Victoria trades Kanzig to the Hitmen

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I don't know much about him. Is he a legit prospect like Wotherspoon?

He's as much of a prospect as Wotherspoon was a year after being drafted. Wotherspoon had that 2nd round pedigree but defenceman are pretty hard to peg at this age.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Red John

Kanzig has been sucked into the culture of dirty hockey in Victoria. Guy plays like a complete neanderthal at times with dirty hits when things aren't going his way, but when he was in Flames camp and in Penticton there was none of that.

Kanzig actually seems like an intelligent guy and possesses underrated hockey sense so hopefully a move to the Hitmen under a different coach that doesn't encourage cheapshot tactics will be a positive move for his career. Having him right under the Flames' noses is great too and awesome for Calgary fans who get to watch him develop on a regular basis.

Glad he is out of that goon squad.

Personally caught a lot of flack on this sight for my scouting report on Kanzig when he was drafted - that he was a dirty dumb player but more and more its becoming obvious that it likely isn't a Kanzig issue but a Victoria Royals issue. So time will certainly tell now that he plays elsewhere.

Completely out to lunch statement. The royals are no where near being a goon squad. Mr Lowry doesn't have his players playing dirty hockey at all.

[devo22]

is Kanzig the first Flames prospect to play for the Hitmen since Brent Krahn? I know that Keith Seabrook did play for the Hitmen, but the Flames didn't acquire him until he was already finished with junior hockey and I couldn't find anybody else in the last 15 years, which is incredible ... thought there must have been at least a couple, but nope. Maybe it just surprised me because the Coilers just love to draft/acquire their Oil Kings so much (Moroz, Gernat, Musil, Ewanyk, Brossoit etc).

[greentree]

This is excellent news. I'm not a fan of coach Dave Lowry...not the sort of guy who helps develops good character in players, imho.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by devo22

is Kanzig the first Flames prospect to play for the Hitmen since Brent Krahn? I know that Keith Seabrook did play for the Hitmen, but the Flames didn't acquire him until he was already finished with junior hockey and I couldn't find anybody else in the last 15 years, which is incredible ... thought there must have been at least a couple, but nope. Maybe it just surprised me because the Coilers just love to draft/acquire their Oil Kings so much (Moroz, Gernat, Musil, Ewanyk, Brossoit etc).

Krahn and Wade Davis are the only two names to jump to mind of being drafted by the Flames while playing with the Hitmen.

[BigDogg]

Originally Posted by Red John

Kanzig has been sucked into the culture of dirty hockey in Victoria. Guy plays like a complete neanderthal at times with dirty hits when things aren't going his way, but when he was in Flames camp and in Penticton there was none of that.

Kanzig actually seems like an intelligent guy and possesses underrated hockey sense so hopefully a move to the Hitmen under a different coach that doesn't encourage cheapshot tactics will be a positive move for his career. Having him right under the Flames' noses is great too and awesome for Calgary fans who get to watch him develop on a regular basis.

Glad he is out of that goon squad.

Personally caught a lot of flack on this sight for my scouting report on Kanzig when he was drafted - that he was a dirty dumb player but more and more its becoming obvious that it likely isn't a Kanzig issue but a Victoria Royals issue. So time will certainly tell now that he plays elsewhere.

You seem to like to take a dump on the Royals whenever you get a chance eh? Granted they are right at the top of the most penalized teams in the WHL, last year was the complete opposite. Magee is really the only Royal who takes dumb un-disciplined penalties and he's aging out this season thank god.

But seriously man.. suggesting that a coach at that level, nevermind the fact that he is a former Flame, would encourage cheapshot tactics is laughable.
Put down the kool-aid friend.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Krahn and Wade Davis are the only two names to jump to mind of being drafted by the Flames while playing with the Hitmen.

Brent Dodginghorse, IIRC as well.

[Drury18]

Dodger was never drafted by the Flames. He was invited to some training camps much like what happened with Padakin.

Would have loved to see him as a Flame. Good guy, heck of an enforcer.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Krahn and Wade Davis are the only two names to jump to mind of being drafted by the Flames while playing with the Hitmen.

Jiri Cetkovsky, one of the five best Czech players to ever play for the Hitmen (I'd imagine, simply because I don't think there has been more than five).

[Drury18]

AH! I forgot about Cetkovsky. I liked him. That was a big boy. And he liked to hit and fight too. He only lasted I think a season with them.

5 is probably close. Brendl, Cetkovsky, Vrbata (David not Radim), Karpov, Vantuch are the only ones who come to mind. All but Brendl lasted a season or less though, so not very memorable.

We had 5 Slovaks too I think. Stana I know for sure was one, I'm pretty sure Troliga was Slovak as well. Again, most only lasted a season or less.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Kanzig is a long-shot, but he has the highest ceiling of any defenceman in the system, IMO.

His performance in his first Flames camp was absolutely unreal.

[Aarongavey]

Good trade for the Royals. Anytime you can trade your 4th or 5th best dman for a PPG guy it is not bad. Hicketts, Brown and Reddekopp were definitely above Kanzig in the depth chart. Not bad for the Hitmen as well, they get a solid 3 or 4 character WHL dman. Kanzig will never compete with Sanheim or Thomas, but he is an average WHL dman with a mean streak. Good trade for both teams.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Completely out to lunch statement. The royals are no where near being a goon squad. Mr Lowry doesn't have his players playing dirty hockey at all.

Right.

That's why other coaches have explicitly states that they fear for their players safety more so against the Royals than any other team.

That's why idiots like Magee took a 12 game suspension for cheap shots at the end of a playoff game he lost last year.

If you think Dave Lowry isn't that kind of guy, you obviously forgot that the Flames-Ducks huge brawl years back (maybe the worst ever) happened because Lowry purposely flipped the puck out of play to allow Berube back on the ice.

The Victoria Royals are no good, but this thread isn't about them so let's talk about Kanzig. So glad he's playing for the Hitmen now.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Red John

Right.

That's why other coaches have explicitly states that they fear for their players safety more so against the Royals than any other team.

That's why idiots like Magee took a 12 game suspension for cheap shots at the end of a playoff game he lost last year.

If you think Dave Lowry isn't that kind of guy, you obviously forgot that the Flames-Ducks huge brawl years back (maybe the worst ever) happened because Lowry purposely flipped the puck out of play to allow Berube back on the ice.

The Victoria Royals are no good, but this thread isn't about them so let's talk about Kanzig. So glad he's playing for the Hitmen now.

You are no good . It is a Royals /Hitman thread. When the average player that are only in their teens are 6 and 1/2 feet are playing you get worried as a coach. Say I Lowry is not good for character is a joke. Im pissed cause I am a Kanzig/flames fan for the trade. He is not needed anymore here tho. The team has become much bigger and tougher in the last few years.


Edit: also back up your claim that other coaches say they worry because specifically that the royals are goons.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Good trade for the Royals. Anytime you can trade your 4th or 5th best dman for a PPG guy it is not bad. Hicketts, Brown and Reddekopp were definitely above Kanzig in the depth chart. Not bad for the Hitmen as well, they get a solid 3 or 4 character WHL dman. Kanzig will never compete with Sanheim or Thomas, but he is an average WHL dman with a mean streak. Good trade for both teams.

Haven't followed the Royals much at all this season, but seriously doubt things have changed much. Kanzig was the one who played against the other team's best players, was he not? First year on the Royals wasn't very memorable - more of an outright goon than anything else. His second year he worked his way up all the way to the top pairing, and was always on the ice against the opposing team's best players. Saw the toughest quality of competition I believe, and I don't think that has changed since then unless I am mistaken. Anyone who follows the Royals more care to shed more light on Kanzig's role there this season thus far?

Originally Posted by Red John

Right.

That's why other coaches have explicitly states that they fear for their players safety more so against the Royals than any other team.

That's why idiots like Magee took a 12 game suspension for cheap shots at the end of a playoff game he lost last year.

If you think Dave Lowry isn't that kind of guy, you obviously forgot that the Flames-Ducks huge brawl years back (maybe the worst ever) happened because Lowry purposely flipped the puck out of play to allow Berube back on the ice.

The Victoria Royals are no good, but this thread isn't about them so let's talk about Kanzig. So glad he's playing for the Hitmen now.

Lowry flipped the puck out when that brawl was nearing the end. The brawl never happened because of him. I thought it was a very savvy move, actually. IIRC, the brawl happened because Berube ran the goalie to begin with, and the Ducks responded with sending out their goons and running the Vernon even harder, and then having them fight our non-goons in Iginla and company. Should be on youtube somewhere if you want to confirm (and maybe I am wrong about some parts of it).

Lowry was never a dirty player - tough? Yep, he was tough, but he wasn't a dirty player.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Lowry flipped the puck out when that brawl was nearing the end. The brawl never happened because of him. I thought it was a very savvy move, actually. IIRC, the brawl happened because Berube ran the goalie to begin with, and the Ducks responded with sending out their goons and running the Vernon even harder, and then having them fight our non-goons in Iginla and company. Should be on youtube somewhere if you want to confirm (and maybe I am wrong about some parts of it).

Lowry was never a dirty player - tough? Yep, he was tough, but he wasn't a dirty player.

You have it exactly right.

There were mere seconds left in the game, and the teams were down to just a handful of players combined. Lowry flipped the puck out of play (in his 1000th NHL game to boot!) so that Berube could leave the penalty box as his penalty for running Giguere was over. He then proceeded to embarrass Jeff Friesen.

[nickk382]

I can see it years from now, Gaudreau scoring a goal and the first guy he celebrates with is Kanzig who just simply picks him up like he is hoisting the Stanley Cup.

[Stay Golden]

Smart move for the Hitmen and the Flames. They can control his development I hope this behemoth makes the Flames in a couple seasons.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I hope this behemoth makes the Flames in a couple seasons.

As far as I can tell, the only thing standing in his way is his skating, and he knows he needs to work on that. From what I hear, his skill level otherwise is reasonable for a stay-at-home D.

As I read about this kid's development (unfortunately I haven't seen him in games; that may change if I can get out to some Hitmen games this season), he really reminds me of a player from way back in the mists of time. I'm almost embarrassed to mention it, because it will prove to the world that I really am older than dirt.

That player was Paul Baxter. Never more than a third-pairing D, but tough as nails, knew what his role was and stuck to it perfectly. And though it was hard to see in his playing days, Baxter was a student of the game, and has gone on to have a pretty decent coaching career. Kanzig is so well-spoken in interviews, and so obviously understands what his coaches are telling him, I think he may have that kind of potential in the future.

[calumniate]

Excited to see Kanzig tonight! Think he's going to play?