[Canada 02]

In a training camp podcast, Darryl talked about the difference between Baldwin and Pelech.

He said he wanted Pelech to turn pro because he had already played 4 years of junior, and he doesn't like prospects to play 5 years.

Baldwin on the otherhand had only played 3 years of junior, so he was more open to the idea of him going back to junior. He said some prospects can get by with 3 years, but others NEED 4. It didn't work out that way for Baldwin as he has obviously turned pro, but it does provide some insight into how Sutter slots his prospects in terms of their development time table.

JD Watt was an anomaly, now playing his 5th year of junior, but Sutter rationalized that move because Watt was not in pro condition.

So here is a list of Flames junior prospects, and the number of years they will have been in the CHL after this season.

5 years: Watt*

4 years: Armstrong*, Didiomete, Irving*, Carpentier

3 years: Renaud, Negrin*, Aulie

2 years: Puustinen

*prospects with contracts

Going off Sutter's timetable, assuming they are all in pro condition next training camp, there will be 5 junior prospects turning pro next fall (assuming they all have pro contracts by then), and possibly a 6th, since Sutter is so high on John Negrin.

Puustinen is a wild card since he likely played some years in whatever is the Finnish junior equivalent.

Will be interesting to see where Irving fits in with all the goalies in the system. Likely McE is the backup to Miikka next year, Krahn out of the picture?, Keetley, Lalande and Irving fighting for 2 spots in QC?

This doesn't factor in College players or Euros either. Spratt is a Sr., Per Jonsson was invited to camp last summer, and we know Sutter is v high on Backlund