[News] With the 144th OA pick, the Flames select LW Ethan Wyttenbach

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Groot

One of the biggest criticisms (rightfully so) of the organization has been too many older players blocking spots for young guys, forcing them to play in the AHL or other leagues longer than maybe they should have.

The Flames being impatient and forcing young guys into the lineup before they are ready is not something the organization does, pretty much the exact opposite.

Is that really the case. I think if a prospect proves themselves then they will make room. For those players playing multiple years in the AHL, maybe they just aren't good enough. Conroy mentioned that the time Grindin spent in the AHL really helped him. He has also shown to be able to take that next step and is playing with the big club. Wolf they traded Markstrom to make room. Coronato played a season in the AHL before becoming a regular.

I don't buy the narrative that they don't let kids play. I think they have a plan and that is don't throw them into the deep end when they are not ready. If they are good enough they are here.

[SuperMatt18]

I do think that the guys who are undeniable will be given a shot and have space made for them.

Where I think there has been more of a struggle is creating space for the guys who aren't undeniable, who actually might need NHL time to continue to develop, but aren't going to be impactful right away, and actually might be a detriment in the short term.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I do think that the guys who are undeniable will be given a shot and have space made for them.

Where I think there has been more of a struggle is creating space for the guys who aren't undeniable, who actually might need NHL time to continue to develop, but aren't going to be impactful right away, and actually might be a detriment in the short term.

It's my biggest disappointment with how this staff operates. In my opinion a lot of these fringe guys just aren't given much rope to really do anything at the NHL level.

Never mind the clear disconnect between Conroy and Huska about Stromgren, giving rookie Centre Tyson Gross 8:07 TOI on home ice in his first NHL game and then immediately scratching him again for a 31 year old free agent winger with less than 15 games left in a season where there's just no risk in playing the kids is just baffling to me. Sure he probably gets in again, but why not just give him a regular shift and see what happens?

Would love to see more rope to some of these "fringe" kids in the last 12 games here, genuinely nothing to lose. If they stumble into some wins because some kids end up showing better than expected then that's just fine, alternatively if they're awful and it gets us a better draft pick then alas.

[PepsiFree]

You actually have to earn NHL time, thankfully.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

It's my biggest disappointment with how this staff operates. In my opinion a lot of these fringe guys just aren't given much rope to really do anything at the NHL level.

Never mind the clear disconnect between Conroy and Huska about Stromgren, giving rookie Centre Tyson Gross 8:07 TOI on home ice in his first NHL game and then immediately scratching him again for a 31 year old free agent winger with less than 15 games left in a season where there's just no risk in playing the kids is just baffling to me. Sure he probably gets in again, but why not just give him a regular shift and see what happens?

Would love to see more rope to some of these "fringe" kids in the last 12 games here, genuinely nothing to lose. If they stumble into some wins because some kids end up showing better than expected then that's just fine, alternatively if they're awful and it gets us a better draft pick then alas.

We make fun of the Oilers for ruining prospects by rushing them. Give them a chance, have them sit and watch is fine. The Flames have done a pretty good job developing their players and not rushing them.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

We make fun of the Oilers for ruining prospects by rushing them. Give them a chance, have them sit and watch is fine. The Flames have done a pretty good job developing their players and not rushing them.

Giving Tyson Gross 12-14 minutes of protected ice time in a garbage time March matchup is not even remotely equal to starting Matt Savoie or Ike Howard in the top 6 out of camp.

I don't want these guys getting gifted 20 mins a night and PP1 Oilers style, but I also don't think there's a huge risk of ruining a guys development by letting him have an actual regular shift in his first NHL game in his hometown.

[SuperMatt18]

Gross is fine to sit.

Stromgren, and Kerins have earned a bigger opportunity with their AHL play and have deserved more of a look.

Not playing Stromgren more this year when he requires waivers moving forward is silly.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You actually have to earn NHL time, thankfully.

To each their own. I don't see the harm in giving a prospect an actual earnest look to see if they might be part of the future.

Don't see the need on a 29th place team in March to exclusively reward vets who probably aren't part of the future but have "earned it".

[Finger Cookin]

So much angst and hand wringing over a few hundred seconds of icetime for an undrafted collegiate player who's been gifted burning a year off his ELC. And if it's not angst and hand wringing, and truly a case of "play him more because the games are meaningless anyway", how does a few hundred seconds of meaningless icetime warrant any kind of discussion?

[mile]

Kerins has been injured for about a month now. I’m sure he would get a look if he wasn’t

Hopefully he can get back before the season ends

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Gross is fine to sit.

Stromgren, and Kerins have earned a bigger opportunity with their AHL play and have deserved more of a look.

Not playing Stromgren more this year when he requires waivers moving forward is silly.

Yea fair Gross is just top of mind, not a huge issue with him sitting occasionally here but the process of 8:07 back to popcorn duty is frustrating to me.

Agree, giving a Kerins or Stromgren 5 or whatever games down the stretch here to see if you have an actual NHLer seems like good use of those remaining games. Wish they'd use them for what they are, rehearsals for next year.

[Kipper_3434]

Flames have done a solid job making room for their young guys. I would also like to see Stromgren this season. How many call ups do we have left?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Gross is fine to sit.

Stromgren, and Kerins have earned a bigger opportunity with their AHL play and have deserved more of a look.

Not playing Stromgren more this year when he requires waivers moving forward is silly.

I hate to break it to you, but if Stromgren is exposed to waivers he's going to clear pretty easily.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

So much angst and hand wringing over a few hundred seconds of icetime for an undrafted collegiate player who's been gifted burning a year off his ELC. And if it's not angst and hand wringing, and truly a case of "play him more because the games are meaningless anyway", how does a few hundred seconds of meaningless icetime warrant any kind of discussion?

Guy isn't a charity case, not sure he was gifted anything.

I would love to see if he can play, I don't think 8:07 is enough to determine that, not sure why that's angsty or hand-wringy.

[Finger Cookin]

It's also hilarious to think that hockey players who have been in the organization for 4-6 years with hundreds of AHL games under their belt could suddenly make the hockey operations staff go "Whoa, I think we have an NHLer here!!" because they got an extra 5 NHL starts. They're not getting the NHL starts because hockey operations knows exactly what they have.

[GioforPM]

Sitting Gross after giving him a taste is basic standard coaching. He’s now been on the ice at game speed, now he can watch with that experience. When he goes back in it will make more sense.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Gross wasn’t given a game because they think he’s ready
It was likely part of the negotiation for him to sign and burn a year off the deal
Pretty sure every team would have offered and done that
It’s becoming standard when you sign a college guy

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I found out this week that I work with a guy who's kid is close friends with Ethan. Knows him very well and speaks very highly of his character and ambitions to prove people wrong. Also doesn't see ANY issues with him eventually signing with Calgary, though may not be this year.
Not huge insight but it was cool talking to someone who knows him very well and speaks very highly of both his talent and character.

Having listened to him speak a few times and the fact that it's known that he wears Flames gear around campus all the time, that isn't hard to ascertain.

Wytter taking more time at the college level makes a lot of sense. Don't think too many were expecting him to make the jump after a year.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

It's also hilarious to think that hockey players who have been in the organization for 4-6 years with hundreds of AHL games under their belt could suddenly make the hockey operations staff go "Whoa, I think we have an NHLer here!!" because they got an extra 5 NHL starts. They're not getting the NHL starts because hockey operations knows exactly what they have.

Yes thank you.

Kerins is not an nhl’r.
I think stromgren needs to be given a little more time because he is running out of it.

We have a big center who plays a 200 foot game. Why the heck wouldnt you give this guy a few games to see what you have. Kerins isnt a mystery to my mind he is well defined.

[D as in David]

How many of their five call-ups have the Flames utilized? Only Brz and Gridin, so far? If they want to bring up more than the allowed five, they'll be shutting down one of the regulars for the rest of the season due to some non-critical injury. That won't happen until only a few games are remaining.