Markus Granlund Ceiling

[ForeverFlameFan]

A solid 2C is my vote. If Monahan and Bennett are above Markus, a fantastic 3C.

[DoubleF]

I want to see a full season and a half from him in the NHL first. I don't want to hype him up or sell him short. I like his play style though.

[Chewy]

Hopefully Saku Koivu

[PeteMoss]

He's going to have to learn to not be terrible at faceoffs if he's going to stick at centre. He's pretty good in his own end, so the faceoffs are the only thing holding him back from staying at centre.

[Table 5]

One comparable ceiling for him might be a Daymond Langkow type career. An unassuming center who plays relatively mistake-free hockey and quietly gives you 50+ points every year.

I'm not sure Granlund has the creativity to ever be a #1 center, but a solid #2 is definitely not out of reach (although with our center depth, that might be #3). He doesn't have Mikaels ability to shut down the opposition as effectively yet, but if I was Backlund, I might be getting a little nervous about my future.

[sureLoss]

Arguably turning into the best Flames best 2nd round pick since Nieuwendyk.


1985
Joe Nieuwendyk

1986
Brian Glynn

1987
Stephane Matteau
Kevin Grant

1988
Todd Harkins

1989
Kent Manderville
Ted Drury

1990
Nicolas Perrault
Vesa Vitakoski
Etienne Belzile

1991
Francois Groleau

1992
Chris O'Sullivan

1993
Jamie Allison

1994
Dmitri Ryabkin

1995
Pavel Smirnov

1996
Travis Brigley
Steve Begin

1997
Evan Lindsay
John Tripp
Dmitry Kokorev

1998
Blair Betts

1999
Dan Cavanaugh

2000
Kurtis Foster
Jarret Stoll

2001
Andrei Taratukhin
Andre Medvedev

2002
Brian McConnell

2003
Tim Ramholt

2008
Mitch Wahl

2011
Markus Granlund
Tyler Wotherspoon


Stoll wasn't developed as a Flame and his refusal to sign with Calgary and the inability to trade him kind of makes him a wasted pick from the Flames perspective.

[Table 5]

^ That's some seriously pathetic drafting there.

[GreenLantern]

Yes the organization definitely addressed the lack of center depth over the past 5 years or so.. now I hope they shift their focus to defense.

[Itse]

I don't see why people keep saying Granlund could push Backlund out, it doesn't make any sense. You don't make room for good players by moving out other good players. You make it by moving out lesser players.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Play a guy at center because he's good at that position, not because he's more setup or sniper or whatever.

Also, Morgan Klimchuk.

I don't see Granlund being able to compete at center long term. The Flames have better options, especially when you consider how weak Granlund is on the draw. I see our centers down the road being Bennett, Monahan, Jankowski, Backlund and Arnold. Someone will have to move to the wing and Granlund seems best suited to it. It would be great if he could learn to play the off wing, opening up that slot on the left side for Klimchuk or Baertschi.

[Five-hole]

That list of our 2nd round picks turns the stomach.

[goodyear]

Originally Posted by jg13

Honestly, I see 600 goals and 1300 points out of him.

But actually, I expect him to be a solid #2C that might end up playing the wing with our Centre depth in the next few years. I think he can be a 60 point player. I also think that Granlund is our most under rated prospect, even though hes gained a lot of attention in the past 2 weeks.

Came in looking for a 600 goal 1300 point post, leaving satisfied.

But I agree too with other sentiment as well!

[Imported_Aussie]

I see him as a 2/3 line tweener. On an elite team, he is at best going to be the #2 LW, unless his faceoffs take a jump. But with his defensive awareness he will always have a role on a 3rd line.
When Colborne is fit, I would like to see him play with Granlund - I think that pairing would work well, with whoever is the third guy added. Colborne using his size and passing to tee up Granlund, and splitting the faceoffs.


By 2016/17 - potential lines, balanced and matched to work well together - I am assuming Baertschi is odd man out and traded to address D (with Klimchuk close to making the team)

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier
Ferland - Monahan - Raymond
Granlund - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Bollig/Arnold/Hanowski, etc.

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

By 2016/17 - potential lines, balanced and matched to work well together - I am assuming Baertschi is odd man out and traded to address D (with Klimchuk close to making the team)

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier
Ferland - Monahan - Raymond
Granlund - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Bollig/Arnold/Hanowski, etc.

Looks pretty good for the first three lines.. But you can bet the guys in the "A" will be pressing Granlund.. We should be able to field 4 awesome lines with guys to spare. And with future draft picks that will surely make an impact? Yikes!

[1stLand]

I think we should trade Backlund.
I would rather have Granlund.

[Henry Fool]

People talking about faceoffs and him being better off on the wing. Again, he's 17 games into his NHL career.

[Henry Fool]

I mean Granlund clearly plays the center position well. Faceoffs are only one (arguably overrated) part of that and typically the last thing a young center gets right.

[automaton 3]

I like the Langkow comparison. Not flashy but always in the right position.

[Badgers Nose]

came to see pix of a Granlund themed ceiling mural, left disappointed.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I think we should trade Backlund.
I would rather have Granlund.

[img] not sure if serious [/img]