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Lanny_McDonald · 02-02-2015, 08:37 PM

Listened to the podcast with Dallas Eakins talking about advanced stats and he mentioned the makeup of the Oilers and how they are built counter to the formula of being strong up the middle. The ideal lineup is finding a top center, a top blueliner and a top goaltender. Considering that goal, how do the Flames stack up down the road?

Center

The Flames look really good in this regard. Sean Monahan is already looking like a player that will be one of those special players in the middle. Then they have Bennett waiting for his chance to break in. Sam looks to be the best center prospect the Flames have drafted and has all the skills to be a great pivot in his own right. Markus Granlund is a very under rated player in the middle, but I think he ends up moving to the wing over the next year, if he remains with the Flames. A wild card in this mix is Mark Jankowski. He plays in a very defensive oriented system, and excels in that aspect of the game, but still displays silky hands that make you wonder how he would do in a more offensive system. Those four centers all have pretty good upside. Then there is the depth in the system. Jooris, Arnold and Shore provide some good role players at the position down the road. Definitely a position of strength and a check mark on the formula.

Goaltender

I think we have seen a little bit of the future with Joni Ortio stepping in and playing some outstanding games this season. He's like a younger Kiprusoff in that he doesn't get rattled. There is still some room for improvement, but he shows a ton of promise. The Flames also have a really good one in John Gillies at Providence. He's one of the dominant goaltenders at the NCAA level. He's big and technically sound. I could see him turning pro this spring as he doesn't have much left to prove at the college level and the Flames should have a spot on the farm next season. Thinking longer term recent 2nd rounder, and first goaltender taken in the 2014 draft, Mason MacDonald provides some impressive depth. There is no guarantee with goaltenders, but the Flames have three excellent prospects in development and another probable check mark on the formula.

Defenseman

The Flames have a great young blueliner in TJ Brodie. People forget how young he is and how long it takes to develop a good defender. Brodie is great talent and a core player moving forward. The common refrain is the Flames are thin on the blueline and don't have the futures they would like. I think we're in better shape that we think as there are some really under rated players in the system. The guys normally mentioned are Wotherspoon and Sieloff but I look at our current roster and see some parallels in the system. John Gilmour is a terribly unsung player, one that reminds me of a young Mark Giordano. Very similar skill set and similar poise on the Providence blueline. In the same college conference is Brandon Hickey who reminds you of TJ Brodie. He's a silky smooth skater and has a hockey IQ well beyond his years. Another good defenseman on the way is Ryan Culkin. He's got a very impressive rookie season going in the AHL. A wild card in the mix is Russian Rushan Rafikov. He can play the game any way you want and brings an edge that is lacking on the current roster. It is unlikely that the Flames see a number one defenseman out of this group, but with Brodie on the team they may not have to reach that lofty heights. Is this good enough to earn a check mark? Not yet, but with the right development a possibility.

The formula is said to lead to success. Eakins was emphatic about the makeup of the Oilers being counter to the formula as being partially responsible for their lack of success. Looking at the Flames system you can't help but think they have followed a solid plan in building through the formula. What do you think? Are the Flames on the right track?

02-02-2015, 08:37 PM	#1
Lanny_McDonald Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2013 Exp:	The Formula and the Flames Listened to the podcast with Dallas Eakins talking about advanced stats and he mentioned the makeup of the Oilers and how they are built counter to the formula of being strong up the middle. The ideal lineup is finding a top center, a top blueliner and a top goaltender. Considering that goal, how do the Flames stack up down the road? Center The Flames look really good in this regard. Sean Monahan is already looking like a player that will be one of those special players in the middle. Then they have Bennett waiting for his chance to break in. Sam looks to be the best center prospect the Flames have drafted and has all the skills to be a great pivot in his own right. Markus Granlund is a very under rated player in the middle, but I think he ends up moving to the wing over the next year, if he remains with the Flames. A wild card in this mix is Mark Jankowski. He plays in a very defensive oriented system, and excels in that aspect of the game, but still displays silky hands that make you wonder how he would do in a more offensive system. Those four centers all have pretty good upside. Then there is the depth in the system. Jooris, Arnold and Shore provide some good role players at the position down the road. Definitely a position of strength and a check mark on the formula. Goaltender I think we have seen a little bit of the future with Joni Ortio stepping in and playing some outstanding games this season. He's like a younger Kiprusoff in that he doesn't get rattled. There is still some room for improvement, but he shows a ton of promise. The Flames also have a really good one in John Gillies at Providence. He's one of the dominant goaltenders at the NCAA level. He's big and technically sound. I could see him turning pro this spring as he doesn't have much left to prove at the college level and the Flames should have a spot on the farm next season. Thinking longer term recent 2nd rounder, and first goaltender taken in the 2014 draft, Mason MacDonald provides some impressive depth. There is no guarantee with goaltenders, but the Flames have three excellent prospects in development and another probable check mark on the formula. Defenseman The Flames have a great young blueliner in TJ Brodie. People forget how young he is and how long it takes to develop a good defender. Brodie is great talent and a core player moving forward. The common refrain is the Flames are thin on the blueline and don't have the futures they would like. I think we're in better shape that we think as there are some really under rated players in the system. The guys normally mentioned are Wotherspoon and Sieloff but I look at our current roster and see some parallels in the system. John Gilmour is a terribly unsung player, one that reminds me of a young Mark Giordano. Very similar skill set and similar poise on the Providence blueline. In the same college conference is Brandon Hickey who reminds you of TJ Brodie. He's a silky smooth skater and has a hockey IQ well beyond his years. Another good defenseman on the way is Ryan Culkin. He's got a very impressive rookie season going in the AHL. A wild card in the mix is Russian Rushan Rafikov. He can play the game any way you want and brings an edge that is lacking on the current roster. It is unlikely that the Flames see a number one defenseman out of this group, but with Brodie on the team they may not have to reach that lofty heights. Is this good enough to earn a check mark? Not yet, but with the right development a possibility. The formula is said to lead to success. Eakins was emphatic about the makeup of the Oilers being counter to the formula as being partially responsible for their lack of success. Looking at the Flames system you can't help but think they have followed a solid plan in building through the formula. What do you think? Are the Flames on the right track?