[News] Flames Rookies vs UofC Dinos - September 9, 2013

[Calgary4LIfe]

I'll be happy if Ferland turns into the next Chris Simon. Decent player out there that is feared, but reliable (though Simon would sometimes get a bit too crazy). I hope it is closer to Lucic of course. If Ferland makes this team one day, he will not only provide a bit of depth scoring and the occasional fight, but also will help give this team some swagger again.

A longer shot to make it would be Kanzig I think, but he seems very determined and has a good head on his shoulders apparently. This will go a long way to giving the Flames that swagger that I think has been missing since almost the '04 run.

The centers on the team are all more or less tall (Monahan, Jankowski, Knight) with Backlund being the 'shorty' at 6.0. Average height I believe is 6'2".

Flames will only be a bit small on the wing, but only with two players (Baertschi and Gaudreau). Everyone else is average height or taller.

This is shaping up to be a pretty interesting prospect pool with some size and skill.

Also, I think Reinhart beats out Knight on the opening day roster. I think at this point, it is Reinhart's spot (if there is a spot with Horak in the mix) to lose. He looked sharper and harder working every game I thought.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

The problem with having too many of those fans is no accountability for team management. If fans support the team too fervently through the thin times it eases the urgency of ownership IMO.

So the theory is that if fans are too positive, team ownership, competitive cut-throat business types, will say "whew I guess we are free to crap the bed now".

What an absurd statement.

Owners know that the best thing for business is to win.

[Wastedyouth]

I only commented because Sieloff isn't even remotely Suter-like in any way. So to set a comparison like that seemed a bit silly.

But whatever, make any silly ceiling comparisons you want, because predicting the success of these young kids is near impossible. And for all we know Sieloff is the next Nik Lidstrom, no, wait, Bobby Orr-like!

[868904]

I think Lucic is really a very rare and special player. There are many powerforwards in the game but I can't think of any as big as Lucic and as mean.

He can physically impact a game like no one else since Eric Lindros. Oddly, Lucic doesn't look that big in person, he kinda looks skinny, but on the ice, he looks massive and imposing.

I don't think Ferland is big enough to do that, but if he turns out to be like a Ryane Clowe or David Clarkson, I'd be more than happy.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by fotze

AS far as the Ferland to Lucic comparison, it does creep into your mind but being a Flames fan we ALL have that Eeyore in our brains to slap us out of it. If any fan base has the experience to temper expectations, its us. So if some poster compares Lucic to Ferland or says 'he'll be the next Lucic' you have to believe this is before his inner Eeeyore has stomped that dream. He knows just as well as you that its a pipe dream.

Its like when you buy a lottery ticket and you have that little bit of euphoria imagining you will win even though you know you won't.

With Ferland though, compared to last years camps, the summer camp and sitting in the stands last night, he is the player that most surprised me. It is an extremely limited sample set, and I know big guys can go through spurts of crazy streaks like Simon, but jeezus, his hands and his vision and speed he sees the ice really, really shocked me.

These are things that don't get better from losing weight, how has he cleared his head? Maybe, just Maybe we found one of those late pick beasts. But probably not, obviously.

Losing the weight and gaining the speed allows him to do those things.

He may have always been able to see those things, but previously didn't have the speed to act on that vision.

It is a longshot for Ferland to become as good as Lucic but lets remember that Lucic wasn't supposed to be as good as Lucic ended up being either.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I only commented because Sieloff isn't even remotely Suter-like in any way. So to set a comparison like that seemed a bit silly.

But whatever, make any silly ceiling comparisons you want, because predicting the success of these young kids is near impossible. And for all we know Sieloff is the next Nik Lidstrom, no, wait, Bobby Orr-like!

Yup. This is exactly right. No one really knows jack squat. Including me and you. Writing off 18-23 year old hockey players and pigeon-holing them into some perceived limit on skill set is the only way to be wrong.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I only commented because Sieloff isn't even remotely Suter-like in any way. So to set a comparison like that seemed a bit silly.

But whatever, make any silly ceiling comparisons you want, because predicting the success of these young kids is near impossible. And for all we know Sieloff is the next Nik Lidstrom, no, wait, Bobby Orr-like!

I've always though Sieloff was a young Phaneuf minus the offensive instinct. Both very good skaters and great hitters. It wouldn't surprise me if Sieloff ended up potting close to 10 goals in a career year due to his slapshot, but I don't see him ever coming close to putting up Phaneuf type numbers. 25 points would probably be the max for a career year, which is what I wanted Phaneuf to be when the Flames drafted him. I wanted him to be less offensive and a rock defensively. More Scott Stevens than Ed Jovanovski.

[Henry Fool]

What I noticed about Sieloff is that he gets shots on goal, but I'm not sure about the shot quality. So maybe he has some insticts. If he tries to go full Phaneuf, he might not succeed, but if he learns to time and place his plays correctly, he could contribute. He seems active enough to have the puck in offensive situations. It's about his ability to learn and use his brain to make the plays that lead to chances rather than going for big blasts.

[Coach]

I noticed Seiloff shooting wide on purpose a few times at the scrimmage. Shows he has his head up and is trying to make plays rather than wiring it blindly. I think it shows he may have better offensive instincts than a lot of people seem to let on. Not saying he's Erik Karlsson, but I also think people discount how difficult it can be to put up points from the blueline in today's NHL while being defensively responsible.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Losing the weight and gaining the speed allows him to do those things.

He may have always been able to see those things, but previously didn't have the speed to act on that vision.

It is a longshot for Ferland to become as good as Lucic but lets remember that Lucic wasn't supposed to be as good as Lucic ended up being either.

I contend he ends up close to Dustin Penner. With similar inconsistency. Which is still pretty good in the grand scheme of things. Penner also has the size and soft hands, but comes out big in clutch moments. Not a star and nor a plug but very useful in the right situations.

[red sky]

Ferland doesn't seem that big though. Penner is a tough dude to handle in the corner when he wants to be. Lucic is a beast. I just don't see Ferland as being able to dominate physically as much as people think he will.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by red sky

Ferland doesn't seem that big though. Penner is a tough dude to handle in the corner when he wants to be. Lucic is a beast. I just don't see Ferland as being able to dominate physically as much as people think he will.

Ferland has dropped 20 lbs to be where he is at right now, just a thought that maybe some people are looking at the 225- 230 lb size that he was 1 year ago.
From the comments i have heard Ferland has worked his tail off to be in this conditioning.
It is a great sign that he has the right attitude.

[8sPOT]

I recall watching what I think was pre-season games two seasons ago and having to continually check who #79 was. Michael Ferland. He would carry the puck up ice with some authority, or win a board battle, wrattle a great shot off.

So I think a lot of this has always been there it's just more evident now that he's 20lbs lighter and gained some much needed speed.

[Tacoman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I contend he ends up close to Dustin Penner. With similar inconsistency. Which is still pretty good in the grand scheme of things. Penner also has the size and soft hands, but comes out big in clutch moments. Not a star and nor a plug but very useful in the right situations.

Not sure about a Penner comparison. There is certainly no softness in Ferland's game, unlike Penner. Penner is bigger but from everything I know about Ferland, he loves to play physical and excels at dropping the mitts. That's definitely not Penner.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, I don't think Penner is a good comparison either.

I think a better comparable for physicality is Iginla - not huge, but very solid and he uses his size aggressively and punishes people (like the younger Iginla).

Obviously it is unlikely that Ferland will develop HOF-worthy offensive skills like Iginla, but if he can continue t develop his skating, and learns to utilize his strength, he could turn out to be a pretty decent power forward.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Ferland has dropped 20 lbs to be where he is at right now, just a thought that maybe some people are looking at the 225- 230 lb size that he was 1 year ago.
From the comments i have heard Ferland has worked his tail off to be in this conditioning.
It is a great sign that he has the right attitude.

Ferland looked to be pretty physcially dominant in these prospect games. Dropping 20 lbs doesn't necessarily mean he's slighter. From what i remember he was a pretty chunky dude. I don't think its crazy to think he droped about 40lbs of fat and added 20 of muscle. No one seemed to be able to get him off the puck.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by fotze

He'd be swooping behind the net with one hand controlling the puck (well) and the other straightarming the defenceman off of him.

Yeah he has improved leaps and bounds over what I saw in his small sample size at rookie camp last year. I can't remember if he was at main camp at all last year, but he's certainly earned a look this season.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I noticed Seiloff shooting wide on purpose a few times at the scrimmage. Shows he has his head up and is trying to make plays rather than wiring it blindly. I think it shows he may have better offensive instincts than a lot of people seem to let on. Not saying he's Erik Karlsson, but I also think people discount how difficult it can be to put up points from the blueline in today's NHL while being defensively responsible.

I would rather have a smart Dman on the blueline that is defensively responsible and able to get the puck into a scoring opportunity over a player like Phaneuf that just tries to load up a cannon and blast it in the general direction of the net.

If Seiloff ends up being the kind of guy with 1-5 goals and 40+ assists in a year because he gets pucks on net for tips, deflections and rebounds then I would be very happy with the quality of player that we get out of the deal. Heck, in a lot of ways I would consider that type of player more valuable than a Phaneuf that is always looking for the big shot or the big hit to bring him the big personal glory.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Not really fair expectations... I know that's what Feaster wanted, but he looked like he was 7th on the Abby depth chart. Junior will benefit him more with a leading role and lots of ice time.

7th for how long? The thing about minor league depth is that it is depleted by injuries to both the Calgary Flames and the Heat. A couple injuries in Calgary on the blueline, a couple injuries in Abby and that would be 4 players gone from their depth chart and he'd be in the top 4.

It is often deceptive to look at a roster when healthy and even moreso for minor league teams. Even if Culkin struggled for ice time early on injuries and recalls would have him move up the depth chart as the year went on. Did you see Abby's depth chart later on in the season last year?

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yeah, I don't think Penner is a good comparison either.

I think a better comparable for physicality is Iginla - not huge, but very solid and he uses his size aggressively and punishes people (like the younger Iginla).

Obviously it is unlikely that Ferland will develop HOF-worthy offensive skills like Iginla, but if he can continue t develop his skating, and learns to utilize his strength, he could turn out to be a pretty decent power forward.

I myself was also thinking this was a decent comparison. I really liked what i saw from Ferland in the young stars tourney and the Dino's game. I think its safe to say we can put him up near the top in terms of prospects again. I hope he continues doing what he is doing because it's working for him and it's exciting to see.