An annual ranking done by Scott Wheeler of the Athletic has two Flames on the list this year, ranked 23rd (Valimaki) and 49th (Dube). Among his criteria to be eligible, the player must be under 23 and must not have played in the majority of his games last year with his NHL club.
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23. Juuso Valimaki, LHD, 20 (Calgary Flames — 16th overall, 2017)
Long a favorite of mine, Valimaki is the antithesis to a lot of the smaller defenceman you’ll notice I’m really high on here. In a game that’s now built on finesse and subtlety, Valimaki is the big, strong, powerful defender who is physical along the boards and can bomb it from the offensive zone blue line. But he’s also cerebral when he needs to be, a stout defender when timing and stick work are called for over physicality and a strong outlet passer. He’s the kind of D partner every player wants alongside them and someone who could support a better player on the top pairing or carry a bottom pairing.
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49. Dillon Dube, C/LW, 20 (Calgary Flames — 56th overall, 2016)
Most kids begin with talent and figure out how to play hockey after. Dube begun by figuring out the ins and outs of being a strong two-way hockey player before his talent caught up. Now it has and he’s got everything he needs to be a versatile NHL forward.
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