2012/13 Prospect Stats & Updates Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

I could see Wotherspoon surprising out of camp the same way Brodie did at his first training camp after turning pro. Stick with the Flames out of camp, get a few games for a taste, but ultimately get sent back down to log big minutes and play in all situations in the AHL.

[Enoch Root]

I think Hanowski, Ramage, and Wotherspoon need AHL time.

Cundari is already an AHL allstar and could well be ready to make the jump.

One obscure thought that I had was that, if we won the lottery and selected Jones, could he and Wotherspoon make the jump together as a pairing? (I wonder if that has ever happened before).

The reason I was thinking that was that, if we got Jones, Giordano could then maybe be expendable - trade him to Philly for their first (with whatever add-ons were required) so that we could then draft a C.

If Gio were traded, then there might be room for a Wotherspoon and, being Jones' partner....

random musings

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Hanowski, Ramage, and Wotherspoon need AHL time.

Cundari is already an AHL allstar and could well be ready to make the jump.

One obscure thought that I had was that, if we won the lottery and selected Jones, could he and Wotherspoon make the jump together as a pairing? (I wonder if that has ever happened before).

The reason I was thinking that was that, if we got Jones, Giordano could then maybe be expendable - trade him to Philly for their first (with whatever add-ons were required) so that we could then draft a C.

If Gio were traded, then there might be room for a Wotherspoon and, being Jones' partner....

random musings

I've had the same cockeyed thought, Wotherspoon and Jones. One thing about Wotherspoon, he is fairly big at 6'2" and 209

[Da_Chief]

I've thought bout winning the lottery and taking Jones.

Can you imagine in couple of years if Jones and Wotherspoon fully develop.

Jones, Brodie, Giordano, Wotherspoon, Cundari, Wideman, Breen. That would look good.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Wotherspoon's skating is nowhere near Brodie's. For that reason I don't see him making the jump right away. I think he's going to need to learn the pro game as he won't have superior mobility to help him make up for mistakes.

[devo22]

HF has started their new organizational rankings with the teams from 21 to 30. The Flames aren't among them and therefore have cracked the top 20, which they haven't done in ... forever. Before Feaster took over, they had us at 30. In their last update in December, they had us at 23.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...-playoff-push/

[Dienasty]

Originally Posted by devo22

HF has started their new organizational rankings with the teams from 21 to 30. The Flames aren't among them and therefore have cracked the top 20, which they haven't done in ... forever. Before Feaster took over, they had us at 30. In their last update in December, they had us at 23.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...-playoff-push/

I see Columbus with 3 first round picks this year, and Colorado adding one of the big three and the second pick in the second round making big leaps after the draft.

It is promising though that Calgary prospect base isn't as pathetic as it has been for 6-7 years.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

I see Columbus with 3 first round picks this year, and Colorado adding one of the big three and the second pick in the second round making big leaps after the draft.

It is promising though that Calgary prospect base isn't as pathetic as it has been for 6-7 years.

the Flames should also rise even further once they stock up with their 3 2013 first rounders...too early to judge of course, but their cohort of 2011-2013 draftees should be one of the stronger groups league wide....

[dammage79]

Wotherspoon with his effortless play has the highest potential to get a spot on the big club at camp. Why do I say this? He quietly (like a ninja) made his way onto the WJC team when no one thought he would. Started out being the extra D man on the roster in the tournament and progressed to being one of the top four when it was all said and done. Shows he plays extremely well with higher end talent (Jones). Just seems like like he thrives on being the least expected player to make any impact.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by devo22

HF has started their new organizational rankings with the teams from 21 to 30. The Flames aren't among them and therefore have cracked the top 20, which they haven't done in ... forever. Before Feaster took over, they had us at 30. In their last update in December, they had us at 23.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...-playoff-push/

I was figuring that the Flames would probably jump into the mid to low teens after the draft (and the addition of 3 first rounders).

However, if they move that mush prior to the draft, that would be pretty impressive

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I was figuring that the Flames would probably jump into the mid to low teens after the draft (and the addition of 3 first rounders).

However, if they move that mush prior to the draft, that would be pretty impressive

They did pick up four prospects at the trade deadline so some improvement was due on that alone. With three first rounders to go along with the rest of the draft class I expect the Flames will move up rapidly in org rankings.

[Henry Fool]

Joni Ortio is still playing. He's in rotation with the national team in the Euro Hockey Tour. He started against the Czechs yesterday in a 3-1 loss.

I don't know if he has a chance of making the world championship team. There's a 23-year-old guy named Antti Raanta in Finland who just won the championship and was the MVP of the league (94.33 sv% in the regular season, 95.45 sv% in the playoffs) who is likely to be on the team, and I don't know how the rest of the goalies available in Europe are rated by the management. On the other hand, I personally don't see any NHL goalies playing in the tournament, unless Lehtonen is suddenly super eager and healthy or Rinne feels hungry for more hockey (seems unlikely).

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I was figuring that the Flames would probably jump into the mid to low teens after the draft (and the addition of 3 first rounders).

However, if they move that mush prior to the draft, that would be pretty impressive

They have the Flames at 20 before the draft. They just released the article with the middle ten.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...-middle-group/

[Tilley]

Originally Posted by Parallex

They did pick up four prospects at the trade deadline so some improvement was due on that alone. With three first rounders to go along with the rest of the draft class I expect the Flames will move up rapidly in org rankings.

Although it is nice to see the Flames' prospects ranked higher now than in the last couple of years, let's not forget that Hockey's Future is a collection of fans (not unlike CP) that simply post their opinions. It is often suggested that the editors of HF pander to the loudest audience (Canadiens, Leafs, Oiler fans) and their rankings should not be regarded as anything more than internet filler.

HF is a nice site to find information on prospects, but it is a mistake to think any rankings they provide mean anything.

[Freeway]

The Flames have a good selection of depth (bottom-six) forwards with character and leadership potential and bottom-pairing defensemen with same.

Baertschi, Brodie and Gaudreau are their main "skill" players. You can maybe lump Jankowski in that group as well.

But they've moved leaps and bounds over the last two years of drafting/signing.

[Enoch Root]

Cundari is the lowest ranked of the 9 D-men for the Flames. And James Martin is first.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Cundari is the lowest ranked of the 9 D-men for the Flames. And James Martin is first.

that made me chuckle.

Personally I would rank our D prospects as follows (based on potential):

1. Wotherspoon
- I think he has potential to be a big minute shut down defenseman

2. Breen
3. Sieloff
4. Cundari
- I think each of these 3 are very close, but will top out as #3/4 defensemen

5. Ramage
- I think Ramage will top out as a high end #5 defenseman that gets pushed into the top 4 sometimes.

6. Kulak
7. Culkin
- I think both top out as avereage bottom pairing defensemen

8. Lamb
- I think he ends up a #7 at best

9. Martin
- He will be an average AHL defender.

[cral12]

^Pretty well covered by AB Beef as above.

I would push both Kulak & Culkin up the list slightly. This may very well where they end (average or sightly above average bottom pairing lads). However, I think Kulak especially has the potential (stress potential) to be a magnifique top 4 blueliner - player development will be especially key with him. Culkin has had fantastic year in the Q - how that translates going forward remains to be seen, of course.

[Enoch Root]

I would pretty much exactly agree with Alberta Beef, except I would have Cundari 2nd because he is so close to NHL-ready.

Cral12: I agree about Kulak and Culkin in that they have a fair bit of upside, but I would leave them where they are simply because the guys above them are a lot closer to being NHL-ready at this time. I expect that we will see at least one of these two move up the list in the next year or two though.

Wotherspoon
Cundari
Breen
Sieloff
Ramage
Kulak (or Kulak, Ramage)
Culkin
Lamb
Martin

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

If I had the rank the D prospects in terms of likelihood to be an NHL player, I'd probably put them something like this:

1. Breen
2. Cundari
3. Wotherspoon
4. Kulak
5. Sieloff
6. Ramage
7. Culkin
8. Lamb





9. Martin

Breen and Cundari are by far the most ready D prospects. Obviously, Breen needs to get a chance first, but I think he'll be a good NHLer and will more or less learn from, and eventually replace, Sarich. In the few games Cundari's played, you can tell there are certainly some holes in his defensive game, but he has good offensive instincts.

Wotherspoon is going to be a big minute shut down guy I think (and I hope). He's got the size at 6'2" 209lbs. At times he was dominant against the top players in the WJC, which was great to see.

After watching Kulak at the end of this season, he was the closest player to replacing Brodie's skating/puck moving ability. He took chances, he could escape players using his skating and speed and he made some excellent breakout passes. By the last game, his confidence was sky high and he was joining the rush at times. I really think the Flames have a excellent prospect in Kulak. Still, he made some pretty brutal mistakes that caused turnovers, but that will be fixed with time.