Let's Talk About Mitch Wahl

[Coach]

He played well for team USA and I went to the red and white game last year and really liked what I saw from Wahl, he reminded me of Cammalleri. He doesn't get a lot of talk as someone who could crack the Flames lineup but, I thought he looked pretty decent in camp last year. I know he was injured for most of the season, but how was he looking before/after?

[Calgary4LIfe]

He got a lot of talk last year for people wanting him to make the lineup. I personally thought he did really well - you can see that he was on the cusp of making it.

Too bad he had a terrible season of injuries. I really do see him as a player that will one day crack the lineup - think he has great vision and playmaking ability. Hopefully he comes back stronger than ever and develops well on the Heat.

[madmike]

Yeah I've still got hope for him. A lot depends on how he comes back from all of last year's injuries.

[Metro Gnome]

I really liked everything I saw out of Wahl in the prospect and pre-season games. He will need to take a big step forward after his major injury last year to get back on track though.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

One thing I noticed about Wahl in the limited amount of games I saw him play in Abbotsford is he is very crafty with the puck. Really good puck handler and passer. Hell of a sniper when he wants to be as well. He was definitely our best shootout player last season.

However, he is a pretty soft player. He can take a hit and doesn't mind getting hit, don't get me wrong, but he can get knocked off the puck pretty easily.

[Parallex]

Kinda reminds me a bit of Craig Conroy in that he's a smart two-way forward, doesn't do anything flashy, has solid all-around skills, and rarely makes a mistake. Really strikes me as more of a third line guy in the NHL who could play top six in a pinch. That's all from his WHL career though... no idea what he was like in the "A".

I wouldn't look for him to make the Flames next year. Gonna have to play at least another year in Abbotsford on account how how badly he was injured I figure.

[Beerfest]

If I remember correctly Stajan got hurt in the first pre-season game and Wahl took his spot on that line and ended up getting two assists or something in that game..then he was sent down. I would of liked a longer look.

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

However, he is a pretty soft player. He can take a hit and doesn't mind getting hit, don't get me wrong, but he can get knocked off the puck pretty easily.

I think you could apply that to any player in the league that isn't larger the some of the bigger defencemen. I don't see how its relevant as long as he's willing to battle to make up for a little lack of size.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

However, he is a pretty soft player. He can take a hit and doesn't mind getting hit, don't get me wrong, but he can get knocked off the puck pretty easily.

Wahl is 6ft 200 lbs. We're not talking about a Dustin Boyd, who's listed at a rather generous 187. If he played at 180 I'd be astonished.

Besides, Wahl seems to be the kind of player who's quick enough and shifty enough to roll off most of those hits.

He's one of the few Flame prospects who interests me at all anymore, please let him do SOMETHING noteworthy... Is that asking for so much?

[sworkhard]

I originally predicted Mitch Wahl would become he best player the flames drafted in 08. Unfortunatly he hasn't been able to play much due to injury, so that might hamper his development. Hopefully he can get a full season in in Abbotsford this year, and play well enough to earn a few looks.

[kirant]

Wahl reminds me a lot of Dawes and Boyd with a few more pounds. I'd love to see him solidify a bottom six role on the Flames in 2-3 years. Hopefully his injury hasn't hurt his development too much.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

I think you could apply that to any player in the league that isn't larger the some of the bigger defencemen. I don't see how its relevant as long as he's willing to battle to make up for a little lack of size.

It's completely relevant because it explains that he needs a little bit more strength.

There's lots of players in the NHL who get knocked off the puck easily, and there's lots of players who don't (i.e., Getzlaf, Iginla, Brown, etc.)

[Muta]

I was extremely excited when we drafted Mitch in the 2nd round that year. I think he was projected to go late 1st / early 2nd round, anyways. Hopefully he gets back on track. He's a good prospect, just hampered by an injury.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by kirant

Wahl reminds me a lot of Dawes and Boyd with a few more pounds. I'd love to see him solidify a bottom six role on the Flames in 2-3 years. Hopefully his injury hasn't hurt his development too much.

Personally, I hope he has a camp that makes one of our centremen expendable, or at least moves himself to the front of the line as our first injury callup.

To hope that he's a bottom six player in 2-3 years is the kind of mentality that leads to us having two potential impact players drafted and developed since 2003; Dion and Backlund.

If/when the Flames are out of it, I'd like to see him get a shot at centering the second line, or at least the 3rd. This of course is predicated on one or both of Jokinen and Langkow being traded at the deadline.

Not to derail the thread, this just feels like its gonna be a lonnnnng season.

[flamesrule14]

What is his status anyways? Going to be ready for the prospect camp? Training camp? Any word on him this offseason. I can't recall seeing any kind of update on him for quite awhile.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Personally, I hope he has a camp that makes one of our centremen expendable, or at least moves himself to the front of the line as our first injury callup.

To hope that he's a bottom six player in 2-3 years is the kind of mentality that leads to us having two potential impact players drafted and developed since 2003; Dion and Backlund.

I think if he, at 22-23 becomes a top 9 forward, he'll peak out at a 2nd line center at 25-27, which is pretty solid for a mid round pick like Wahl (and honestly is a good use of a draft pick). Before then, I can't see him getting much more than a fill in role. It'd be great if he gets called up, impresses us, and earns a spot on the team.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by kirant

I think if he, at 22-23 becomes a top 9 forward, he'll peak out at a 2nd line center at 25-27, which is pretty solid for a mid round pick like Wahl (and honestly is a good use of a draft pick). Before then, I can't see him getting much more than a fill in role. It'd be great if he gets called up, impresses us, and earns a spot on the team.

Fair enough

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Muta

I was extremely excited when we drafted Mitch in the 2nd round that year. I think he was projected to go late 1st / early 2nd round, anyways. Hopefully he gets back on track. He's a good prospect, just hampered by an injury.

Seems like we've heard that a lot about our top prospects

either it's:

1) True and just bad/dumb luck; or
2) We use the injury excuse and they are not as good as we think they are

[8sPOT]

I'd say given the fact that Wahl played 17 games last year, the injury is a legit excuse for hampering his development. It was also his rookie year in the pros, where as someone like Chucko has had many chances to show what he can do.

I don't know much about where Wahl is physically going into next season, but, I think John Negrin is in a much more critical situation. Two consecutive injury plagued seasons, could be make or break time.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Wahl needs to put on some size (duh), but a healthy season (fingers crossed) should allow him to grow and show what type of player he can/will be.

Any decision on Wahl has got to be at least 2 or 3 years away. Besides, it's not like he taking minutes away from top prospects......