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djsFlames · 03-10-2014, 03:13 AM

I think it's great that we've been able to bring up a lot of kids to showcase for the fans and media, and it's great to get more talk of potential around the team than the typical chatter of the old, stagnant and talentless "Flames". Very few of these kids here now though will realistically A. stick in the NHL and B. become more than AHL-NHL fringe/journeymen types. Yes, they have brought energy and work ethic in (for several) their first taste of the league, but that initial jump will wear off with most of them.

I have my doubts about Reinhart, Hanowski, Knight, Byron, Breen and to lesser degrees, Granlund and Colborne. Wotherspoon i haven't much of a solid read on yet. I realize the sample sizes are small and it's still early on development-wise for some, but I know already that the last two have exhibited qualities that may allow for longer stays. I really, really like Byron and what he does. But he needs to find another gear if he wants to have an NHL career, and I'm not sure he has one. Historically only the more elite talents of his size will make a place in the league. But I fully invite him to prove me wrong.

Backlund just recently proved his worth in the league after people were starting to write him off as not being able to cut it here. He's done that by consistently impacting games with his 200 ft play and grit. Where he is now is where we have to hope a couple of these kids can get to in the next couple seasons and prove themselves for their own outstanding qualities.

When I put the homer goggles on, which I do a lot with this team, I see all of them having some future place with the team. But the reality is only a few of this current crop do. I think a realistic prediction sees Monahan (as a 2nd line C), Granlund (as a 2nd-3rd line winger Hagman type), Colborne (as a 3rd line winger), Baertschi (as a 2nd line winger), Wotherspoon (2nd-3rd pairing Smid type), Sieloff (a bottom pairing Wideman-lite) become regular NHLers, and a 25/75 chance Reinhart finds a home as a grinder somewhere. The rest of the current NHL roster/farm crop will truthully be in tough to make it.

However, I think that the next wave of prospects to turn pro, in Arnold, Agostino, Gillies, Gaudreau, Poirier, Gordon, Kulak, Culkin may yield a strong percentage of NHLers, with Gaudreau and Poirier having a chance at being impact players, which is exciting.

03-10-2014, 03:13 AM	#8
djsFlames Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Jun 2012 Exp:	I think it's great that we've been able to bring up a lot of kids to showcase for the fans and media, and it's great to get more talk of potential around the team than the typical chatter of the old, stagnant and talentless "Flames". Very few of these kids here now though will realistically A. stick in the NHL and B. become more than AHL-NHL fringe/journeymen types. Yes, they have brought energy and work ethic in (for several) their first taste of the league, but that initial jump will wear off with most of them. I have my doubts about Reinhart, Hanowski, Knight, Byron, Breen and to lesser degrees, Granlund and Colborne. Wotherspoon i haven't much of a solid read on yet. I realize the sample sizes are small and it's still early on development-wise for some, but I know already that the last two have exhibited qualities that may allow for longer stays. I really, really like Byron and what he does. But he needs to find another gear if he wants to have an NHL career, and I'm not sure he has one. Historically only the more elite talents of his size will make a place in the league. But I fully invite him to prove me wrong. Backlund just recently proved his worth in the league after people were starting to write him off as not being able to cut it here. He's done that by consistently impacting games with his 200 ft play and grit. Where he is now is where we have to hope a couple of these kids can get to in the next couple seasons and prove themselves for their own outstanding qualities. When I put the homer goggles on, which I do a lot with this team, I see all of them having some future place with the team. But the reality is only a few of this current crop do. I think a realistic prediction sees Monahan (as a 2nd line C), Granlund (as a 2nd-3rd line winger Hagman type), Colborne (as a 3rd line winger), Baertschi (as a 2nd line winger), Wotherspoon (2nd-3rd pairing Smid type), Sieloff (a bottom pairing Wideman-lite) become regular NHLers, and a 25/75 chance Reinhart finds a home as a grinder somewhere. The rest of the current NHL roster/farm crop will truthully be in tough to make it. However, I think that the next wave of prospects to turn pro, in Arnold, Agostino, Gillies, Gaudreau, Poirier, Gordon, Kulak, Culkin may yield a strong percentage of NHLers, with Gaudreau and Poirier having a chance at being impact players, which is exciting.