Tidbits from THN's Future Watch

[Jiri Hrdina]

It is just a single source, and certainly not one that is the gospel but there's always interesting tidbits and fodder for discussion

Flames are given the 20th prospect group overall, up from 26th moving from a C to C+.

They also have a list that aims to normalize draft performance relative to average of the team's first pick since 2018. The Flames are 3rd on this list, behind CBJ and Nashville. Edmonton is 31st (because they are no good).

Top 10 Flames prospects:
1. Coronato (21st overall)
2. Pelletier (36th)
3. Wolf (73rd)
4. Zary (93rd)
5. Pospisil
6. Poirier
7. Kuznetzov
8. Stromgren
9. Mackey
10. Kinnvall

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It is just a single source, and certainly not one that is the gospel but there's always interesting tidbits and fodder for discussion

Flames are given the 20th prospect group overall, up from 26th moving from a C to C+.

They also have a list that aims to normalize draft performance relative to average of the team's first pick since 2018. The Flames are 3rd on this list, behind CBJ and Nashville. Edmonton is 31st (because they are no good).

Top 10 Flames prospects:
1. Coronato (21st overall)
2. Pelletier (36th)
3. Wolf (73rd)
4. Zary (93rd)
5. Pospisil
6. Poirier
7. Kuznetzov
8. Stromgren
9. Mackey
10. Kinnvall

Thanks. This list seems a little more current than others than I had seen which still had a guy like Pettersen in top 10.

Mackey at 9 is interesting. The guy does look like an NHLer and he probably still has room to grow. He maybe deserves a little better even if you believe his ceiling is limited.

[bigrangy]

Don’t have much hope for Stromgren and Kuznetzov, but hopefully there’s some future help in the group here. I imagine Ruzicka/Valimaki are considered graduated for this list?

[FlamesAddiction]

No Ruzicka in the top 10?

Call me skeptical of this evaluation.

[Roof-Daddy]

Not sure how Rory Kerins! doesn't get at least top 10

Must be his muffin shot

[Reggie Dunlop]

I'd put Sergeev into the mix. Goaltenders are always tricky to predict, though.

[TheScorpion]

Kinnvall has routinely been a healthy scratch in Stockton and there are whispers that he's heading back to Europe after this year, so I probably wouldn't put him at No. 10.

[TheScorpion]

If I was doing a top 10 right now (including Ruzicka and Valimaki):

1. Coronato
2. Pelletier
3. Wolf
4. Ruzicka
5. Zary
6. Valimaki
7. Kerins
8. Mackey
9. Phillips
10. Poirier

I love Marty Pospisil and I'm really rooting for him but having him at 5 is too high. I can see the rationale for having Kuznetsov in the top 10 but not Stromgren at this point ... his D+1 has been very underwhelming.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Don’t have much hope for Stromgren and Kuznetzov, but hopefully there’s some future help in the group here. I imagine Ruzicka/Valimaki are considered graduated for this list?

Kuznetsov only just turned 20. I think the prudent thing to do is to be patient. It could take three years for him to get into the NHL.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[Sandman]

Beat me to the punch, Jiri! As a guy who been a subscriber to THN since the mid-90's, I can honestly say that they've really gone downhill in recent years. The Future Watch and Draft Preview issues are always something I look forward to, but I keep finding more and more that they're out to lunch. Just my opinion.

I really can't see a Flames top-10 without Kerins, Phillips, and in my opinion-one of Beck or Francis. I also firmly believe that we are higher than 20th in the league. For everyone who doubts Stromgren, just remember-he's not yet even 19 years old. He was 31st in league scoring for players 18-and-under, and he's currently tied for Rogle's lead in playoff scoring, with 4 pts in 6 games. He has size, speed, and skill, and it's way too early to give up on him.

[The Fonz]

Not listing Kerins, Ruzicka, and Phillips in the top 10 is a complete miss by THN.

I’m assuming Valimaki doesn’t qualify as “prospect” anymore due to NHLGP.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It is just a single source, and certainly not one that is the gospel but there's always interesting tidbits and fodder for discussion

Flames are given the 20th prospect group overall, up from 26th moving from a C to C+.

They also have a list that aims to normalize draft performance relative to average of the team's first pick since 2018. The Flames are 3rd on this list, behind CBJ and Nashville. Edmonton is 31st (because they are no good).

Top 10 Flames prospects:
1. Coronato (21st overall)
2. Pelletier (36th)
3. Wolf (73rd)
4. Zary (93rd)
5. Pospisil
6. Poirier
7. Kuznetzov
8. Stromgren
9. Mackey
10. Kinnvall

I think that's a pretty solid list. I can argue with the placement of players, but that top 10 is pretty accurate IMO. I still think Zary is the best prospect we have, even with the tough season he experienced. Pelletier is second because of his work ethic and motor. Coronato on pure talent and finishing ability. Wolf is in the top four, but his size between the pipes is going to hurt him. I like Kuznetsov in the five slot because he has the whole package. After that, it's a bit of a crap shoot. Unlike others, I have to see what players bring to the table once the turn pro. Seen way too many junior players that are scoring machines turn into nothing once they turn pro. For every Mangiapane there are 10 Schremps. Junior players are nothing until they play against men and prove their skills translate. Next season is a huge one for the Flames prospect pool IMO. Francis, Kerins, and Beck step up and show they can play in the pros and produce, or we know they are much longer term projects like Phillips - who is NOT an NHL player. It's not a bad thing to be a career minor leaguer for these kids, if they understand their shelf-life and invent their earnings accordingly. But most will not be NHL players, including the Flames' top 10 prospects. Flames have four or five guys with NHL futures that are not limited to a cup of coffee.

[Flamesfan05]

Phillips is on his way out, he is no top 10. The Flames don’t even believe in him.

In general, the B prospects have exceeded expectations in the last few years. Hopefully the trend continues.

[Sandman]

I like Phillips, but I really don't think he'll ever be given a chance by Sutter. Even if he did get a call-up, he'll only get six minutes on the 4th line, and what good will that do him?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Phillips is on his way out, he is no top 10. The Flames don’t even believe in him.

In general, the B prospects have exceeded expectations in the last few years. Hopefully the trend continues.

I always find it amazing how you can state things I'm assuming you don't actually know as simple facts.

Not top 10 is an opinion, and I'm all for that. But on his way out? Don't believe in him?

Seriously dude?

[Enoch Root]

I think there are different kinds of prospects, and it is nearly impossible to compare them. How can you compare guys like Ruzicka and Phillips to guys like Kerins and Beck? That's why I like to separate them into groups.

I always think there is a top group that is pretty obvious, and it currently has 4 guys: Coronato, Pelletier, Zary and Wolf, in any order you like. After that, I think it helps to separate them into two groups: potential, and readiness.

In the potential group, I would go with: Kerins, Stromgren, Poirier, Beck, Francis, and Kuznetsov.

In the NHL ready category, I would go with: Mackey, Ruzicka, Phillips, Valimaki

I tend to place more value on potential than readiness, so my top 10 looks like this:

Pelletier
Coronato
Zary
Wolf
Kerins
Stromgren
Poirier
Mackey
Valimaki
Ruzicka

with Kuznetsov as my sleeper.

And looking at it again, I would probably push Valimaki up (I don't give up on defensemen quickly)

[Bingo]

Yeah it's never a straight line.

Just picked our 2015 Prospect Poll summary as an example ...

8.5 NHL players on the list, but 5 of them coming after the 9th prospect.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Not listing Kerins, Ruzicka, and Phillips in the top 10 is a complete miss by THN.

I’m assuming Valimaki doesn’t qualify as “prospect” anymore due to NHLGP.

Expanding on this, here would be the top 10 in my entirely unqualified opinion:

1. Coronato
2. Pelletier
3. Ruzicka
4. Zary
5. Mackey
6. Wolf
7. Phillips
8. Pospisil
9. Kerins
10. Poirier

I'm lower on Wolf than most. Goaltending prospects have emotionally damaged me too many times.

[Enoch Root]

I am baffled by the Pospisil love, but I hope you guys are right.

[Bingo]

Won't be as much fun without a new firs round pick this summer, but at least we have some success from Kerins changing the list.

Plus Wolf, Pelletier and Coronato taking further steps .... Zary recovering.