The Prospect Cupboard

[Sandman]

Just a little tidbit to maybe illustrate how good Jankowski's potential is: Jankowski is only 3 days older than Anthony Mantha.

[kehatch]

My full ranking is linked in my signature.

But (removing Backlund) my top 10 is:

1. Baertschi: Had a slow start but a strong finish. Clearly the Flames best prospect.
2. Brodie: Showed top 2 potential in an unbelievable break out season.
3. Monahan: Big strong 2-way C. The guy the Flames have been looking for?
4. Gaudreau: Hobey Baker candidate as a 150 pound sophomore? Top 5 NHL prospect if a little bigger.
5. Klimchuk: Smart all zone left winger.
6. Poirier: Offensively gifted speedy winger
7. Jankowski: He did just fine in his NCAA debut. He is a guy to get excited about next season. Watch for breakout.
8. Knight: D-zone face off specialist with top 6 upside.
9. Horak: One opp. coach called him the Flames best defensive forward. Remember he is 21. Expect big things.
10. Reinhart: Stats deceiving in his AHL debut. He was their best defensive forward. Looked great in NHL debut.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by kehatch

My full ranking is linked in my signature.

But (removing Backlund) my top 10 is:

1. Baertschi: Had a slow start but a strong finish. Clearly the Flames best prospect.
2. Brodie: Showed top 2 potential in an unbelievable break out season.
3. Monahan: Big strong 2-way C. The guy the Flames have been looking for?
4. Gaudreau: Hobey Baker candidate as a 150 pound sophomore? Top 5 NHL prospect if a little bigger.
5. Klimchuk: Smart all zone left winger.
6. Poirier: Offensively gifted speedy winger
7. Jankowski: He did just fine in his NCAA debut. He is a guy to get excited about next season. Watch for breakout.
8. Knight: D-zone face off specialist with top 6 upside.
9. Horak: One opp. coach called him the Flames best defensive forward. Remember he is 21. Expect big things.
10. Reinhart: Stats deceiving in his AHL debut. He was their best defensive forward. Looked great in NHL debut.

I agree with this but I would put Horak above Janko, Poirier and Knight until we see more from them. I hope we only sign a couple of UFA's this summer so we will get a chance to see a lot of these guys get a chance with the Flames.

Now that we have some assets we need to manage them properly, this will be interesting to see how things develop under Hartley and Feaster in terms of development of these young guys. I hope they aren't rushed but still given a shot to prove they are able to play at the NHL level.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

I agree with this but I would put Horak above Janko, Poirier and Knight until we see more from them. I hope we only sign a couple of UFA's this summer so we will get a chance to see a lot of these guys get a chance with the Flames.

Now that we have some assets we need to manage them properly, this will be interesting to see how things develop under Hartley and Feaster in terms of development of these young guys. I hope they aren't rushed but still given a shot to prove they are able to play at the NHL level.

I struggle with ranking Horak. I don't see top 6 upside. I think he has some of the right tools to develop into an elite 3-line shutdown guy. But poor face offs and a lack of physical play are real obstacles to being that player.

He is still very young so the jury is still out. I just see guys like Knight as having a more complete skill set for a similar role.

[StrykerSteve]

Monahan is Calgary's top prospect, Baertschi shouldn't be at the top of these lists anymore.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Monahan is Calgary's top prospect, Baertschi shouldn't be at the top of these lists anymore.

What?

Bart is still considered a nhl prospect, and in appearences he's had success at a NHL level. Of course he's the Flames top prospect.

[StrykerSteve]

I'm not suggesting he's not still a top prospect, but Monahan has displaced him as the one with the most potential, IMO. This is a good thing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yup. Another elite talent in next year's draft, plus hopefully 2 or 3 extra picks in the top 60.

Then things will really start to take shape.

Definitely making good progress.

[Brick]

Brodie's looked the best from what I have seen so far. We'll have a better idea on the rest of them after this upcoming season.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Monahan is Calgary's top prospect, Baertschi shouldn't be at the top of these lists anymore.

Monahan might be Calgary's top prospect by the end of next season. But right now Baertschi is the better player and prospect. The only guy in the running to knock Baertschi off the mantle is Brodie.

[Nittmo]

I know it sounds like a reach, and the guy didn't really do the job in limited chances last year, but Akim Aliu really has a chance to make this squad and flourish this year

[foshizzle11]

if Akim Aliu makes it I would be shocked. I hope we have a bunch of guys show up ready to tear it up. There is limited amount of pressure on these guys and that should make for an exciting start to the season.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Monahan might be Calgary's top prospect by the end of next season. But right now Baertschi is the better player and prospect. The only guy in the running to knock Baertschi off the mantle is Brodie.

I totally disagree... Monahan is a better prospect than Sven... are you telling me a team wouldn't trade Sven for Monahan right now?

... or, if easier to imagine, is Sven a better prospect than Elias Lindholm?

oh damn... this isn't going as I intended

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I'm telling you guys. Breen is much much much higher in our top prospects list than you guys are giving him credit for. In fact, I'd put Breen in the top 5 right now.

In terms of NHL readiness (not potential), I'd probably do something along the lines of:

Monahan
Baertschi
Breen
Knight
Horak
Cundari
Wotherspoon
Reinhart
Kulak
Sieloff

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by 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.

Ward played Reinhart on the right a bit last year. When I asked him about it, he said his job is to prepare players for those types of situations when/if they make it to the NHL. He explained that sometimes the only chance a player will get to make a team is to switch positions.

As weak as the Flames are up the middle, it might be the case that Reinhart will have to (temporarily) switch to the wing to make the team in the future.

[PlayfulGenius]

Might Breen be in the NHL as early as this coming season?

I'd love for that to happen.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Might Breen be in the NHL as early as this coming season?

I'd love for that to happen.

I'll put it this way. I feel like he's better than Derek Smith, more well rounded than Cundari (physically and positionally, mostly), and would likely give Butler a run for his money for a spot on this team (if the coaches are being fair about things).

I can't see him being any more than a 4-6 defender at the NHL, but he'd be valuable in many situations.

There were three games I can think of off the top of my head where a few scouts even left after hearing that Breen wasn't going to be in the lineup.

I honestly think that if his injury wasn't too bad at the end of last season, he should push his way onto the team in September.

Of course, this is just my opinion, but I can assure you, I'm not the only regular Heat watcher who feels this way.

[Heavy Jack]

Still lots of good pieces from the Sutter era starting to pop up:

Backlund and Brodie obviously but also Arnold, Bouma, Reinhart, Ramage and to an extent Wotherspoon and Granlund because they were parlayed from a Sutter pick.

Our cupboards aren't near as bare, really good to see. PMM must be stoked for next year.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I'm telling you guys. Breen is much much much higher in our top prospects list than you guys are giving him credit for. In fact, I'd put Breen in the top 5 right now.

In terms of NHL readiness (not potential), I'd probably do something along the lines of:

Monahan
Baertschi
Breen
Knight
Horak
Cundari
Wotherspoon
Reinhart
Kulak
Sieloff

Wotherspoon, Knight are more ready then Reinhart?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Wotherspoon, Knight are more ready then Reinhart?

Knight for sure. It was a toss up between who was more NHL ready between Wotherspoon and Reinhart, but I went with Wotherspoon just because he already has NHL size and strength and couldn't get over how dominant he looked all the time this season. Whereas Reinhart has to put on some muscle mass and learn to score a bit more at the AHL level before being an effective NHLer.