The Prospect Cupboard

[keenan87]

In comparison to two years ago, how do people feel about the Flames prospect group and how it ranks with the rest of the league.

1. Sven Baertschi
2. Sean Monahan
3. John Gaudreau
4. Jon Gillies
5. Emile Poirier
6. Mark Jankowski
7. Morgan Klimchuk
8. Tyler Wotherspoon
9. Laurent Brossoit
10. Pat Sieloff
11. Ken Agostino
12. Joni Ortio
13. Max Rienhart
14. Ben Hanowski
15. Marcus Granlund
16. Corban Knight
17. Michael Ferland
18. Brett Kulak
19. John Ramage
20. Mark Cundari
HM: Ryan Culkin and Bill Arnold

This list is interchangeable and not exactly based on order.

I feel we are now entering the Top 15 teams in the league for prospects. What does everyone else think?

[StrykerSteve]

Rock solid top 10. I'd rank Knight a lot higher though.

[c.t.ner]

Yeah, I would have Knight in the top 5, because I don't feel he'll be that much of a prospect.

But overal, I think we have a pretty strong group of prospects. I don't think we have a bevy of upper echelon game breakers like the circus up North apparently does, but I think we have the makings of a solid, solid team to build upon for the next few seasons. If the Flames can manage to continue to add strong smart prospects over the next year, I think we're molding this team more inline with the Bostons, St. Louis and LAs of the NHL, rather than the Penguins and Blackhawks of the NHL. There aren't going to be the key marquee names on this team like a Kane, Towes, Malkin, Crosby (unless we pick up Connor McDavid), but it's has the makings of a strong team for the future.

[dammage79]

Was going to say Knight should be just a spot ahead of Agostino.

Not sure Sven is a prospect anymore as he will be full time next year.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Was going to say Knight should be just a spot ahead of Agostino.

Not sure Sven is a prospect anymore as he will be full time next year.

Still a prospect until he makes it!

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Was going to say Knight should be just a spot ahead of Agostino.

Not sure Sven is a prospect anymore as he will be full time next year.

Still calder eligible is still a prospect in my mind.

I'd probably put Cundari higher on the list.

[Table 5]

I'm really starting to get excited about this team again. I know it's still years away where we can see some success, but there's definitely a lot of potential here now. The last few years of watching this team just felt so heavy..you just got the feeling that they were just wasted years that everyone but the organization were perceptive of. But now, things feel re-energized!

Having said that, we clearly still need at least a couple more Monahan/Baertschi type of prospects on this team. We don't have that "franchise" guy yet, and I have a feeling that might come next year.

[Da_Chief]

Some real good prospect in there imo. Obviously having higher and more picks helped it from 2 years ago.

My top 10 would be (in terms of who will make it imo)

1) Sven Baertschi - 1st line winger
2) Sean Monahan - 2nd line center
3) Jon Gillies - Staring goalie
4) Tyler Wotherspoon - Top 4 dman
5) Morgan Klimchuk - Top 6 winger
6) Emile Poirier - 3rd line winger
7) Maxwell Reinhart - 3rd line center
8) Pat Seiloff - 3rd pair dman
9) Corban Knight - 4th line center
10) Lance Bouma - 4th liner

Just my opinion! From the limited viewing of these guys on TV and youtube. We do have gems, I hope I'm wrong on Gaudreau and Janko.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

I think you've got to like the direction the team is heading. It's hard to say how they will all pan out so I like the fact that we are starting to establish prospect depth up front.

I think you'll see the Flames ship a couple more players for picks next during the trade deadline next year (ex. Stempniak, Cammalleri,etc.) to help fill some of the holes that we currently have on RW's and elite defense prospects or to add more assets.

[FBI]

Cundari seems like he should be higher up the list.. Looked really good last year. I remember thinking wow this kid already makes me not miss Bouwmeester one bit.

[IgiTang]

Wow... Our D prospects are real nice. Add this list to an already established Brodie and Giordano. In 2 years a couple of these guys if not more could be playing for the Flames full time.

Tyler Wotherspoon
Pat Sieloff
Brett Kulak
Mark Cundari
John Ramage
Chris Breen
Kegan Kanzig

Our forward prospect depth is really solid too.

The Flames cupboards are quickly becoming very full with guys who have a real chance to be impact players in the NHL.

So pumped !!!!

[jlh2640]

TSNs comparison to Monahan was Toews. Lets hope its Jonathon and not David.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Some real good prospect in there imo. Obviously having higher and more picks helped it from 2 years ago.

My top 10 would be (in terms of who will make it imo)

1) Sven Baertschi - 1st line winger
2) Sean Monahan - 2nd line center
3) Jon Gillies - Staring goalie
4) Tyler Wotherspoon - Top 4 dman
5) Morgan Klimchuk - Top 6 winger
6) Emile Poirier - 3rd line winger
7) Maxwell Reinhart - 3rd line center
8) Pat Seiloff - 3rd pair dman
9) Corban Knight - 4th line center
10) Lance Bouma - 4th liner

Just my opinion! From the limited viewing of these guys on TV and youtube. We do have gems, I hope I'm wrong on Gaudreau and Janko.

I think that's pretty fair, maybe a bit optimistic on Gillies, Bouma and even Sven. After some initial indigestion I think Porier has 2nd line projection. IMO we have real tight 2nd 3rd and 4th line forwards moving forward. If Monahan, Sven or someone else shoots up to bonafide 1st liners then all the better. Still in the hunt for a blue chip D and C.

[Buck Murdock]

Does someone want to put together a ranking of our goalie prospects?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Obviously after a draft everyone's pool should be better, double that for the Flames with three first rounders... but it's look pretty decent I must say.

It will be interesting to see which ones make the jump this season.

-Sven Baertschi and Max Reinhart should be full time NHL'ers coming into camp.
-Mark Cundari, Corban Knight and Lance Bouma have legitimate shots
-Tyler Wotherspoon is a guy who could surprise everyone and make it out of camp.
-Sean Monahan has an inside track too 50/50 if he stays or returns to junior.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Does someone want to put together a ranking of our goalie prospects?

1. Jon Gillies
2. Laurent Brossoit
3. Joni Ortio
4. Kari Ramo
5. Reto Berra

Because of their age, Ramo (27) and Berra (26) both barely classify as prospects at this point.

[Enoch Root]

C prospects:

Monahan
Jankowski
Reinhart
Knight
Granlund
Arnold
DeBlouw

Goalies:
Gillies
Brossoit
Ramo
Berra (Ramo and Berra are 26 so not really prospects)
Ortio

[foshizzle11]

This is looking a lot better. And it is good to see some of the later round picks looking like they could be NHLers.

I am most excited about Monahan and the fairly unknown development of Poirier. From watching his videos he could be a top 6 guy.

[CliffFletcher]

Looks like we'll likely have 6 or 7 legitimate NHLers come through the system, which is a big jump from the past. Still a long ways to go before we have the 12-14 drafted players on our roster that I consider the hallmark of a strong draft and development system. And we're still short on top-end skill. But this is a good beginning. A couple more drafts like the last one, including a couple top-5 picks, will firm things up.

[868904]

I think Reinhart needs another year in the AHL. He needs to put together a solid offensive season together because I think he has greater potential than just a checking centre. I'd like to see him develop the offensive side of his game.