Prospects To Watch at the 2023-24 Camp

[TheIronMaiden]

In preparation for camp. I have compiled a list of players to watch. Mostly for my own enjoyment. I am curious to hear other peoples scouting reports as we get ready for what is likely to be the most exciting pre season camp in some time. Maybe I am optimistic, but there is a good chance that four or more of these players opening the season for the Flames.

In brackets are their prospect ranking polls.

Players who will push for a spot on the team.

#63 Ruzicka (Gratduated) - I know he is technically a graduated prospect, that said the book is far from written. For a stretch he looked really good last year, though some combination of team management and old habits (streaky effort) left him an odd man out. This is going to be an important year for his career, and it will be interesting to see if he comes into camp guns a blazing.

#71 Walker (Graduated) – Duehr . He is already a fan favourite for good reason. Who doesn’t love a lunch pail player. IF he can keep up the pace and chip on offense now and then, he is going to sell some jerseys. It will be fun to watch what he brings to camp.

#32 Wolf (1st) - I am not going to pretend I know what makes a goalie good outside of stopping the puck. All I know is folks are really down on the Tandem of Vladar and Markstrom and are really high on the possibility of wolf being a franchise defining goalie.

#39 Coronato (2nd) – He had a pretty quite young stars, though it is clear that he is very dangerous with the puck. He plays with a goal scorers swager. I am not sure he kicks down doors and finds big minutes early. Though it will be interesting to see how he fits in with some of the play makers on the Flames. I think he will still need development to become an elite goal scorer. That said, he should be a lock to start the season with the Flames.

#22 Pelletier (3rd) – I am high of Pelletier, higher than most. It is obvious he plays away from the puck like a pro. Hard stops and starts, a great eye for passing lanes. Time will tell if he can become an impact player with the puck. It would be a shock if he didn’t crack the lineup to start.

#47 Zary (5th) – I am very low on Zary. We didn’t get a chance to see him in the young stars. But we know that he had a good camp last year. If he can repeat that then the sky is the limit. I don’t know if skill can carry him on to the team. He will need to do the little things right often if he is going to make it.

# ?? Poirier (6th) - Really hard to say what Poirier will bring. Rehabbing an injury to start camp is never a good thing. I know that the Flames could use his offensive flair, especially in light of moving on from a few roster players as the season progresses. I am doubtful he starts on the Flames, but I think we will see him get a game in the meat of the season.

#43 Klapka (17) – He was a clear stand out in Penticton. He uses his size and speed well to create space. Strong on the puck. I think he makes some moves in camp, though he will have to find a role.

Prospects who are not ready this year, but the future looks bright.

This isn't their year, but I think the Flames may have a couple of future NHLers here.

#42 Honzek ( 3)
#59 Morin (7)
#73 Lipinski (20)
#74 Ciona (14)

Honorable mentions.

These prospects are just a step behind the first grouping. Their window for making the team has opened, and it will be interesting to see if they find the next gear that gives them a shot at the show.

#37 Kuznetsov (9)
#65 Stromgren (10)
#77 Nikolaev (24)
#24 Pospisil (21)

[DJones]

Ruzicka, Walker, Klapka should be our 4th line

One of Pelletier or Coronato, likely Pelletier and Coronato comes up in a couple months.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Is Duehr too hard to spell?

[Toonage]

lmao was just thinking that / going to comment

Also I would be legitimately surprised if Pelletier & Coronato did not make the team but Klapka did out of camp. Though I do expect Klapka to get a long look.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Is Duehr too hard to spell?

When your name is Walker you don't need a last name

[CFO]

Going into this season reminds me of early years when guys like leopold, kobasew, Lombardi, moss etc made the jump.

[PepsiFree]

2/3 of Pelletier, Coronato, and Klapka will be on the ice opening night, unless the Flames trade for someone or sign a 4th liner (in the event one of those guys has a rough camp).

I'd keep all three up with the club.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Mangiapane-Kadri-Coronato
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Ruzicka-Duehr
Klapka

Weegar-Andersson
Hanifin-Zadorov
Kylington-Tanev
Oesterle-Gilbert

Mix and match where needed, but I can see that being the lineup they take into the start of the season.

A trade up front or injuries opens up a potential full-time role for Klapka/Duehr (who I can see rotating for a bit). A trade at back or injuries opens something up for Kuznetsov/Poirier/Solovyov to get an opportunity.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

2/3 of Pelletier, Coronato, and Klapka will be on the ice opening night, unless the Flames trade for someone or sign a 4th liner (in the event one of those guys has a rough camp).

I'd keep all three up with the club.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Mangiapane-Kadri-Coronato
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Ruzicka-Duehr
Klapka

Weegar-Andersson
Hanifin-Zadorov
Kylington-Tanev
Oesterle-Gilbert

Mix and match where needed, but I can see that being the lineup they take into the start of the season.

A trade up front or injuries opens up a potential full-time role for Klapka/Duehr (who I can see rotating for a bit). A trade at back or injuries opens something up for Kuznetsov/Poirier/Solovyov to get an opportunity.

They need to get rid of someone imo. Dube and Pelletier can't be on the 4th line, borderline rude to both of them

and Klapka - Ruzicka - Duehr is the exact 4th line everyone has wanted for a decade. Young, big, cheap, and skilled. ~2.5M for a 4th line I'm excited about? Sign me up.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Is Duehr too hard to spell?

It kind of is. Any time I type it, I'm pretty sure I put the silent H in the wrong place.

Hdhuhehrh

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by DJones

They need to get rid of someone imo. Dube and Pelletier can't be on the 4th line, borderline rude to both of them

and Klapka - Ruzicka - Duehr is the exact 4th line everyone has wanted for a decade. Young, big, cheap, and skilled. ~2.5M for a 4th line I'm excited about? Sign me up.

Depends how it's deployed. Fans view the fourth line as the scraps, but a fourth line with Pelletier-Ruzicka-Duehr/Klapka isn't going to be out there just to hold the line and hope for the best. That's a fourth line that can play and produce.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Depends how it's deployed. Fans view the fourth line as the scraps, but a fourth line with Pelletier-Ruzicka-Duehr/Klapka isn't going to be out there just to hold the line and hope for the best. That's a fourth line that can play and produce.

I don't want to go the Sutter line of thinking. I want to play our top 6, top 6 minutes.

I want the 4th line to get 8-11 minutes of high energy play.

[Drunk Uncle]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

2/3 of Pelletier, Coronato, and Klapka will be on the ice opening night, unless the Flames trade for someone or sign a 4th liner (in the event one of those guys has a rough camp).

I'd keep all three up with the club.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Mangiapane-Kadri-Coronato
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Ruzicka-Duehr
Klapka

Weegar-Andersson
Hanifin-Zadorov
Kylington-Tanev
Oesterle-Gilbert

Mix and match where needed, but I can see that being the lineup they take into the start of the season.

A trade up front or injuries opens up a potential full-time role for Klapka/Duehr (who I can see rotating for a bit). A trade at back or injuries opens something up for Kuznetsov/Poirier/Solovyov to get an opportunity.

I would swap Mang and Dube and move Klapka between the Wranglers and Flames to maximize his playing time instead of him riding the pine as a 23yr old.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

In preparation for camp. I have compiled a list of players to watch. Mostly for my own enjoyment. I am curious to hear other peoples scouting reports as we get ready for what is likely to be the most exciting pre season camp in some time. Maybe I am optimistic, but there is a good chance that four or more of these players opening the season for the Flames.

Great work! Didn't Pelletier switch to #22?

Here are my thoughts on the prospects

#22: Pelletier reminds me of Mangiapane. He does all the little things right, and he comes out of puck battles with the puck more often than not. I expect something similar to Mangiapane's first season on the Hathaway - Ryan line.

#32: Wolf reminds me of Quick. His movement in the crease and his compete really stand out. That said, goalies are voodoo and I don't want to put very high expectations on the kid.

#39: Coronato had a really good game against the Sharks, but he didn't wow me at the Young Stars tournament. The Cammaleri comparisons are interesting, but I think it will be an up and down rookie season for him.

#47: Zary he has been progressing along nicely. I want to see what we have in him when he's asked to drive his own line at the NHL level. I expect a similar path to Dube when he breaks into the leauge.

#63: Ruzicka I really don't know what he is at the NHL level. He has a great ability to finish. He has shown it at both the NHL and AHL level. The compete level seems to be a bit lacking at times that's why he reminds me of James Neal.

#64: Jones I think he is a great candidate to center the 4th line. I see him as a Derek Ryan type player, that's responsible defensively, and can pitch in offensively. If Ruzicka falters, he will be the 4th line center.

#71: Duehr really reminds me of Ferland. I absolutely loved his hard work, the energy and the scoring touch.

#78: Pettersen he is another very skilled winger with a good finish. He's my dark horse to watch during training camp.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by DJones

I don't want to go the Sutter line of thinking. I want to play our top 6, top 6 minutes.

I want the 4th line to get 8-11 minutes of high energy play.

Sure, I also want the 4th line to be able to put the puck in the net, and I think it's more important for Pelletier and Coronato to both get consistent play time in the NHL than have one of them stay in the AHL because of an arbitrary idea of what a 4th line should be, you know?

Pelletier plays really well away from the puck already, which is why I think starting on the 4th line that plays with the kind of pace he's great at will be perfect for him.

Trades and injuries will happen, so why get them fully acclimated to the NHL pace instead of sitting in the AHL and having them go through the learning curve part way through the season?

That's if Coronato earns that spot out of camp, obviously. He may need the AHL. But Pelletier has probably earned a bottom-six role already.

Originally Posted by Drunk Uncle

I would swap Mang and Dube and move Klapka between the Wranglers and Flames to maximize his playing time instead of him riding the pine as a 23yr old.

I think that makes a lot of sense long-term. If he has a good camp, I like the idea of keeping him with the big club and rotating with Duehr, but, eventually, it's going to be important for those guys to both have consistent roles (and Duehr did great last year), so cycling Klapka between the NHL/AHL would be perfect.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Prospects who are not ready this year, but the future looks bright.

This isn't their year, but I think the Flames may have a couple of future NHLers here.

#42 Honzek ( 3)
#59 Morin (7)
#73 Lipinski (20)
#74 Ciona (14)

Honorable mentions.

These prospects are just a step behind the first grouping. Their window for making the team has opened, and it will be interesting to see if they find the next gear that gives them a shot at the show.

#37 Kuznetsov (9)
#65 Stromgren (10)
#77 Nikolaev (24)
#24 Pospisil (21)

Good writeup.

Suniev should be on the first list too

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

When your name is Walker you don't need a last name

Even George Walker Bush did.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Good writeup.

Suniev should be on the first list too

Suniev won't be at camp, but I agree, he also looks like a good prospect.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sure, I also want the 4th line to be able to put the puck in the net, and I think it's more important for Pelletier and Coronato to both get consistent play time in the NHL than have one of them stay in the AHL because of an arbitrary idea of what a 4th line should be, you know?

Pelletier plays really well away from the puck already, which is why I think starting on the 4th line that plays with the kind of pace he's great at will be perfect for him.

Trades and injuries will happen, so why get them fully acclimated to the NHL pace instead of sitting in the AHL and having them go through the learning curve part way through the season?

That's if Coronato earns that spot out of camp, obviously. He may need the AHL. But Pelletier has probably earned a bottom-six role already.



I think that makes a lot of sense long-term. If he has a good camp, I like the idea of keeping him with the big club and rotating with Duehr, but, eventually, it's going to be important for those guys to both have consistent roles (and Duehr did great last year), so cycling Klapka between the NHL/AHL would be perfect.

I would much prefer Pelletier and Coronato in the AHL than on a 4th line.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DJones

I would much prefer Pelletier and Coronato in the AHL than on a 4th line.

I don't think there is any chance that Coronato is on the 4th line - top 9 or AHL.

I think Pelletier is a different story however - he has proved he is an NHLer, he has nothing else to learn from the AHL, and his game would not suffer being on the 4th line.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't think there is any chance that Coronato is on the 4th line - top 9 or AHL.

I think Pelletier is a different story however - he has proved he is an NHLer, he has nothing else to learn from the AHL, and his game would not suffer being on the 4th line.

I think it would very much suffer. Guy couldn't produce on the 2nd line but he looked alright. Just needs more time. Dropping him to the 4th line ain't going to help, you don't go to the 4th line to learn how to finish.