After Sven, which prospect are you most optimistic for?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

Any thoughts on how Breen or Lamb are playing? Surprised to see a fairly old D playing on the Heat.

Breen has taken some serious steps this season. Behind McCarthy and Brodie, he's the best defenseman on the team. I honestly can't say a bad thing about him other than his skating is pretty crappy, but what can you expect from a monster like that? The biggest improvement I've noticed this season is that he's playing mean between whistles AND after whistles. He's even been in a couple of fights this season, which is pretty rare for him.

Lamb has been just 'okay' in my eyes. I think it's a matter of getting more playing time (which will happen when Brodie goes back up to the Flames). Can't say much other than that, but I have no doubt he'll get better when he gets more consistent playing time.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Breen has taken some serious steps this season. Behind McCarthy and Brodie, he's the best defenseman on the team. I honestly can't say a bad thing about him other than his skating is pretty crappy, but what can you expect from a monster like that? The biggest improvement I've noticed this season is that he's playing mean between whistles AND after whistles. He's even been in a couple of fights this season, which is pretty rare for him.

Wasn't Chris Breen the one that Jimmy Playfair declared would be a sure-fire NHL player?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Wasn't Chris Breen the one that Jimmy Playfair declared would be a sure-fire NHL player?

I believe so. He was certainly Playfair's "favourite child" if you will and he let everyone know it, so the fans ate it up and got rather excited for Breen. This season, I'm starting to see it.

If Breen ever did get a call-up, it'd be his speed and skating that would be a detriment to him. With the speed forwards have in the NHL these days, I could see him having a tough time in that sense. Physically, I think he can match most forwards in the NHL no problem.

[Fire]

My uninformed rankings and opinions:

1. Baertschi - At least a 2nd liner with a very good chance of being an above average 1st liner.
2. Gaudreau - Potential to be a Fleury or St. Lious type of player. Also could turn out be a bust as well if he can't overcome his lack of size in the Pros. I'm guessing he will be a 2nd liner.
3. Jankowski - Will need at least 3 years in College before he is ready for Pro. Potential: #1 center but could be a total dud as well. Way too early to tell.
4. Brodie - Looks good to be a solid 2nd pairing defenseman in the NHL.
5. Horak - Upside is a 2nd liner. Will be at least a bottom 2 line NHLer.
6. Arnold - Potential 3rd liner in the NHL. Need to see him in the AHL to get a better idea of him.
7. Reinhart - Upside is 2nd liner, but most likely will end up in the bottom two lines if he makes it. Having a full year in the AHL will tell us a lot about his possible future.
8. Bouma - Does not have a top 2 line potential. Should be a solid career 4th liner in the NHL.
9. Irving - I don't see him as a #1 goalie in the NHL. Predition: Career NHL backup after a brief stint as #1.
10. Ramage - Could a be future leader on this team. I think he could a solid 3rd pairing defensive D-man.
11. Sieloff - Denis Gauthier comparable? Just starting his CHL career so who knows.
12. Gillies - Great start to his first year in College. Too early to make much of a prediction.
13. Byron - Hard time seeing him as a full-time NHLer. Needs to get stronger to overcome his lack of size. If he can't dominate in the AHL then there is no hope for him.
14. Aliu - Potential 4th line player. Has to prove himself more in the AHL.
15. Nemisz - Potential to be 3rd liner, but it's 50/50 at best on him becoming a regular NHLer.
16. Ortio - Looks good in Finland this year. Has an outside chance of being a future NHLer. I like his odds better than Brossiot.
17. Granlund - Wasn't impressed with him in the World Juniors. Looks like he is having a hard time producing without his brother on his line. Personally I don't see him as an NHLer. Prediction: Plays in Finland for the majority of his career.
18. Brossiot - Similar to Irving that he is playing behind a great WHL team. I am not holding high hopes on him being a future #1. Prediction: Doesn't become an NHLer
19. Culkin - Very early to predict but a there is a long shot possibly of something very special here.
20. Ferland - Needs to mature. Potential to be a very good 3rd liner.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Most excited about Jankowski. First time in a long time the Flames have someone who could develop into a legit #1 centre.

Gaudreau is another exciting prospect in the system.

Horak seems like one of the most sure thing prospects we have after Baertschi. Not sure if he'll shake out as a top two liner or not but he's got a ton of hockey sense and works hard.

Those are the top 3 I'm optimistic about I guess. Didn't include Brodie as I considered him a graduated player.

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

alright mods. do your thing! hehe

stop giving them ideas!

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I actually think Ortio is the goalie of the future for the Flames, but also think the Flames won't keep him around long enough. Who really knows how goalies develop in time, but I have always been impressed how Ortio does in big games.

No offence, but I disagree. I think when we drafted him, we were looking for the next Finnish " Kipper". That was a flop and the guy seems average at "best". Sure things take time, but, there's nothing to be excited for there~ there are better goalies in the system right now and up and coming. I believe he will eventually just fade away and so will our interest in him.

[cowtown75]

My top five I look foward too besides Baertchi would be :

1) Reinhart- Great hockey sense, ability, and leads by example. If he keeps developing like he is, he may be a new Dougie Gilmour.

2) Gaudreau- This guy has skills, heart, and a determination due to size that reminds me of theo, except, maybe a little less crazy.

3) Jankowski- If everything goes to plan...the next Niewy.

4) Sieloff- Every team needs a hard hittin mo-fo who has character, grit, and willing to battle in his end. Can't wait to see him.

5) Cervenka- I know he is not a "pick" per se, but he was plucked from another league and hasn't been in the NHL before like Makarov at one time. I'm very interested to see how he translates.

[cowtown75]

Top 3 Goalies :

1) Rammo- A taste of the NHL before and many shades of brilliance, can't wait to see him in a Flames jersey- Thanks Rene Bourque !

2) Broissoit- What can you say ?, the man led his team to the end and was MVP last year- Ortio's got nothing on that- junior or not.

3) Gillies- Always excited to see a big guy in net and he is having a good start so far this year in college..hope he keeps it up.

[Don Cherry]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Top 3 Goalies :

1) Rammo- A taste of the NHL before and many shades of brilliance, can't wait to see him in a Flames jersey- Thanks Rene Bourque !

2) Broissoit- What can you say ?, the man led his team to the end and was MVP last year- Ortio's got nothing on that- junior or not.

3) Gillies- Always excited to see a big guy in net and he is having a good start so far this year in college..hope he keeps it up.

He does, imo.

Ortio is putting up great numbers in a mens league.

Broissoit has pretty much played his way off Team Canada's WJ team with his play this year against junior players.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

No offence, but I disagree. I think when we drafted him, we were looking for the next Finnish " Kipper". That was a flop and the guy seems average at "best". Sure things take time, but, there's nothing to be excited for there~ there are better goalies in the system right now and up and coming. I believe he will eventually just fade away and so will our interest in him.

I doubt you have any idea where Kipper was in his development at Ortio's age. In fact I suspect you're mostly ignorant of where Ortio is at his current level of development. That Ortio didn't break out in NA at age 20 makes him a flop, huh? To put things into perspective, Kipper didn't come over to NA until he was 23 and he didn't become the Kipper we know until he came to Calgary at age 27. The main difference between them is that Ortio wasted an almost full year with the Heat at the age when Kipper was playing in Sweden.

Young goalies will rise and fall many times in people's eyes before we can pronounce any of them flops. No one can say that Ortio doesn't have the attributes to be an NHL goalie.

[Ozy_Flame]

I'm putting my money on Bill Arnold to be a key component of the Flames in about three years. I just see a consistent, two-way forward that is going to be a versatile forward. I personally see a Curtis Glencross in the making, and I think Arnold has a bit more upside (and size). He's got good coaching in BC, is staying the course with the college route, and is making the clutch goals from the center slot.

With prospects, I've come to view consistency as one of, if not the most critical component of developing prospect's game.

[Vinny01]

I know this won't be the case but it would be awesome if all the stars aligned and the was a future cup winning team

Sven-Janko-Gaudreau
Horak-Backlund-Iginla
Arnold-Reinhart-Ferland
Bouma-Nemisz -Debleow

Brodie-Sieloff
Wotherspoon-Giordano
Culkin-Ramage

Ramo
Brossoit/Gillies

In all honesty that could be a sick 3rd line in the future

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I know this won't be the case but it would be awesome if all the stars aligned and the was a future cup winning team

Sven-Janko-Gaudreau
Horak-Backlund-Iginla
Arnold-Reinhart-Ferland
Bouma-Nemisz -Debleow

Brodie-Sieloff
Wotherspoon-Giordano
Culkin-Ramage

Ramo
Brossoit/Gillies

In all honesty that could be a sick 3rd line in the future

I don't think Iginla will be around 5 years from now

[Dorkmaster]

I don't watch much hockey, only read reports about prospects.

I really feel like Johnny Gaudreau will pan out because of how he applies his skill set. He's shifty, great vision, tough to hit. All of those traits should lead to him being able to transition to higher levels of play regardless of his size.

With Jankowski its hard to predict if he'll actually be as good as we hope for him to be. The most similar prospect I can think of is Colborne. The main thing I like about Jankowski is his attitude and his commitment to improving. He's talked about not going out to party and so on, he seems really focused in.

Reinhart looks like he'll for sure be an NHL player but I'm not sure whether he'll be able to contribute much offensively. Seems like though he'll be one of those fan favorites.

Horak is virtually NHL ready, just a matter of how whether he'll be an offensive contributor.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I don't think Iginla will be around 5 years from now

I think he will be still kicking around and putting up points like Teemu

[Vinny01]

in my opinion if Janko and Gaudreau are able to live up to their potential (I really think both will but it may take a few years) then the Flames are going to be fine in the future.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

in my opinion if Janko and Gaudreau are able to live up to their potential (I really think both will but it may take a few years) then the Flames are going to be fine in the future.

Gaudreau has off the charts potential IMO, I think if he maxes out his potential he could be better than Baertschi and that is no knock on Sven as I have him pegged to be an all-star in the future. But Gaudreau has something even more special I think, not only does he have all the tools, he also has that clutch ability. It's harder to tell with Jankowski obviously, I like what I see and think he has 1st line potential but I want to see how he does the rest of the season before I start thinking about the chances of him reaching that potential.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

I doubt you have any idea where Kipper was in his development at Ortio's age. In fact I suspect you're mostly ignorant of where Ortio is at his current level of development. That Ortio didn't break out in NA at age 20 makes him a flop, huh? To put things into perspective, Kipper didn't come over to NA until he was 23 and he didn't become the Kipper we know until he came to Calgary at age 27. The main difference between them is that Ortio wasted an almost full year with the Heat at the age when Kipper was playing in Sweden.

Young goalies will rise and fall many times in people's eyes before we can pronounce any of them flops. No one can say that Ortio doesn't have the attributes to be an NHL goalie.

Good job at making some obvious points. Of course I don't now where Kipper was at in his development at age 20- do you ? as for Ortio, I have seen him play enough that PERSONALLY, I wasn't so excited. Yes, I know he is only 21 and there are gonna be ups and downs- but as I stated in my post, these things can take time. I had no clue who Kipper was, or was capable of, until we traded for him. As for Ortio, yes, this year he is putting up some decent stats, which is great, but I think his previous stats are not brilliant or anything. I hope he turns out to be a good goalie for us- but he needs to be in NA playing a NA game that hopefully he will one day play. It's great that he is a starter and getting the reps right now, but, it's in Finland. Stats can also be indicative of not just the goalie himself, but team play and competition, more obvious stuff.

All I am saying is that I am no where near being excited about this guy but I hope he proves me wrong. I think he goes down too fast, I think his rebound control is lacking, as well as his positioning and footwork. Hopefully, he will get much better in these areas and the Flames find the appropriate time to give him some reps here in NA- and until they do, I feel as though his development will be stunted always playing in Finland. Maybe that's why Kipper bloomed so late- and maybe that's why he is the great goalie he is today, because he found a team in the Flames that gave him the opportunity to get the reps here in NA and in the NHL.

[cowtown75]

All this aside, it would appear that Danny Taylor seems to be the go-to guy down in Abby anyways, which isn't giving Irving many reps. There seems to be a problem in terms of logjam in net in Abby where guys are getting the playing time cause they got the hot hand leaving some guys who were higher in the plans (Irving, Ortio) not getting the ice time on the team. But maybe, having too many goalies could be a good thing down the road.