Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] With the 26th OA pick, the Flames select LW Jakob Pelletier

Calgary4LIfe · 10-28-2020, 11:05 AM

I really liked that article posted by Bingo.

This is what I kept hearing about him - his compete level all over the ice.

I remember being rather disappointed with Baertschi's compete level in the NHL, and I said he was going to fizzle out. However, I was full aboard the hype train after the draft, especially hearing the stuff about him staying after practice to work on his skills, or choosing to ride the bike after games instead of playing video games like everyone else. What he never had though was that compete level, especially in all zones. Burke's comments were spot on.

Know who Pelletier reminds me of? Paul Byron. Now, I think Pelletier is a more skilled and slick player than Byron - better playmaking/vision, better shooting - but everything else reminds me of Byron. I think Byron is still a player that all 31 teams in the NHL would like to have on their roster (well, minus his contract - but good for him for earning it). You can throw Byron out anywhere in the lineup and he will play hard and contribute. That's Pelletier too.

It is questionable if he has "top line player" ceiling or not. Maybe the middle-six is a more realistic ceiling. I don't know. All I know is that this kid is going to be in the NHL sooner than most people think he will be. I think coaches will have a difficult time not including him in their rosters down the road as his level of compete in all zones sets him apart from a lot of other prospects. He is hard to play against not because he is a bruising forward, but because he doesn't give up on pucks in any zone.

I really like this prospect, not just for his skill level, but because of his other intangibles. I think he is a 'can't miss' prospect with that package. Undersized, yes.. but like Byron did, he plays bigger than he is. The Flames have to become a team that is much more difficult to play against, so I am glad that have really focused on stuff like this.

I am really excited to follow his career. I don't know how high he will top-off at, but I am betting he becomes a player sooner rather than later.

10-28-2020, 11:05 AM	#255
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I really liked that article posted by Bingo. This is what I kept hearing about him - his compete level all over the ice. I remember being rather disappointed with Baertschi's compete level in the NHL, and I said he was going to fizzle out. However, I was full aboard the hype train after the draft, especially hearing the stuff about him staying after practice to work on his skills, or choosing to ride the bike after games instead of playing video games like everyone else. What he never had though was that compete level, especially in all zones. Burke's comments were spot on. Know who Pelletier reminds me of? Paul Byron. Now, I think Pelletier is a more skilled and slick player than Byron - better playmaking/vision, better shooting - but everything else reminds me of Byron. I think Byron is still a player that all 31 teams in the NHL would like to have on their roster (well, minus his contract - but good for him for earning it). You can throw Byron out anywhere in the lineup and he will play hard and contribute. That's Pelletier too. It is questionable if he has "top line player" ceiling or not. Maybe the middle-six is a more realistic ceiling. I don't know. All I know is that this kid is going to be in the NHL sooner than most people think he will be. I think coaches will have a difficult time not including him in their rosters down the road as his level of compete in all zones sets him apart from a lot of other prospects. He is hard to play against not because he is a bruising forward, but because he doesn't give up on pucks in any zone. I really like this prospect, not just for his skill level, but because of his other intangibles. I think he is a 'can't miss' prospect with that package. Undersized, yes.. but like Byron did, he plays bigger than he is. The Flames have to become a team that is much more difficult to play against, so I am glad that have really focused on stuff like this. I am really excited to follow his career. I don't know how high he will top-off at, but I am betting he becomes a player sooner rather than later.