Another awesome Young Stars tournament, and a great end to it too. Washed out the taste of that loss to the Oilers.
I reckoned I'd save any comments for the end, after getting to watch all 3 Flames games. Most players didn't stand out much but here's what I thought about those that did (FWIW):
Lomberg: was a standout at last year's tournament, and even better this year. The kid is fun to watch, scrappy but clean, and keeps motoring the whole game long. Smart too. With some luck he could be a pugilistic Paul Byron. My favourite player this tourney (and top 3 last time too).
Tkachuk: kid plays a bit like he's got a screw loose (who body-checks an opponent who's already lying on the ice?), but he's smart, has a deft touch, and any concerns there may have been about his skating seem totally unfounded. He came out like he wanted to be noticed, and he was - for good and bad things. I'm not sure he'll ever be a favourite of mine, but I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up as important to this team as Gaudreau is.
Jankowski: got a lot of ice time, was put out during key situations, and his line always seemed to dominate. Liked a lot of what I saw, but it wasn't all roses. He's smart, responsible, and a good set-up man, but he shies away from contact and seems passive when it comes to finishing. He looks like he could be a very good replacement for Backlund somewhere down the line, but I no longer expect a high point producer unless he's maybe paired with a 40 goal sniper. Looks mentally and physically mature though.
Kylington: looks like Russell out there (minus the shot-blocking) and with better skating. I'm not totally sold on him based on what I saw over those 3 games, but it's hard to tell with a player like him how he'd slot in on a well developed team with a clearly defined role.
Andersson: showed the most potential of any D-man. Poised, smart, and very in command both up front and at the back. His smarts make him an efficient player, which may explain why his conditioning hasn't been great: he hasn't needed to rely on it yet.
Mangiapane: not the presence he was last year, and a bit of a disappointing showing in my mind. Not bad, but just not as noticeable as last year when he was awesome.
Dube: looked a bit overwhelmed and tentative, but I get the feeling with some confidence under his belt will look a lot better next year.
Aagaard: I'd give him an A, but he's already got too many as it is. Interesting tournament from him, with some solid flashes.
Kravchenko: I thought this kid had some serious skill. Not a big player or a tough one, but one that looks like he could really succeed playing on a skilled line or special teams.
Dyukov: didn't know the first thing about this kid, but repeatedly found myself checking his number after a smart pinch or nice pass. Would have liked to see him in the final game for a better look.
Parsons: I don't like high picks for goalies, but I think he'll be worth it. Very positionally sound, great controlled reactions.
On the whole, the Flames had the deepest squad in the tourney, and the only disappointment was they didn't show more finish. Fun to watch though, and a great sign of where this team is headed. The team's focus on drafting/signing smart players was evident the whole time.
Can't wait til next year.
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