Tod Button and Mark Edwards on Flames prospects

[sureLoss]

Tod Button October 28

http://www.hockeyprospect.com/calgar...ts-tod-button/

Summary: (if Malloy or Cohen was bringing the point I put their respective names in front)

Emile Poirier

• Malloy: likes his 2 way game and defensive capabilities
• has had good coaching in Gatineau, coach always stressed 2 way play
• very explosive skater
• Cohen: he has the perfect hockey speed and he combines that with stick handling, stick and puck control. no hesitation in his shot and always follows up on his shot
• coach has to trust players and you have to be able to play [well] when you are not scoring, Emile has learned that and just needs to translate it to the pro level
• hopefully doesn't take too long with his shoulder to get back into the swing of things
• Poirier is explosive and has good hands, a straight line player. Likes to take the puck to the net. Very decisive player
• Malloy: likes his back pressure. helps force offensive player to back up to help his defencemen out
• Button credits Poirier's defensive play to coaching again, commenting on how it is not just getting back to the defensive zone, but also body position and stick position and being in the right spot.
• Button says he just watched Hunter Smith the other night and all Smith did was get back, and it is the next progression in Smith's game is to get back to the right spot and be aware.

Pat Sieloff

• Malloy: thought he was the most consistent Flames' dman at Pentiction in terms of being on the right side of the puck, good angles, head on a swivel, head constantly moving, smart outlet pass
• been sidetracked with injuries
• Overall game when he was drafted was to be a real good defensive part of a pairing and could play with more offensive guy so the offensive guy could take a few more chances
• Patrick is a warrior, battler and wants to compete. Kids like that always get injured because they are in the mix all the time.
• Just need to keep him playing and get him back on track.
• In reality this season is Patrick's first year pro
• Huska and Gill have a real young crew of dmen in Adirondack and they should help speed and aide their development in the proper way
• Cohen: Was expecting the physicality and energy provided by Sieloff. Was not expecting the hard shot.
• Button thinks the hard shot will translate. Patrick may never be a big scorer, but if he can keep it on net and make it difficult for the goalies, it will generate a lot of rebounds.
• Patrick always says that he wants to improve his offensive game and the Flames will not put any limits on any kids.

Mark Jankowski

• going into Sophomore year Flames expectations were for Jankowski to take a step from his freshman year and he certainly did that
• with Mark it is a lot of small steps
• going from Quebec high school to NCAA was a big jump, not mentally but physically. going from 9th or 10th graders to 23/24 year old men
• injured first weekend
• Mark has progressed steadily [physically] (put on 8 or 9 lbs)
• he is still on the track that they had for him when they drafted him - it is a lot of physical development and a lot of patience
• the ability is there and the brain is there, just a matter of letting the maturation process take full course before pushing him into anything further
• easier to be patient with prospects when you have other younger guys that can play (e.g. Monahan)
• Cohen: thinks he good in transition, really good passer, excellent vision, when he gets in close he can do really well even before he gained weight (so he should get better). anxious to see what he does this year
• Button says Jankowski always had quick hands, quick muscles and skill but when he get knocked off the puck or knocked around it is really hard to execute
• Quickness in tight corners has always been there with Mark. Now its just not about strength but also confidence to use that strength

Johnny Gaudreau

• in Button's biased opinion Gaudreau was the best college hockey player over the last two years, not just last year
• its time and patience and learning the pro game, he knows how to play the game, he is just learning the differences in speed and size and strength
• we love Johnny
• he is going to bring some other players up with him (implying that Gaudreau makes players around him better) and make the team better
• Cohen: he is at a tremendous skating level compared to some of the other prospects at the NHLPA rookie showcase. he knows where to go with and without the puck. if Gaudreau could just get a little stronger he will be a pretty good scorer in the NHL
• he has the attributes, the hands, the vision, the hockey sense
• stature has always been held against him (and the Flames overlooked it), but in the long run a guy with Johnny's learning curve will learn to adapt
• the way the game is right now is there is room for small players. The game is allowing for the best players to get in the line up and play.
• Gaudreau has been a top player in the USHL and college and there is no reason to think he can't be a top player in the NHL

Mark Edwards director of scouting hockeyprospect.com
http://www.hockeyprospect.com/calgar...rgan-klimchuk/

Sam Bennett

• ran into his agent this week, surgery went really well
• labrum tear... is minor relative to injuries with this regard
• best guess it happened in 2nd game in Vancouver
• agent says some people think it happened last season, but he passed all the tests in Kingston
• going to recover for a month at home, then work with the doctor in Toronto. Flames will manage the whole rehab process
• watched him in the playoffs last year but not only the talent with scoring, but all over the ice, what he means to this team
• liked how he can create space for himself with not a lot room

Mason McDonald

• in his opinion one of the most improved players
• from Hlinka camp in Toronto to U18s in Finland, the most impressive player was Mason McDonald
• made so many strides in his game
• has the size obviously, great butterfly, coverage is good in the lower net. quick feet and legs
• powerful getting across which makes recovery very good
• real battler and challenger
• doesn't get rattled, his demeanor is really good, can get 3 quick goals can get by and it doesn't get to him
• talking to scouts at the combine he did well in his interviews, came across as a humble kid and hard worker
• got off to a slow start this year
• young defense in front of him -will face a lot of shots so should be a good development year
• Cohen: very fast up and down, smooth continous movements to stop pucks down low, needs work on lateral movement, hugs the post well

Hunter Smith

• Malloy: size. Team Canada might come calling because he has proven that he can play with skilled players.
• if he improves as much this year as last year, it will be great thing for Hunter
• if you had asked to describe Smith's skating 2 years ago you would have said No Chance, but he has worked on it
• skating is still biggest issue needs strength in the ass area/hamstring
• skating will define if the kid makes the NHL or not
• around the net he is $. he will score 10 goals and it will add up to 12 feet worth of distance
• all reports he was good in rookie camp
• Flames did not take him to be a top 6 nor did they take him to be a fighter (in his opinion)
• he has muscle and weight still to develop
• Flames took him to create space for a smaller center
• he is a complementary piece
• if you are a Flames fan watch for improvements in his skating and strength to get an idea if he will eventually make it
• right now his skating can't keep up with NHL pace, but he already has come miles in that regard and there isn't any reason he can't improve
• he is 6'6'' but not real heavy for his height, still lots of muscle development to be had
• sometimes bigger guys skating improves later on, Boone Jenner is an example

Morgan Klimchuk

• such a smart player
• has to get healthy, big year for his development and needs to stay on ice and play a ton of games
• plays with really good pace on the ice
• good in the corners, wins battles, really good all over the ice, uses speed well
• Cohen: loves the way he stays ahead of defencemen when he is skating down the ice
• Malloy: uses his speed intelligently. changes his speed depending on what is happening around him.
• Malloy: curious to see if he plays in the WJC. has a lot of versatility

also mentions that all 4 of these guys have intelligence. Smith won't blow you away with hockey intelligence but still intelligent. McDonald for a goalie plays an intelligent game. Bennett doesn't get picked in the top 5 because he is a dummy.

[Nme-Territory]

Expectations for Jankowski are still quite reserved, by the sounds of it. He has a long ways to go but I'm glad they see progress.

[ForeverFlameFan]

We all love to focus our efforts on Bennett, Gaudreau and Baertschi, but I think we found a steal in Emile Poirier.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Nme-Territory

Expectations for Jankowski are still quite reserved, by the sounds of it. He has a long ways to go but I'm glad they see progress.

If we end up getting another center in this year's draft, I don't see any way Jankowski makes a place for himself here. I barely see a way he makes a spot for himself even now. Unless they turn him into a RW'er

[442scotty]

Janko is going to be a lot better than people think. Needs lots of patience and the Flames can afford to be patient now.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Janko is going to be a lot better than people think. Needs lots of patience and the Flames can afford to be patient now.

Well he was after all a first round after all so there should be some expectations on him. I have doubts about him having top 6 potential but he could be a great 3rd line center if he can progress.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well he was after all a first round after all so there should be some expectations on him. I have doubts about him having top 6 potential but he could be a great 3rd line center if he can progress.

Yeah, you hope the Flames have the middle position locked down with Monahan, Bennett and Backlund, that's potential world class center depth 1-3. If Jankowski can't make the jump to the middle I think his size and strength will be well served on the wing. He has fantastic vision, just needs to realize how good he can be.

Said this many times but I'll say it again.. I have no idea how Jankowski will turn out but he is one of the more intriguing prospects for me.

[CsInMyBlood]

One of our top end prospect/players told me Jankowski is not good and he is 99% sure that he will be a bust.

I wont name the player or why he believes this so take it as you may.

It was fairly depressing to hear as I've also been intrigued by what Mark might turn out to be.

Still wish we took Olli Maatta with that pick, even moreso after hearing this players opinion.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Yeah, you hope the Flames have the middle position locked down with Monahan, Bennett and Backlund, that's potential world class center depth 1-3. If Jankowski can't make the jump to the middle I think his size and strength will be well served on the wing. He has fantastic vision, just needs to realize how good he can be.



Said this many times but I'll say it again.. I have no idea how Jankowski will turn out but he is one of the more intriguing prospects for me.

Sounds very similar to Colborne in that vein, his stature combined with his soft hand will always make him a valuable asset as long as he keeps working at improving the other aspects of his game. Like Colborne, he will probably end up better served as a winger on our team.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

One of our top end prospect/players told me Jankowski is not good and he is 99% sure that he will be a bust.

I wont name the player or why he believes this so take it as you may.

It was fairly depressing to hear as I've also been intrigued by what Mark might turn out to be.

Still wish we took Olli Maatta with that pick, even moreso after hearing this players opinion.

That player, particularly if it is a prospect, should worry about their own development. I wonder how they had time to actually watch Janko play.

In short - not impressive that a fellow prospect would say something like that.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I am pumped to see Emile Poirer.

[saillias]

Plenty of Flames prospects who have played against Janko in college could theoretically have formed that opinion. Like Peca calling Bouwmeester easy to play against, you only have his own small sample size so it doesn't matter much.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by saillias

Plenty of Flames prospects who have played against Janko in college could theoretically have formed that opinion. Like Peca calling Bouwmeester easy to play against, you only have his own small sample size so it doesn't matter much.

Was also likely prompted to make an assesment of him by the OP. IE asked "what do you think of Jankowski?" If he answered honestly, can't really blame him.

Also, if it was Johnny (who else is a high cllege prospect? Unlikely his own teammate Gillies). Well he was 2 levels above anyone else in the NCAA, so hard not to see everyone else as bad.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

One of our top end prospect/players told me Jankowski is not good and he is 99% sure that he will be a bust.

I wont name the player or why he believes this so take it as you may.

It was fairly depressing to hear as I've also been intrigued by what Mark might turn out to be.

Still wish we took Olli Maatta with that pick, even moreso after hearing this players opinion.

Well since there is only one player on the current NHL roster who could have even possibly played against Jankowski I will guess said player has their own issues in making the show.

That being said where Jankowski is at is fairly normal in my opinion at the NCAA level. In his 19 year old season he compares favorably with Chris Kreider for instance (just on numbers, I realize they are different types of players). But Jankowski had almost the same amount of PPG (Jankowski was around. 68 and Kreider was. 75). Jankowski was in on a far higher percentage of his teams offense (around 23 percent of his teams goals vs. 17 percent for Kreider). Where he is developing offensively is on track for a young NCAA player.

Truly offensive superstars at the NCAA level like Gaudreau are an anomaly, not the norm.

[sureLoss]

found another interview on hockeyprospect.com where scouting director Mark Edwards discusses Bennett, Smith, McDonald, and Klimchuk

updated the OP with the summary

[bob-loblaw]

Out of the 2013 draft class Poirier is the one that excites me the most. He seems to have great hands and reckless speed. He reminds me of Glenn Anderson from the Oilers in the 80's where he just drives to the net.

[Ozy_Flame]

Poirier is the most exciting. I just hope his injury troubles end with this one.