Quote:
Originally Posted by Beninho
He barely played last game before getting thrown out early in the first.He looked really dangerous the first game but got thrown out of the game for running the goalie when he was clearly pushed in by an opposing player. I didn’t watch the second game so I can’t comment on that. WHL refs do throw out players with a lot more frequency than in the NHL. That being said it has not been a good playoffs for him, Tri City’s defense has been destroying kelowna with quick transition passes and a dominating PP.
Just a 3 game sample size but let’s just say I’m very happy we got Valimaki over Foote. Foote hasn’t been bad but outside of being a little more physical and blocking shots he doesn’t seem to do anything better than Valimaki, especially in the offensive zone. The thing I’ve been most impressed with by Valimaki is how quickly he moves the puck up the ice, he doesn’t play with the puck, his head is always up trying to find an outlet pass to a forward. He runs an excellent PP and is able to make some terrific cross ice passes, and his skating is terrific. I guess what I’m trying to say is I think he was a superb pick and I think he could play in the NHL next year. Without a doubt our best prospect and should be viewed as untouchable.
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That would be quite a feat. Not many d-men make the jump in draft +2 ...
With the current Flames defense contracts and prospects it might make sense for him to play a full year in the AHL and be ready for 2019-20.
Morrissey who was drafted in the #13 spot in 2013 had a over the top 73 pts in 59 games in draft +1 then went back to junior and had a better draft+2 year and then spent a full year in the AHL in Draft +3 ... In Draft +4 he was a solid NHL d-man and Draft +5 a top-2 on most NHL teams.
Helps the Flames on the cap front without the quick burn on his ELC if he spends another year in junior.
Kylington and Anderson are finishing draft+3 They should be really close to being NHL ready next year or might never be.