the D is solid but beyond that not much is in the pipeline.

I’d be concerned with depth at centre. The prospect pool isn’t helping. The forever search for a true starter in goal & relying on the D can only goes so far. Sustaining long term the D is solid but beyond that not much is in the pipeline.
- Nighthawk

That's what happens when your prospects graduate to players. Canucks are on the cusp of seeing this. It's hard to ice a young roster and maintain a solid pool.

I’d be concerned with depth at centre. The prospect pool isn’t helping. The forever search for a true starter in goal & relying on the D can only goes so far. Sustaining long term the D is solid but beyond that not much is in the pipeline.
- Nighthawk

Um, what? The Flames have fantastic depth at centre. It's one of their strengths and a major reason they won the West last year. Jankowski is the only one who hasn't quite lived up to potential, but Ryan is probably the best 4th line centre there is. I'd take Calgary's group of centres over most teams'.

Goaltending is the Flames' only potential weakness.

That's what happens when your prospects graduate to players. Canucks are on the cusp of seeing this. It's hard to ice a young roster and maintain a solid pool.
- K-man25

Evolving is a constant goal. Teams go through different phases meeting the challenge.

Um, what? The Flames have fantastic depth at centre. It's one of their strengths and a major reason they won the West last year. Jankowski is the only one who hasn't quite lived up to potential, but Ryan is probably the best 4th line centre there is. I'd take Calgary's group of centres over most teams'.

Goaltending is the Flames' only potential weakness.
- Hunkulese

C is solid not fantastic. Monahan is very good but basically a 1 way C. Backlund is getting on in age. Jankowski is fine given the winger depth that is lacking. Ryan is a role player & a solid at that but a 4C isn’t hard to find.

Overall the Flames need more top 6F prospects in the system.

C is solid not fantastic. Monahan is very good but basically a 1 way C. Backlund is getting on in age. Jankowski is fine given the winger depth that is lacking. Ryan is a role player & a solid at that but a 4C isn’t hard to find.

Overall the Flames need more top 6F prospects in the system.
- Nighthawk

Also:
Lindholm (look for him to be moved back to centre)
Bennett (starting to look like he'll be a winger long term)
Dube (likely going to be a 3c or 4c soon
Czarnik (likely stay at wing)

C is solid not fantastic. Monahan is very good but basically a 1 way C. Backlund is getting on in age. Jankowski is fine given the winger depth that is lacking. Ryan is a role player & a solid at that but a 4C isn’t hard to find.

Overall the Flames need more top 6F prospects in the system.
- Nighthawk

I would argue Ryan was the nicest surprise for the Flames at centre this year. The 4th line was our 3rd best line all season because of him. I like Hathaway but Ryan is the reason he had a career year and he was a huge help to Mangiapane. He's easily among the best 4c in the league.

C is solid not fantastic. Monahan is very good but basically a 1 way C. Backlund is getting on in age. Jankowski is fine given the winger depth that is lacking. Ryan is a role player & a solid at that but a 4C isn’t hard to find.

Overall the Flames need more top 6F prospects in the system.
- Nighthawk

Even if you take the worst assessment of the Flames centres, they're still top ten in the league. And they have lots of time to restock their prospects. 4 of the top six are under 25 and everyone but Frolik is signed for at least three more years. Bennett, Mangiapane, Dube, and even Jankowski could all turn into top six players. Ruzicka, Roman, Pospisil, Zavgorodniy all have top six potential, and Pelletier has a ton of skill. There's even reason to get excited about some of their longshot prospects like Pettersen and Sveningsson.

If you want to trash the Flames prospects, go after the defence. They have zero defensive prospects to get excited about.

Even if you take the worst assessment of the Flames centres, they're still top ten in the league. And they have lots of time to restock their prospects. 4 of the top six are under 25 and everyone but Frolik is signed for at least three more years. Bennett, Mangiapane, Dube, and even Jankowski could all turn into top six players. Ruzicka, Roman, Pospisil, Zavgorodniy all have top six potential, and Pelletier has a ton of skill. There's even reason to get excited about some of their longshot prospects like Pettersen and Sveningsson.

If you want to trash the Flames prospects, go after the defence. They have zero defensive prospects to get excited about.
- Hunkulese

Yelesin may surprise. Doesnt matter, Valamaki, Hanifin, Andersson & Kyllington are all under 22. So who cares, Tre can draft a D next year in the 1st round.