Calgary Wranglers 2025-2026 season thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Still too early to tell, but I might owe everyone an apology for pumping Morin up so much over the last few years....

Yeah, something is clearly not right with this guy. Conditioning must be terrible or some other off ice issue. No other reason I can think of to have a higher pick like that spending his first year pro in the dumpster fire ECHL while they roster guys like Cicek, Ottenbreit and Mack in the AHL.

[SuperMatt18]

Could be conditioning. And TBH Andersson and Kerins had similar issues in their first year of pro. Hopefully he can get it sorted.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Morin also had conditioning issues in his D+1 year I think. It required a stern conversation between the team and player.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Still too early to tell, but I might owe everyone an apology for pumping Morin up so much over the last few years....

No apologies needed. He looked legit close to the NHL during his first training camp here. I thought he was the best defencemen during those games from either side usually. I was very impressed.


I am not giving up on him yet personally. Hopefully he can push through whatever it is that has stagnated him. I really do think that Giordano was a very good comp for him - a strong 2-way defencemen who is surprisingly physical at times. I have no idea why the wheels have fallen-off, but now with Calgary keeping an eye on him, hopefully they can fix whatever is wrong.

[442scotty]

Some kids don’t get their sh** together until they’re 21/22. I raised one of those. Most of them wake up one day and they all of sudden get it. Hopefully Morin is one of them.

[Two Fivenagame]

There's still plenty of time for Morin to figure it out. I saw the same thing as Sandman, C4L, and other posters did during viewings of Morin at training camp etc - the kid just looks like he'll make the show.
It just seems like the Flames have successfully developed that kind of defensive prospect many times in the past. A little tough love might be exactly what is needed here.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Maybe I missed something but why are we suddenly throwing up ideas that Morin is not fit or has bad habits?

[jaymac106]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

Maybe I missed something but why are we suddenly throwing up ideas that Morin is not fit or has bad habits?

100 percent agree he is a 20 year old dmen... give the kid time

[mile]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

Maybe I missed something but why are we suddenly throwing up ideas that Morin is not fit or has bad habits?

Has had issues with off-ice training in the past

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/tough-conv...160519191.html

Sometime last September, before he was among the earliest cuts at Calgary Flames training camp, Etienne Morin had a heart-to-heart chat with team staff.

It was a word of warning: If you don’t dig into your off-ice training, you’re not going to achieve your NHL dream.

A tough conversation, but a potential turning point for the talented second-round draft pick in 2023, who should be the most promising prospect on the left side of the Flames’ blue line.

“It was a lesson for me,” Morin said. “It got put for me to learn from it. I didn’t sleep good that night, I’m going to be honest. But I’d rather for it to happen last year than this year, coming into my first pro year.

“I still have the data in the back of my head that I got told and, ever since, I’ve focused a lot of myself and a lot on what I’ve been eating, my sleep, just the pro habits. I think I’ve improved so much.”

While you never would have eye-balled Morin and accused him of being out of shape, his testing scores heading into last season didn’t show the sort of progress that was expected. If the NHL is your aim, you can’t plateau before you turn pro.

[P-bobby]

Just finished listening to Pat on Flames Talk, where they interviewed the Wranglers assistant manager.

He mentioned that Gridin’s point production has dipped over the last few games but that they’re happy with how he’s improving defensively, which they see as the main reason for the drop.

I’m curious what others think, but personally, I’d rather see Gridin focus on putting up big offensive numbers. When he was up with the Flames, his defensive play didn’t look like an issue to me. So why try to change his game? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but he has the tools to be the kind of offensive difference-maker this team badly needs. I just hope they’re not overemphasizing the defensive side and holding back his offensive potential.

[Iniggywetrust]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

Just finished listening to Pat on Flames Talk, where they interviewed the Wranglers assistant manager.

He mentioned that Gridin’s point production has dipped over the last few games but that they’re happy with how he’s improving defensively, which they see as the main reason for the drop.

I’m curious what others think, but personally, I’d rather see Gridin focus on putting up big offensive numbers. When he was up with the Flames, his defensive play didn’t look like an issue to me. So why try to change his game? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but he has the tools to be the kind of offensive difference-maker this team badly needs. I just hope they’re not overemphasizing the defensive side and holding back his offensive potential.

Yea, that’s the Flames way. Make sure your offensive players turn into defensive grinders and lose all goal scoring ability. They have to fit into the system.

[MrSector9]

Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust

Yea, that’s the Flames way. Make sure your offensive players turn into defensive grinders and lose all goal scoring ability. They have to fit into the system.

EXACTLY, there is a time and place for defensive play for a winger.... not 100% of the time focus.

[Gaudreau is a Ninja]

Originally Posted by P-bobby

Just finished listening to Pat on Flames Talk, where they interviewed the Wranglers assistant manager.

He mentioned that Gridin’s point production has dipped over the last few games but that they’re happy with how he’s improving defensively, which they see as the main reason for the drop.

I’m curious what others think, but personally, I’d rather see Gridin focus on putting up big offensive numbers. When he was up with the Flames, his defensive play didn’t look like an issue to me. So why try to change his game? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but he has the tools to be the kind of offensive difference-maker this team badly needs. I just hope they’re not overemphasizing the defensive side and holding back his offensive potential.

Gridin’s skill isn’t going anywhere. Taking sometime on the farm to learn how to better position yourself defensively is a good thing. Improving on how to play without the puck can often lead to more offensive opportunities.

[Ba'alzamon]

I've had zero issues with Gridin's play watching the Wranglers. It's not like he's stopped getting/setting up chances, it's just the puck stopped going in (IIRC he also hasn't been playing with Kerins/Hunt as much lately, which is definitely part of it).

[Sandman]

Part of Gridin’s appeal is his 200-ft game. They’re developing him just fine IMO.

[Tacoman]

Don’t be too quick on Morin. Sutter has understandably leaned heavily on the vets he knows to start his coaching career so it’s been a little tough on all the rookies. Long season so lots of time for him to find his footing and learn more in the D zone from the coaches and vets.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I noticed Carter King was not in the lineup for the second game against the Barracuda.

[Calgary Highlander]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

Don’t be too quick on Morin. Sutter has understandably leaned heavily on the vets he knows to start his coaching career so it’s been a little tough on all the rookies. Long season so lots of time for him to find his footing and learn more in the D zone from the coaches and vets.

Learn from the coaches and vets in Rapid City? That's where he's playing right now, which is unfortunate for a second rounder from only two years ago.

[Tacoman]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I noticed Carter King was not in the lineup for the second game against the Barracuda.

Carter and Basha both sat that game. Not sure what the decision was but it seemed strange for both. Carter was second star right before that and I thought Basha was playing well. Not worth getting too caught up in it - it’s a long season.

As for above, Morin was recalled and played well tonight I thought.

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

Don’t be too quick on Morin. Sutter has understandably leaned heavily on the vets he knows to start his coaching career so it’s been a little tough on all the rookies. Long season so lots of time for him to find his footing and learn more in the D zone from the coaches and vets.

Is playing time important as well for Morin? Is he better playing 20mins in the ECHL vs 10 mins in the AHL?