Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
How do you not see them behind Wotherspoon?
He was ahead of them on the depth chart in Adirondack
|
Well, yes, he has a year head start. Corey Potter was ahead of Wotherspoon on the depth chart in Adirondack too, but that doesn't mean he was ahead of Wotherspoon. And would you disagree that Culkin's pro rookie season was more impressive than Wotherspoon's pro rookie season?
Quote:
|
He has been called up to the big club several times (and they haven't, other than Kulak getting in that that one game where the Flames threw a bunch of kids on the ice in Winnipeg)
|
This is true, but Treliving said something along the lines of Culkin's time coming up very soon as well, something to the tune of "whether that's next season or the season after". They also seem to fit Hartley's system a lot better purely based on style.
Quote:
|
He has more pedigree - only one on the WJ team, drafted higher
|
I don't think the Flames are all too interested in pedigree. Sven Baertschi had more pedigree than Josh Jooris too.
Quote:
|
Treliving came out and challenged Wotherspoon to be ready to fight for a job in September.
|
And you know he didn't challenge Culkin or anyone else the exact same way? Those guys didn't get season end interviews with media but that doesn't mean we can assume they weren't given similar exit interviews with coaching/management.
One thing Treliving did say though, that differentiates them from Wotherspoon, was year 1 was getting a feel for the pro game, but by year 3 you better be trying to take a spot away. He's saying that the pressure is on Spoon to win a spot. Kulak/Culkin are going into year 2 so there's no pressure on them, but that doesn't mean there's no opportunity for them.
Quote:
|
I think it's pretty safe to say that no one expects either Culkin or Kulak to crack the lineup out of camp.
|
Nor Hickey, but I bet you Hickey's ahead of Wotherspoon too.
Quote:
|
So you can say that you like them better, but to try and argue that they aren't behind Wotherspoon on the depth charts is simply ignoring the facts.
|
There is no "fact" only speculation. We don't know what their depth chart is. They might see Wotherspoon as merely a trade piece for all we know. Or maybe they've got Kanzig ahead of all these puck movers we love. That's something only they are privy too. And being more NHL-ready does not equate to being valued higher either.
The only thing we know definitively is that Wotherspoon is further along in his development. That does not make him a better prospect. Doesn't make him a worse prospect. Only makes him the prospect who's further along right now.