General Heat discussion thread

[Freeway]

By my and Dan Kinvig's count, the Heat are missing:
-Leland Irving
-Clay Wilson
-T.J. Brodie
-Paul Byron
-Greg Nemisz
-Carter Bancks
-Quintin Laing

That's SEVEN regulars. Their replacements are ECHL guys (Dowling) and PTO guys. And they keep winning.

[thymebalm]

That's their starting goalie, Their 2 and 3 defensemen, and 3 top six forwards. And their captain. Now that's a tough lineup to work with.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Just thinking.... Kolanos and Walter are probably too old to earn a two-way contract, but what about Jon Rheault? What are his chances of getting a 2way next year?

Very low, imo. Seems like a career AHL guy without a whole lot of big league upside. Great guy to have on the Heat, but not likely to beat out the younger prospects for an NHL contract. Those 50 contract spots have become almost as much of a valuable commodity as draft picks.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Freeway

By my and Dan Kinvig's count, the Heat are missing:
-Leland Irving
-Clay Wilson
-T.J. Brodie
-Paul Byron
-Greg Nemisz
-Carter Bancks
-Quintin Laing

That's SEVEN regulars. Their replacements are ECHL guys (Dowling) and PTO guys. And they keep winning.

It seems like it's also a testament to how much depth the Heat have. They're missing several key guys, but still have Kolanos, Rheault, Walter, Mikkelson, Bouma, Breen, and whoever else.

Even without Brodie, Byron, Nemisz, and co. the Heat still have a better roster than last year.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Just thinking.... Kolanos and Walter are probably too old to earn a two-way contract, but what about Jon Rheault? What are his chances of getting a 2way next year?

I hope he gets a shot. He is still young (25 I believe) - in fact, younger than recent call-ups Piskula and Wilson, so why not? He has worked his way up from the ECHL and continually increased his point totals. I think he'd deserve a cup of coffee in the bigs, he could handle playing in the bottom 6 IMO.

Good to hear that Wahl scored two goals, I hope it's just the beginning for him!

BTW, how is Howse doing lately? I always hope to see his name on the scoresheet, but it hasn't happened yet ... but how is he playing overall?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by devo22

I hope he gets a shot. He is still young (25 I believe) - in fact, younger than recent call-ups Piskula and Wilson, so why not? He has worked his way up from the ECHL and continually increased his point totals. I think he'd deserve a cup of coffee in the bigs, he could handle playing in the bottom 6 IMO.

Good to hear that Wahl scored two goals, I hope it's just the beginning for him!

BTW, how is Howse doing lately? I always hope to see his name on the scoresheet, but it hasn't happened yet ... but how is he playing overall?

Everyone on CP is going to hate to hear this, but Ward currently has him in a bottom-6 checking role. The good news though, is he's getting more scoring chances than ever. Off the top of my head, I can count two or three time that he should have gotten a goal, but the goalie made an outstanding save each time.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Everyone on CP is going to hate to hear this, but Ward currently has him in a bottom-6 checking role.

I was hoping he'd have a top-6 role now with all the call-ups and injuries. But on the bright side, I think it doesn't hurt Howse to play bottom-6 right now. I expect him to spend 2-3 full AHL seasons before hopefully being considered NHL-material anyway, therefore he has plenty of time to earn a bigger role on the team. I don't want Ward to give away ice time anyway, it's better when the players have to earn it.

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

The good news though, is he's getting more scoring chances than ever. Off the top of my head, I can count two or three time that he should have gotten a goal, but the goalie made an outstanding save each time.

good to hear. It has to go in at some point.

[RaitisIvanans41]

Ivanans and Leblond have been great.

[RaitisIvanans41]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Just thinking.... Kolanos and Walter are probably too old to earn a two-way contract, but what about Jon Rheault? What are his chances of getting a 2way next year?

Any player of any age can be signed to a 2-way, and if they want a shot at the best league in the world, that's what they'll do. I doubt the Flames would consider them too old since a 2-way is basically no risk.

Kolanos has played 136 games in the NHL, and if he wants more he'll keep plugging away, even though he's 30. His 2-way [between the ECHL and the AHL] ends next year. We'll see what happens.

[rednex50]

With Howse, this is a bit of a pattern (that you actually will like to hear).

As a 15 year old, he came in as an AP for his 5 games (1 goal) and you saw signs of brilliance, but signs of youth, inexperience and being undersized for the WHL.

At 16, (being the 3rd overall pick on a struggling offensive team) he struggled (54 games - 10 goals, 17 points). Hiller had him tolling around as the 3rd and 4th liners to get him to do more defensively as his =/- on a bad team was bad. He was picked up for the Under 17 World Championships and had a good tourney, came back and was a different player. He wasn't timid any longer. He became an aggressive, in your face, player. It clicked. And then Hiller put Howse with Moller and Santorelli alot more and he started to put up a bunch of points and chances.

At 17, he and rookie Sundher where the backbone (61 games - 31 goals, 44 pts). At 18, he was a stand out (72 games - 47 goals, 72 pts). At 19, we knew he would not be coming back as an overager (70 games - 51 goals, 83 pts).

He has been slowed a little due to injuries (mostly his shoulders), but has shown that he is willing to work, adapt and is teachable to not only become a better player, but also a better person.

So, he showed up heavy to Calgary camp (likely a little of that was due to his shoulder injuries from last season's playoffs - but also his living habits). Was sent down the Abby, and Ward took him aside and told him what he needed to do to become a Pro. He listened, he learned, and now he's on a team that icetime has to be earned, and he is beginning to show people in the pro game what we in Chilliwack got to witness for 5 seasons.

His first Pro goal is not that far away. Realistically, he will be in Abby for the remainder of this season. However, knowing Ryan like I do, it wouldn't surprise me to see him in Calgary over the summer, working with the Flames staff on bettering his game and life habits, along side his buddy Horak and BOTH on the Flames Roster next season for beginning of the season. My gut tells me he's going to crack the Flames lineup next season.

This was the struggling to adapt/get up to speed season. As his history has already written, he is going to start kicking the door down in the 2nd half of this season (we have already started to see him find his feet), and next season is when he is going to turn heads.

All I know is...its gonna be one hell of a ride, and everyone who watched him in Chilliwack are rooting him on. After all, no matter how big he gets in pro-hockey, he'll never forget those who rooted, cheered and supported him in his journey. He will be the next Iginla. And what a cool thing it would be for him to get to learn from his hockey hero first hand.

[Freeway]

During training camp, Ward noted to me that they had so many bodies tagged for the minors that Abbotsford would likely be a very competitive environment. The internal goal was to ice a GOOD team every game, so ice time for everyone would have to be earned.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Good read, rednex.

I'll admit, I was never all that high on Howse and figured he'd go the route of someone like Bryan Cameron. I never considered him a top prospect in the Flames organization and I still don't. But my mind is starting to change each time I watch him.

I'm pleasantly surprised with how physical he can be. You couldn't tell he's had shoulder problems in the past the way he hits.

I still think another full year with Ward would do him wonders and then he could be a call up option.

He's definitely a fan favourite here in Abbotsford amongst the "hardcore fans" likely due to his history in the area. The crowd will erupt when he scores his first.

[Street Pharmacist]

I got flamed for mentioning this before, but Habscheid did not think that Howse would make to Calgary unless he developed some form of work ethic. He basically said he is a guy with a good shot who thinks that will get him to the bigs

[rednex50]

Howse has struggled with his work ethic at times. But if work ethic was really an issue, then why would he have carried an "A" for 2 seasons, been on the #1 PK unit with Horak, as well as the #1 PP unit?

Was he a horse like Josh Aspenlind? Hell no. An Aspenlind type is what every team searches for (much like the original Sutter brothers) and not everyone can find.

Howse plays best when he plays physical. If he gets too fancy, he loses something in his game. He needs to bang, make room for himself and others, and like Iggy, sometimes needs to drop the mitts.

Not to blow smoke up anyones butts, but Howse cut from Iggy's template. Great shot. Works hard. Willing to do the dirty work. Willing to take one for the team. Willing to set the tone, even with dropping the mitts. Is he a great fighter? No. But, he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Even though he played in Chilliwack to not much winning success, he hates to lose. And he is willing to block a shot, take a hit, make a hit if it means a chance to win. Give him some experience and confidence, and just sit back, hold tight and enjoy the ride.

[Roof-Daddy]

Thanks rednex for your input.

I like your optimism, especially since it stems from you having seen a whole lot of Howse through his development.

I hope you are right with your assessment.

[rednex50]

That says alot, especially when I am a Nashville fan

Ryan is a great kid. He just needed a kick in the pants, and that's what Ward gave him.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

The Heat have signed Nigerian-born Akim Aliu to a PTO. He plays RW and is 6'3" 220lbs. I've always liked him when he was playing against the Heat. He was always physically noticeable on the ice (especially in his time with the Thrasher's farm team). He'll make a decent 3rd or 4th liner temporarily.

Career-wise, he's been from organization to organization, plus back and forth between the AHL and ECHL. Not great stats, but he'll do his job for the time being.

Here are his numbers: http://theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=2385

Curious what you've seen from him...I've heard he's got the tools to be a decent AHL player, but is a little slow turning and is a bit of a locker room undesirable.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by kirant

Curious what you've seen from him...I've heard he's got the tools to be a decent AHL player, but is a little slow turning and is a bit of a locker room undesirable.

I never specifically paid attention to him. All I remember is him being a very physical player with good hands.

As for him being a problem in the dressing room... HUGE misconception. The only publicized incidents I've found are his bar fight incident (which we have no idea what specifics were involved) and his hazing incident with Steve Downy (which is a dumb, sick, and homosexual incident that would be really uncomfortable if you're not a homosexual). If you want to read about that hazing incident, it's right here: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/...res051018.html

In his two games played for the Heat, he's been really noticeable on his line with Bouma. Those two have really started getting each other going. I think he's a great addition to the team, IMO.

[flames_fan13]

Clay Wilson and Kris Kolanos named to the AHL Allstar team

http://abbotsfordheathub.com/2012/01...med-all-stars/

[thymebalm]

Heat are getting some bodies back!

Bancks ready to return from a hand injury.
Nemisz sent down.
Carson sent down on a conditioning stint.
Laing will play on the weekend as per Ward.

I'm sure Troy Ward will be happy to have them back, as he's had to add players to the roster on a game by game basis of late.

http://www.abbynews.com/sports/heat/news/136754093.html <- Good article in the Abby News that covers this + talks about Ward bringing in a scoring specialist to help the team.

http://abbotsfordheathub.com/ <- overlapping coverage of the same stuff, plus another awesome Wednesday with Ward.