Assistant general manager John Weisbrod has furthered the team's drafting philosophy from what Darryl Sutter's regime began a few years earlier: identifying and snaring players with high hockey IQs.
"Sometimes you draft a guy that's a great skater or [has] great hands and all this, but then when he gets up to the next level, where everybody's a better skater and everybody has better hands, if they don't have the brain to figure it out and still maximize what they bring to the table, then they struggle," Weisbrod told NHL.com.
The Flames have started to accumulate some interesting pieces who seem to possess a healthy dash of brain power that is able to mesh with the instinct needed on the ice. The hope is a pipeline of productive players who give the franchise a much-needed jolt.
"I always use examples with our staff like Logan Couture in San Jose or Jeff Skinner in Carolina, or even Patrice Bergeron from my time with Boston," Weisbrod said. "These were guys that were downgraded [before they were drafted] whether it was their skating, their hands or some physical element, and they ended up rising above where they were projected just based on their hockey IQ and feel for the game. I would certainly say that is one of the more distinct changes we've made -- to really prioritize people that have hockey sense the way we define it, and have the ability to think and feel the game so that if their skills are in order, they'll have the rest of the pieces they need to compete at the highest level."
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This is an opinion piece by an NHL staff writer (Brian Schiazza). It's a good article but I wouldn't take the rankings as the official opinion of the Calgary Flames.
How so ? Have you watched him much. He seems to be ok to me and I have watched him a lot. That short time in Calgary didn't show all aspects of his game. He can be a very effective player.
How so ? Have you watched him much. He seems to be ok to me and I have watched him a lot. That short time in Calgary didn't show all aspects of his game. He can be a very effective player.
I never said he couldn't be effective, but to call him a great skater is silly. Greg Nemisz is a better skater than Aliu, and Nemisz is pretty weak himself.
NHL.com: New Draft Philosophy helping Flames' prospect pool
