[Signing] Flames will sign college free agent Spencer Foo on July 1st

[Strange Brew]

Yeah no way a healthy Brouwer sits in the press box opening night. If Foo (or another winger) takes the ice, it is probably at the expense of Lazar. Also depends what is going on with 4th line center.

[GreenLantern2814]

Foo's skating is a major concern for me. The offensive vision and skills are clearly there, but as I watch his highlight package, I see a player who needs at least a year in the AHL and a summer with Dawn Braid.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Who was a better prospect coming out of the NCAA -- Foo or Jankowski?

I don't think anyone expected Jankowski to make the team last year -- should expectations for Foo be any different? The only difference in my mind is that Jankowski plays centre (and is projected to be a centre), whereas Foo plays RW (which is a position of need for us)...

Better prospect and most NHL ready don't always coincide. Jankowski is the better prospect but as the younger player, and a guy who needed to bulk up it made sense for him to spend some time in the minors first.

Foo may be more NHL ready because he's older, plays the easier position to break in at (wing) and happens to be a right shooting RW which the organization has very few of.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Foo's skating is a major concern for me. The offensive vision and skills are clearly there, but as I watch his highlight package, I see a player who needs at least a year in the AHL and a summer with Dawn Braid.

Curious as to how you came to this assertion.

Did you watch him at the Flames prospect camp or is your opinion solely based on video?

The reason I am asking is that I have heard and read the exact opposite from a number of sources.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Foo's skating is a major concern for me. The offensive vision and skills are clearly there, but as I watch his highlight package, I see a player who needs at least a year in the AHL and a summer with Dawn Braid.

"He's greasy," Starman said. "He just does a lot of little things that are fun to watch. He's got electric speed, hands, guts. He's not afraid to try something difficult. He's been good. He's just fun to watch and he plays with an edge."

https://www.nhl.com/news/best-colleg...ts/c-287429252

Maybe you're thinking of somebody else

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

https://www.nhl.com/news/best-colleg...ts/c-287429252

Maybe you're thinking of somebody else

The scouting report you are posting is a description of how he looked relative to typical NCAA players. Foo's stride does seem to have some awkwardness to it relative to quick NHL players at the moment.

At development camp, I'd lean towards saying Phillips, Mangiapane, Dube, Healey, Poirier, Lomberg were ahead of him in that department. We'll have to see when training camp starts how he stacks up in the skating department to true plus skaters in the NHL - Backlund, Bennett, Gaudreau, Jankowski, Ferland, and Lazar.

But I would concur with the Green Lantern that a year in the AHL and some Dawn Braid video analysis would probably benefit him. They do a lot of dedicated skating work there in Stockton during their downtime.

[timbit]

"My expectation for him is to push and make the NHL club," Calgary assistant general manager Craig Conroy said. "He's got speed, he's competitive, and he's got skill. The thing I like probably the most about Spencer is about how hard he competes. Does he start in the NHL? That'll be up to him.

"But I see him playing in the NHL next year. I expect that, and he probably expects that himself too."

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by timbit

Curious as to how you came to this assertion.

Did you watch him at the Flames prospect camp or is your opinion solely based on video?

The reason I am asking is that I have heard and read the exact opposite from a number of sources.

When I watch him, his stride sticks out as unconventional. Almost like he's too far back on his skates.

Foo may be fine - this was the first development camp in a while I wasn't able to get to, so I'll reserve too much judgement. It's my biggest area of concern for him coming in to camp, that's all.

[GioforPM]

Hmmmm...

"My expectation for him is to push and make the NHL club," Calgary assistant general manager Craig Conroy told NHL.com. "He's got speed, he's competitive, and he's got skill. The thing I like probably the most about Spencer is about how hard he competes. Does he start in the NHL? That'll be up to him.
http://www.tsn.ca/flames-expect-foo-...eason-1.812926

Spencer Foo has good speed and skating ability and can push the tempo fairly easily.
http://www.dobberprospects.com/spencer-foo/

With speed to burn and a nose for the net he’ll try to follow the example set by fellow undrafted college player Conor Sheary and find success early in his pro career.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2017...-decision.html

[getbak]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Who was a better prospect coming out of the NCAA -- Foo or Jankowski?

I don't think anyone expected Jankowski to make the team last year -- should expectations for Foo be any different? The only difference in my mind is that Jankowski plays centre (and is projected to be a centre), whereas Foo plays RW (which is a position of need for us)...

Jankowski definitely. Keep in mind that Jankowski is actually 4 months younger than Foo. He played 4 years of College and one year in the AHL in the same time that Foo played 2 years in the AJHL and 3 years of College. Jankowski was also a key part of Providence's National Championship team.

Foo put up more points per game last season than Jankowski did in any of his College seasons, but he also did it at an older age than Jankowski played in College.

Last season, Foo was the second-leading scorer on his College team and Jankowski was the leading scorer on his AHL team.

[DeluxeMoustache]

They were playing 3 on 3 at Winsport today, with the nets just inside the blue lines. So not full speed but he was doing some pretty slick moves, quite impressive skill. Looking forward to seeing him in game situations.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I'll eat my hat if they sit Brouwer over Lazar.

What kind of hat and how would you prepare it? Deep Fried?

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Locke

What kind of hat and how would you prepare it? Deep Fried?

A pube hat!

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

They were playing 3 on 3 at Winsport today, with the nets just inside the blue lines. So not full speed but he was doing some pretty slick moves, quite impressive skill. Looking forward to seeing him in game situations.

K wait, who? Foo or Janko?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by dammage79

K wait, who? Foo or Janko?

Foo but Janko looked good too

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Foo but Janko looked good too

Which players on the ice at Winsport today?

[FBI]

Maybe Johnny knows something we don't about Foo.. Maybe he is awesome.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Which players on the ice at Winsport today?

Honestly I just caught about the last 20 min so didn't get a close look at everyone. Probably about 16-20 players total.

Not too many of the regular NHLers. Lack in net. And another goalie I didn't recognize. For skaters, from the big club, Gio and Ferland. I think I saw Lazar and Stajan. Definitely Jankowski and Foo, and Dillon Dube. Other than that, a lot of training camp numbers. I don't know what a lot of the young guys look like unfortunately.

But no Johnny, Monahan, Hamilton etc.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I wonder if he's been to FOO Restaurant in Mission that opened recently. If he makes the team, he may have his first local product endorsement.

http://calgary.foofood.ca

[Textcritic]

^
He will have to wait until next year, because he is not making the team out of camp in 2017.