[News] With the 26th OA pick, the Flames select LW Jakob Pelletier

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Well said PP is ranked 3rd overall so he's clearly not hurting it.

What is the NHL scrap heap and how does it work?

So if it's not hurting (who's to say it isn't anyway - even another slightly above average PP player that can contribute with zone entry and have the ability to hold the puck at times might be the difference between having the best PP in league) just carry on, no reason to seek an improvement?

For someone that preaches on advanced metrics, simply pulling a "3rd ranked PP" statement doesn't really add up. We all know Monahan doesn't come close to value on his deal at this point and there's no sense in sugar coating it.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

So if it's not hurting (who's to say it isn't anyway - even another slightly above average PP player that can contribute with zone entry and have the ability to hold the puck at times might be the difference between having the best PP in league) just carry on, no reason to seek an improvement?

For someone that preaches on advanced metrics, simply pulling a "3rd ranked PP" statement doesn't really add up. We all know Monahan doesn't come close to value on his deal at this point and there's no sense in sugar coating it.

I'm just different than you.

I don't talk in scrap heaps because they don't exist.

I'm resigned to the fact that the guy has lost some play due to surgeries and hope that he can contribute for the final year and a half of his contract.

Monahan is part of a solid powerplay, and he's not just floating around. He wins puck battles and plays the bumper spot really well. Had a great assist to Lindholm in Chicago.

Five on five he's not good enough to play in the top six, and doesn't have the linemates with him to do much in the bottom six.

Not hiding in or from metrics. I just don't see the point in wallowing in something that can't be changed. He's not the same player. He's broken. He likely stays that way. But at least he's found a role to add something to the team. I'd rather him finish the season with 40 points mostly on the PP than 6 only playing on the fourth line.

[GioforPM]

Some of these lineups - I think it’s asking a lot of a rookie, especially a smaller one like Pelletier, to suddenly be an impact player in the top 6.

[TheScorpion]

Right, but the Flames are already seeing some of their existing options (Backlund, Monahan, Dube) struggle at 5v5 when put into a top-six role. I understand Pelletier isn't proven but the alternative also isn't exactly ideal.

[Heavy Jack]

Monahan is fine considering all the contributing factors to why he’s in his current role - which he’s playing like the consummate pro need I say. Yes he’s a minus player and is having some lapses in the bottom 6 role but he’s giving 15 mins a night, very good PP minutes, is a 51 percent on 350+ faceoffs and knows the role he’s having to play and he’s adapting to it… all while coming back from an injury that would likely take the average Joe years to come back from. He’s honestly been an amazing pick at 6th overall for this franchise and hasn’t once complained about where’s he’s been slotted, hasn’t complained about the numerous rough injuries, he just shows up and competes to the best of his abilities. People forget that we drafted guys like Fata and Tkazcuk at 6th overall in the 90’s and we have the fortune of drafting Monahan and Tkachuk a generation later and it’s all doom and gloom.

Enjoy this team dammit! We have rarely had the fortune of seeing a roster like this come together and it’s a beautiful sight to behold! Darryl Sutter even suggesting that this team isn’t quite there yet when as a fan I can confidently say I don’t think I can remember the flames dominating as many games as they have in a FULL season let alone just the 31 games we’ve played so far. The way the team is growing and the way Darryl talks in his pre/post game sessions has me beyond excited as a flames fan so it’s hard to understand angles like the ones around Monahan being a sieve.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Right, but the Flames are already seeing some of their existing options (Backlund, Monahan, Dube) struggle at 5v5 when put into a top-six role. I understand Pelletier isn't proven but the alternative also isn't exactly ideal.

Backlund is the only guy of those that’s had much in the way of top 6 minutes and linemates.

[SuperMatt18]

I think part of the struggle is we have been trying to spread out the middle six talent to help the 4th line.

The top line is pretty much locked: Tkachuk-Lindholm-Gaudreau

However with our three best forwards on one line it hurts the rest of the depth, and really we have 6 guys you trust as forwards in the lineup: Mangiapane, Backlund, Coleman, Dube, Monahan, Lucic

And then we have 4 guys that have been more filler to this point: Lewis, Richardson, Pitlick, Ritchie. Ideally you'd have at most 1-2 of these guys in the lineup, but having 3 and sometimes 4 of them in the lineup really kills the bottom 6 of this roster.

So instead we've been trying to spread those 6 more reliable forwards across the bottom 3 lines because we don't want to have a 4th line of Pitlick-Richardson-Lewis.

Calling up Pelletier or acquiring another middle 6 winger could really help with that depth issue.

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Gaudreau
Mangiapane - Monahan - Pelletier
Pitlick - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Dube - Lewis

Personally I think that depth and balance of the roster looks a lot better than what we have today.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Calling up Pelletier or acquiring another middle 6 winger could really help with that depth issue.

Even a true #9 would make a huge impact on this roster in my opinion. If that's Pelletier (better to set a bar at #9 and not top six) then great. But get a guy that pushes existing 9-12 down a notch each and it would be very impactful.

[sa226]

We have only just past the 30 game mark, so there is a lot of hockey to be played.

Sutter alluded to it the other day that we have too many players with 0 to 4 goals. Monahan, Coleman, Backlund and Dube. Those guys need to contribute more offensively. The second tier after the top line and Mangiapane has not lived up to the expectations set upon them.

I kind of wish it was the case, but I just don't see a magical trade out there that upgrades those guys. They're going to have figure it out.

But I agree with Bingo that the #9 spot needs an upgrade. I would essentially call the #9 spot, Pitlick. You could argue other guys, but to me the expectation was that Pitlick would fill that role. He's been too injured and not effective enough when he has played. If that spot gets upgraded, I think that would go a long way for this team.

If I had a realistic trade deadline wishlist it would be a #7 to 9 forward and a #4 to 6 defenseman that pushed Zadorov into the #7 spot.

To bring it back to the topic of the thread, it would be absolutely amazing if Pelletier became that forward. I just don't really see it with Pelletiers pedigree. I think he's going to be a really good player, but not a really good player that arrives on the first day. He's going to need some seasoning, experience and coaching.

[Monahammer]

Even if you don't believe Monahan will turn it around (personally, I think he still could, especially if he's ever unchained from Lewis and whoever else on l4), some of you must still believe that Backlund-Coleman-Dube should revert back towards the mean rather than underperforming?

I am also in the acquire another forward camp, but I am really struggling to see the negativity that some of you are bringing forward here.

[GioforPM]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1505953300033638401

[Reggie Dunlop]

Fantastic for Jakob.

[Moneyhands23]

I was worried the bump was part of a trade!

[3rd line Grinder]

Jesus, why did you post this right now! Nearly gave me a heart attack.

[mile]

Aaron Vickers with a nice article on Pelletier.

https://www.nhl.com/news/flames-pros...hl/c-335114880

The first goal is to play in the NHL. I haven't reached that goal. For me, I'm going to do everything in my power ... and if it takes two training [sessions] a day, that's what I'm going to do."

"He's a ball of energy," Stockton goalie Dustin Wolf said. "He's awesome. He makes life at the rink incredibly fun. He's never upset at anything. Not only is he an incredible player, but he's a guy in the room you want. He's a special player. I feel like he's pretty much got it all. He stepped in, and to put up the points he did was awesome.

"That's the next step for him," Calgary development coach Ray Edwards said. "He's got to come in and force people to make tough decisions. Simple as that. We've talked to him about that already, and he understands the job the next few months brings to him. His mental focus is to come in and make people make tough decisions."

"I think first of all I came into camp in September, and I didn't feel like I played my type of game and I didn't feel like I did enough to prove that I could play pro," Pelletier said. "I think when they cut me it kind of boosted me forward.

I think last year I was kind of nervous, to be honest.”

I hope he makes it in the top 9 this year.

Would also have the added side-benefit of Huberdeau having another Quebecer on the team.

[Freeway]

Pelletier is extremely highly regarded by Flames brass and I suspect he gets a long look at camp. I don't think he'll be rushed into the lineup by any means, but he had a fantastic first pro season.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Pelletier is extremely highly regarded by Flames brass and I suspect he gets a long look at camp. I don't think he'll be rushed into the lineup by any means, but he had a fantastic first pro season.

It's great the Heat are playing in Calgary this year. Hope that means we get some more call ups then usual.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

It's great the Heat are playing in Calgary this year. Hope that means we get some more call ups then usual.

It’ll also be fun just to go see a Wranglers (too soon?) game or two. Getting to watch Wolf, Zary, and Kuznetsov in person will be fun.

[CliffFletcher]

Pelletier seems like a Palat with the personality of MA Fleury.

[TheScorpion]

Pelletier is an absolute gem. Just a lovely guy to interact with.