Calgarypuck Prospect Ranking 2018 - Round 1

[EastCoastFlamesFan]

Jusso all the way here.

[RichKlit]

Valimaki for me, but it’s close, I think Andersson is going to be really good as well, I just worry about those reports about his conditioning.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by RichKlit

Valimaki for me, but it’s close, I think Andersson is going to be really good as well, I just worry about those reports about his conditioning.

Is there still an issue with conditioning with Andersson? I thought that was more from his draft year, but has been addressed since he has gone pro.

[FBI]

Yeah haven't heard much of those comments for awhile.. Think he might be good on that front now.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Morgan Klimchuk is not more NHL-ready than Rasmus Andersson.

Nor Foo or Mangiapane.

Morgan Klimchuk is most certainly not the Flames top prospect. Might make the top 10 because guys ahead of him are gone or made the team.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Nor Foo or Mangiapane.

Morgan Klimchuk is most certainly not the Flames top prospect. Might make the top 10 because guys ahead of him are gone or made the team.

Agreed - Klimchuk will have a hard time making our top 10 best prospect list. Even if he cracks the lineup, it'll likely be as a 4th liner with limited minutes.

If we're only judging prospects by NHL readiness, IMO, there's a much more compelling case to be made for guys like Gillies and Mangiapane who may either play on a skill line or suit up in net for 35 games this season...while also having much higher long-term upside.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Eatbread is an interesting one and I'm surprised he doesn't get more votes. He had a great year in the A. I think he'll be my next pick. I tend to vote based on potential so younger guys tearing up junior get my pick more often than guys who look more NHL ready. However I think Mangiapane is hard to ignore.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'm gonna go off-the-board and take Morgan Klimchuk. I think he's the most NHL-ready and will make the team out of camp.

Isn't Gillies more NHL-ready? Depending on how you handicap Rittich, he may very well be the back-up and play over 20 games next year. Also have to think Mangiapane and Foo have the inside track for a spot on the forward ranks.

Klimchuk seems like a bit of a long shot, actually.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

Isn't Gillies more NHL-ready? Depending on how you handicap Riddich, he may very well be the back-up and play over 20 games next year. Also have to think Mangiapane and Foo have the inside track for a spot on the forward ranks.

Klimchuk seems like a bit of a long shot, actually.

Gillies looked shaky in his NHL stint last year. Still has a lot to prove. Think he's ahead of Klimchuk, though.

[wingmaker]

I agree, but the team has been high on him. I think he will be given the opportunity to win the job. I would lean Rittich personally as he did a good job before Smith's injury, but there does seem to be a feeling that Gillies is the guy they hope to see long term.

[sempuki]

Can we at least spell Juuso's name with the right letters, if not the full vowel accents?

[Textcritic]

Yeah, I just don't think any credible argument can be forwarded to show that Klimchuk is the most "NHL ready" Flames prospect. That is to say nothing for believing that he is even in the top-five overall.

[TheScorpion]

Eh, we'll see. Just a hunch. If I was writing up an actual ranking I'd put Valimaki first but this is more for fun so I'm gonna go more with gut instinct. I could be very wrong but everything I've seen from Klimchuk in the A suggests that he's what Dube could be in two or three years -- and some people think Dube will step right in this year.

[Enoch Root]

I think Valimaki has a legitimate shot at stealing Kulak's spot in the lineup. This year.

And I am always in favour of letting defensemen mature in the minors.

[Enoch Root]

For me, there are 4 guys that aren't 'if they make the NHL', they are 'when they make the NHL': Valimaki, Andersson, Dube, and Parsons (and yes, goalies are witches but I think Parsons has that extra something).

[codynw]

Valimaki/Andersson is a pretty clear 1/2 then I think it opens up a bit. Probably Mangiapane or Dube next.

[ricardodw]

Anderssen had a near duplicate Draft +1 season as Valamaki and has progressed over his 2 years in the AHL to the point that he looked NHL ready in his 10 game call up in Draft year +3.

He has improved every year since the Flames drafted him.

Hard to see Valimaki making the jump into the NHL this year. Total of 5 d-men from the 2016 NHL draft made the jump to the NHL in Draft year +2.

I think that Flames fans are used to guys making the jump into the NHL right after being Drafted... Monahan, Bennett, Tkachuk ... not D-men

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Kylington > Valimaki > Eatbread > Dube > Parsons > Andersson > Phillips for me as the top tier.

We all know you love Oliver Kylington. It's been documented.

[flame^thrower]

Valimaki for me. Andersson a very close 2nd with Dube, Eat Bread and Kylington all right there too... We still have some exciting prospects and I hope we continue to get some gems out of the drafts.

[Agamemnon]

Just curious because I know very little about Flames prospects, where would Fox have ranked on this list for some people?