The Prospect Cupboard

[Vinny01]

When Feaster took over we had. 28-30 ranked prospect pool. Pre-draft I think hf had us rated around 20th which is pretty impressive considering we had a 10th and 9th place finish the years before. Now that the rebuild is on and we had 3 1st round picks in a deep draft including a top 6 picked are likely going to break through to the top 15 league wide. Great start to a rebuild and here is hoping that Johnny and Janko both boom instead of bust

[EVERLAST]

I am pretty happy with what we have and who we have to develop these players in Troy Ward.

I see not many coaches out there in the AHL doing the kind of work out there like Ward is.

He is developing good people then hockey players.

This upcoming year will be much better than than anyone can anticipate.

[FakenHaken]

I agree that what we do lack is that Sidney Crosby, Taveres, Toews, or Malkin type of player that franchise guy.

However, when you look at the division we will be in it is going to be tough to crawl out of the division let alone the conference.

LA = Big, Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
Anaheim = Big Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
San Jose = Big, Strong, Skilled

Now get into the Central Division you still have the Blackhawks, Blues, Colorado, Wild, Jets.

The West is different than the East you need that Big, Strong, Skilled Centermen to compete against the Toews, Getzlaf, Sedin, Kopitar, MacKinnon, or Perron guys.

I like how we have built up our center depth from poor to looks a heck of better.

Monahan 6' 2"
Jankowski 6' 3"
Knight 6' 2"
Reinhart 6' 1"
Bill Arnold 6' 0"

Of course we have a long ways to go but I feel better today after acquiring Knight and now Monahan about center than I did when I woke up on Sunday morning. If somehow we end up with Ekblad or Reinhart well then we can begin talking about a really good team in a few years with depth that may not have that Toews or Getzlaf type player but a team that will come out at you line after line. Like the Bruins or Kings do or can.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

LA = Big, Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
Anaheim = Big Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
San Jose = Big, Strong, Skilled

I actually don't find any of those teams particularly fast, just adequate. I'm happy that the players picked this year were of the 6 feet+ range but I'm not overly concerned about having to outmuscle these teams as it took years for those teams to amass those rosters and the Flames aren't going to be able to immediately match size/skill with those teams. I feel the Flames should try to emphasize team speed rather than trying to beat those teams at their own game.

[McG]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

I agree that what we do lack is that Sidney Crosby, Taveres, Toews, or Malkin type of player that franchise guy.

However, when you look at the division we will be in it is going to be tough to crawl out of the division let alone the conference.

LA = Big, Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
Anaheim = Big Strong, Skilled, Grinding, Fast
San Jose = Big, Strong, Skilled

Now get into the Central Division you still have the Blackhawks, Blues, Colorado, Wild, Jets.

The West is different than the East you need that Big, Strong, Skilled Centermen to compete against the Toews, Getzlaf, Sedin, Kopitar, MacKinnon, or Perron guys.

I like how we have built up our center depth from poor to looks a heck of better.

Monahan 6' 2"
Jankowski 6' 3"
Knight 6' 2"
Reinhart 6' 1"
Bill Arnold 6' 0"

Of course we have a long ways to go but I feel better today after acquiring Knight and now Monahan about center than I did when I woke up on Sunday morning. If somehow we end up with Ekblad or Reinhart well then we can begin talking about a really good team in a few years with depth that may not have that Toews or Getzlaf type player but a team that will come out at you line after line. Like the Bruins or Kings do or can.

No disagreement at all. Just want to point out that when the flames are pressing in 3 or 4 years time, these teams will have a much more closed window than they do today.

This is the reason that we have to stay the course on our rebuild. Done properly, draft, develop and win cycles exist and are repeatable. The aberrations are the perpetual winners and losers.

I am way more comfortable with being a bottom dweller next season to continue to add to our cupboard.

Do we have all of our picks for next year? I would think that we will be adding to them as the season goes on.

Basically, as long as we stay the course I am okay with a tough season or two so we can draft and develop without "win now" pressure.

[OzSome]

With lack of scoring RW for the Flames next season, I think they will try Reinhart on RW position especially if Monaghan and Knight makes the team. They might even move Horak on RW position as well.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I actually don't find any of those teams particularly fast, just adequate. I'm happy that the players picked this year were of the 6 feet+ range but I'm not overly concerned about having to outmuscle these teams as it took years for those teams to amass those rosters and the Flames aren't going to be able to immediately match size/skill with those teams. I feel the Flames should try to emphasize team speed rather than trying to beat those teams at their own game.

In order for LA and Anaheim to play the strong forecheck that they do it may not seem fast but the system or forecheck breaks down very quickly if you don't have the speed to do it. I agree with you the Flames are not going to be able to immediately match size/skill. Which is why I also said we are a few years away from developing the depth we need, but nice of you to cherry pick out at center ice EE tapping your stick.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

In order for LA and Anaheim to play the strong forecheck that they do it may not seem fast but the system or forecheck breaks down very quickly if you don't have the speed to do it. I agree with you the Flames are not going to be able to immediately match size/skill. Which is why I also said we are a few years away from developing the depth we need, but nice of you to cherry pick out at center ice EE tapping your stick.

I dunno. I thought the Hawks made the Kings look pretty slow.

[djsFlames]

I think they definitely need to flip Cammy when his value is highest at the deadline and pick up another 1st for next year's draft.

Just look how much of a boost our prospect pool recieved yesterday. Without the 1sts we recouped for Iggy and Bo, the rebuild would seem that much longer and grueling. Getting more darts to put on the board each year will really help speed this thing along.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

I think that's pretty fair, maybe a bit optimistic on Gillies, Bouma and even Sven. After some initial indigestion I think Porier has 2nd line projection.

Gillies was our best prospect before this draft according to Weisbrod. He has great potential.

How can 4th line be optimistic for Bouma? He likely would've hit that last year if not for injuries.

Monahan has 1st line potential IMO

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Gillies was our best prospect before this draft according to Weisbrod. He has great potential.

How can 4th line be optimistic for Bouma? He likely would've hit that last year if not for injuries.

Monahan has 1st line potential IMO

Bouma was on the third line and playing well before his injury.

[MacFlame]

Feaster has done an excellent job re-stocking the prospect pool. What I'm most happy about are the players he has brought in that are within 20-23 age group.

Sutter's poor draft record (although I'd argue it had more to do with prospect development, as oppose to actual drafting), is certainly evident. However, Feaster has been able to bring in players within that age group to help fill the void of the Sutter era. None of them are "high end", but at least there are a few that will make the club.

[CaptainCrunch]

Well next Friday is going to be very interesting.

I wouldn't doubt that the Flames add a free agent signing because of the cap situation.

With Monohan, Knight, Backland, Horak, Stajan and Bouma all line up at center there will be pieces in play as the preference is to get the 4 first centers as much playing time as possible.

I doubt Cammy gets moved out before the trade deadline.

After that its rookie camp which should be very cool to watch this year.

I do like how things are taking shape.

[nik-]

We still need another piece or two of elite talent, likely another center and a D-man, but we're getting there. The team will be close when Baertschi is our Hossa, and not our Toews or our Kane. Right now I'd say he's still our second best prospect with Monahan at number 1.

[dammage79]

Can you imagine if the Flames grabbed Leddy and Seguin? I think we'd be set for a very long time. I am dreaming. Leave me alone and let me bask in my dream.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Obviously after a draft everyone's pool should be better, double that for the Flames with three first rounders... but it's look pretty decent I must say.

It will be interesting to see which ones make the jump this season.

-Sven Baertschi and Max Reinhart should be full time NHL'ers coming into camp.
-Mark Cundari, Corban Knight and Lance Bouma have legitimate shots
-Tyler Wotherspoon is a guy who could surprise everyone and make it out of camp.
-Sean Monahan has an inside track too 50/50 if he stays or returns to junior.

I think Bouma is far more of a lock than Reinhart. I'm pencilling in Bouma for 4th line LW and I think the Flames have as well.

Reinhart meanwhile is competing against Monahan, Backlund, Stajan, Knight, Horak and Jones and is going to be in tough. Plus I think he could really use the confidence that would come with putting up bigger numbers in the minors.

[Red John]

Hopefully the trio of 1st rounders play in the Young stars tournament in Penticton this year.

In the past teams have sent a real "B" lineup to that tournament (perhaps because of the incident when the Oilers brought a cement head to injure people a few years back) so hopefully the Flames take it seriously and bring some of their best prospects.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I dunno. I thought the Hawks made the Kings look pretty slow.

I'm not going to take anything away from the Hawks they are the Stanley Cup Champs. However it's not cause the Hawks were faster that killed LA. What killed LA was Chicago's depth, skill, size and health. Well that and one Patrick Kane went into superman mode. LA simply wasn't healthy, and that isn't meant to take anything away from Chicago, but there was way more to the Hawks bag of tricks than speed that they used to beat LA. Still doesn't take away from the ways the really good teams are building today though when you look at the Kings, Blues, Hawks, Bruins. Let's face it the Flames are not there ......yet. The cupboards are not bare, but they are much better.

Still need that stud defencemen, and could really use some more good right wingers. Also, if Baertchi and Gaudreau explode and one of our countless goalies becomes a Quick. We would have a chance, but not yet too many important holes. It will come, but we are much better today than we were yesterday.

[joe_mullen]

I'd say we're middle of the pack still. We don't have any sure fire elite players yet. Also, history shows many of these players will bust but we are slowly on our way. Still need a couple years of high end draft picks before we are set. Slowly improving, but still years away.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Gillies was our best prospect before this draft according to Weisbrod. He has great potential.

How can 4th line be optimistic for Bouma? He likely would've hit that last year if not for injuries.

Monahan has 1st line potential IMO

i really think people underrated what Gillies accomplished last year and what hes capable of. not only is he our top goalie prospect, but also one of our top prospects, period.