Flames - PR

The Atlanta Flames are set to resume the new season with vengance. The team looks amazing on paper. Every position has been upgraded and NO player in the offseason got worse. Every player got better, through hard conditioning over the offseason. The team now boasts 6 super star players (80+ OV players) and 11 players waiting to breakout (77-79 OV). That is some amazing depth. The Flames' 3rd line has players who could play solid on other team's 2nd lines or even on their 1st lines. It is hard to determine the core of the Flames because they are so young and every player is special.

Some of the bigger names this year are:

Centers:
Jason Allison (81OV); one of the better playmaking centers in the league. He also ripped it up during last season's all-star game.
Petr Dvorak (82OV); one of the best upcoming 2-way centers. He finished 6th overall last year for rookies and was only a few points out of top 3. He worked really hard during the offseason and really improved his game.

Leftwings:
Marian Gaborik (82OV); there is not much to say about Gaborik. He is just purely amazing. He has really worked on his endurance and defense in the osseason. His skills stats are very similar to Jagr and Kovalev, EXCEPT he is 10 years younger. This kid is just scary.
Kyle Calder (80OV); no one does it like Calder on the PP. Last season he lead the league for PP goals. He has really bulked up and will continue to be a gritty scorer, who will stick up for his teammates.

Rightwings:
Rick Nash (81OV); have you ever seen a train play hockey before? Nash is the fastest, strongest, most physical player in the league. Did I mention his passing and scoring is near the top in the league. This kid already resembles Bertuzzi but with mroe power and skill. Scary isn't it...
Nathan Horton (79OV); Not much was expected out of Horton but his off season training was probably the best out of the bunch. The kid has dedication. During the offseason he trained with Gaborik and Horton is now close to Gaborik's skill level. That is just sick.

The defense is led by Kaberle, Redden, Stuart, Van Ryn, and the newest addition of Ramholt. Ramholt has an amazing shot. Its scary when 3 out of your top 4 defenseman boast passing around the 80 mark. The Flames PP looks like it will remain top in the league.

The Flames have also decided to stick with Boucher as the #1 goalie. He improved over the offseason and was a .500 goalie playing under a team with no chemistry last year. If Lalime can drive to the playoffs, there is no reason why Boucher cannot do it as well.

Dare to look at the Flames roster, it is quick sick. Even the farm team has solid prospects at every position with 2 first rounders and 4 second round picks in the next 2 years. Did I mention 1/2 the team is 20 years old or younger? :P

The Flames future has never looked so bright.

PS - Ptarick, GM of the team has also went through counselling in the offseason and now has grater control over himself. He has received help and will not make 25+ trades like last season.