Training Camp Predictions & Discussion

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

When we picked up Horak he was projected to be a 3rd line player. Not sure why you would think he should show 1st line skill?

Not that I think he should, just that he doesn't, and I feel like he's kind of stuck in the middle, not good enough to be top 2, and not necessarily (at this point) a guy like Yelle who would win faceoffs and block shots with his face if it came to it.

I am not trying to argue projections, I am just not sure he fits anywhere.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Verbal commitment or not, I'm not sure that something like that would be binding. I'd like to see Knight on the team, but if the Flames are giving out roster spots based on verbal commitments they are already going against their mantra of having the players who earn it playing.

No, it wouldn't be binding not in a legal sense. But it would behoove any team to be a promise keeper... wouldn't want to get the rep of a franchise that reneges on promises as it would make signing future NCAA free agents (or free agents in general) more difficult. I don't see it as being against any mantra to give someone a spot initially... I'm pretty sure no team would commit to keeping a guy up no matter what but guarenteeing a 10game intial trial in a rebuilding year? Sure, I'd do that if it means the difference between getting a guy I really want to put pen to paper.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

Not that I think he should, just that he doesn't, and I feel like he's kind of stuck in the middle, not good enough to be top 2, and not necessarily (at this point) a guy like Yelle who would win faceoffs and block shots with his face if it came to it.

I am not trying to argue projections, I am just not sure he fits anywhere.

So where does Stempniak fit in? Is he a top 6 player? Is he a bottom 6 player?

How about Hudler? He definitely has to be top 6 ... In Detroit, in his career best UFA season he was #6 in TOI with 7 secs /game more than Bertuzzi.

He was #6/7 (tied with Stajan) in TOI on a 24th place Flames team.

He is never ever going to be on the top line of a playoff or near playoff team.


Horak and Backlund have a reasonable chance of being solid top 6 players in 2 years than Hudler and Stempniak currently are.

There is nothing wrong with having someone like Horak with some defensive responsibility playing top 6.

Langkow wasn't good enough to carry a top 2 line but was really a good solid contributor when given top-6 line-mates. Very similar to Conroy.

Horak is liable to make Baertschi's line better and be able to match up better against other teams better lines.

Horak playing on the second line is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> than having Cervenka on the second line.

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

So where does Stempniak fit in? Is he a top 6 player? Is he a bottom 6 player?

How about Hudler? He definitely has to be top 6 ... In Detroit, in his career best UFA season he was #6 in TOI with 7 secs /game more than Bertuzzi.

He was #6/7 (tied with Stajan) in TOI on a 24th place Flames team.

He is never ever going to be on the top line of a playoff or near playoff team.


Horak and Backlund have a reasonable chance of being solid top 6 players in 2 years than Hudler and Stempniak currently are.

There is nothing wrong with having someone like Horak with some defensive responsibility playing top 6.

Langkow wasn't good enough to carry a top 2 line but was really a good solid contributor when given top-6 line-mates. Very similar to Conroy.

Horak is liable to make Baertschi's line better and be able to match up better against other teams better lines.

Horak playing on the second line is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> than having Cervenka on the second line.

I am not why you feel that pointing out that Stempniak and Hudler are marginally top 6 makes for a stronger argument that Horak is a better option. You are likely correct in assessing that they are likely not top 6 guys on a good team in the NHL. If anything the fact Horak STILL can't break into the top 6 in Calgary makes him even less appealing.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

I am not why you feel that pointing out that Stempniak and Hudler are marginally top 6 makes for a stronger argument that Horak is a better option. You are likely correct in assessing that they are likely not top 6 guys on a good team in the NHL. If anything the fact Horak STILL can't break into the top 6 in Calgary makes him even less appealing.

Hudler at age 23 , after 2 years as a North American pro had 3 NHL points in 12 games.

As a 24 year old, when he finally made the Wings full time he had 25 pts in 76 games.

Stempniak played his first NHL game as a 22 year old and had a great rookie season 27 pts in 57 games.


Horak is miles ahead of where both of these guys were as 22 year olds.


The number of 2009 draft picks playing in the top 6 / top 4 d is around 10...

Tavares, Duchense, O'Rielly, Kane , Kadri etc..... The rest of the 2009 class has STILL haven't made it.... WTH is wrong with them!!??

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

Not that I think he should, just that he doesn't, and I feel like he's kind of stuck in the middle, not good enough to be top 2, and not necessarily (at this point) a guy like Yelle who would win faceoffs and block shots with his face if it came to it.

I am not trying to argue projections, I am just not sure he fits anywhere.

... without a single game, pre-season or regular season, being played yet.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

... without a single game, pre-season or regular season, being played yet.

Sounds solid and well thought out. Oh, and especially being that he's a developing 22 year old prospect. I mean, he's probably as good as he'll ever be.

[clintb]

Originally Posted by strombad

Sounds solid and well thought out. Oh, and especially being that he's a developing 22 year old prospect. I mean, he's probably as good as he'll ever be.

Tough to improve at this point... he may already be at the twilight of his carreer

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by clintb

Tough to improve at this point... he may already be at the twilight of his carreer

Trade him for picks!

[GoFlamesGo1989]

I have been really really impressed with Ben Hanowski today.

[codynw]

Baertschi/Backlund/Cammalleri
Glencross/Stajan/Stempniak
Hudler/Reinhart/Jones
Jackman/Galiardi/McGrattan

Brodie/Wideman
Russell/Giordano
O'Brien/Ramage

Ramo
MacDonald/Berra

Monahan will probably get his 9 games playing on the 1st or 2nd line then will be sent back to Ottawa (and hopefully traded to a better team to get some playoff experience).

I'd like to see some of the one way contracts traded to make room for more young guys, but I don't see that happening right away.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

So where does Stempniak fit in? Is he a top 6 player? Is he a bottom 6 player?

He's a middle 6 player. The kind of guy you ideally want playing on your third line outplaying the hell out of other teams third line guys but is perfectly servicable on your second line. Like Glencross and Moss were on the 08-09 Flames.

[mdubz]

Crazy to think that our points leader last year was Stempniak...

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

... without a single game, pre-season or regular season, being played yet.

Heaven forbid I make a prediction on a player in a thread dedicated to player predictions.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

Heaven forbid I make a prediction on a player in a thread dedicated to player predictions.

I'm sorry you're a victim

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I'm sorry you're a victim

Hahaha... I knew it wasn't going to be a popular opinion when I voiced it. No complaints here just pointing out the irony.

[clintb]

Originally Posted by mdubz

Crazy to think that our points leader last year was Stempniak...

How'd he get ahead of Cammi?

[clintb]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

Heaven forbid I make a prediction on a player in a thread dedicated to player predictions.

Yeah, c'mon

Someone's gotta make predictions.. otherwise what would the rest of us have to dissect and complain about?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Parallex

No, it wouldn't be binding not in a legal sense. But it would behoove any team to be a promise keeper... wouldn't want to get the rep of a franchise that reneges on promises as it would make signing future NCAA free agents (or free agents in general) more difficult. I don't see it as being against any mantra to give someone a spot initially... I'm pretty sure no team would commit to keeping a guy up no matter what but guarenteeing a 10game intial trial in a rebuilding year? Sure, I'd do that if it means the difference between getting a guy I really want to put pen to paper.

The big promise would be for an opportunity to win a spot.

10 6-8 minute games playing with Jackman and McGratton is different than playing 5 16 minute games between Glencross and David Jones.

If McKnight gets 5 games on the second line (counting exhibition games) and sucks then he or any other NCAA player can't complain that he didn't get a good look.

[Street Pharmacist]

Camp predictions:
-Ramage impresses enough to make squad
-Sieloff impresses, but goes to Abby
-Baertschi does well, and fan base gets excited
-Monahan disappoints (despite production) and goes back to Ottawa without 9 games
-Kanzig disappoints
-Jooris gets people excited
-Ramo and Macdonald split NHL (shocker) and Ortio his down despite playing far better than the aforementioned goalies
-Gio hurts someone