Top Prospects in the Flames system

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by robbie111

1.John Gaudreau
2.Jon Gillies
3.Markus Granlund
4.Sven Baertschi
5.Pat Sieloff
6.Corban Night
7.Kenny Agostino
8.Tim Harrison
9.Mark Jankowski
10. John Ramage


These are my top 10 in how I think they will develop and what impact they'll have as NHLer's. I think Johnny Hockey, Jon Gillies and Granlund are going to be a superstars. Granlund will turn out to be better than his highly touted brother. Bear will be an excellent top 6 throughout his career, and Sieloff will be a top pairing defenceman.
I don't think Monahan is going to amount to more than a 3rd line center. That's just a guess, we'll see in 4 or 5 years.

I know this is just opinion, and you're entitled to it, but you basically think the last draft, of which we kept hearing was the deepest in awhile, that all 3 of our 1st rounders won't even crack the top 10 in the Flames current prospect pool? I'll have to respectfully disagree with your list.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I know this is just opinion, and you're entitled to it, but you basically think the last draft, of which we kept hearing was the deepest in awhile, that all 3 of our 1st rounders won't even crack the top 10 in the Flames current prospect pool? I'll have to respectfully disagree with your list.

Yep, was weird not seeing Monahan's name occupying one of the top two spots on a prospect list. I can understand a little more with Klimchuk and Poirier but still should be up there.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Here's the way I see it. The player ranking, the upside, a comparable player, and then for giggles a lineup of just our top prospects. Top five is all really close.

1. John Gaudreau (1st/2nd line winger) [Hakan Loob]
2. Jon Gillies (starter) [Mike Vernon]
3. Sven Baertschi (1st/2nd line winger) [Hakan Loob]
4. Mark Jankowski (1st/2nd line center) [Joe Nieuwendyk]
5. Sean Monahan (1st/2nd line center, wears a letter) [Doug Gilmour]
6. Max Reinhart (3rd line center, PK) [Carey Wilson]
7. Pat Sieloff (2nd pair defenseman, PK/shutdown) [Brad McCrimmon]
8. Corban Knight (4th line center, PK/shutdown) [Joel Otto]
9. John Ramage (3rd pair defenseman, PK/shutdown, wears a letter) [Ric Nattress]
10. Markus Granlund (1st/2nd/3rd line winger) [Joe Mullen]
11. Kenny Agostino (1st/2nd/3rd line winger, wears a letter) [Gary Roberts]
12. Tyler Wotherspoon (2nd pair defenseman) [Jamie Macoun]
13. Ryan Culkin (2nd pair defenseman, PP QB) [Gary Suter]
14. Emile Poirier (1st/2nd/3rd line winger) [Paul Ranhiem]
15. Tim Harrison (3rd/4th line winger, agitator) [Ville Nieminen]
16. Brett Kulak (2nd pair defenseman) [Rob Ramage]
17. Laurent Brossoit (backup) [Craig Andersson]
18. Morgan Klimchuck (2nd/3rd line winger) [Richard Kromm]
19. Ben Hanowski (3rd/4th line winger, bubble player) [Brian McLellan]
20. Michael Ferland (4th line winger, career minor leaguer) [Mark Hunter]


Gaudreau-Jankowski-Agostino
Bartschi-Monahan-Poirier
Klimchuk-Reinhart-Granlund
Ferland-Knight-Harrison
Hanowski

Brodie*- Sieloff
Culkin -Wotherspoon
Ramage-Kulak


Gillies
Brossoit



Rip it up!

[kingkahuna]

Originally Posted by robbie111

Also of our current youngster's I think Brodie is going to become a top 5 defenceman in the league if he can stay healthy. I haven't seen anyone skate like him since Paul Coffey, I don't even think Scott Niedermayer skated as well as Brodie does now.

While I think Brodie skates very well for his age I disagree.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Well I count Bouma as graduated so I've kept him off the list. Horak is probably the toughest case as he's played enough games to consider him graduated but he's not necessarily got a lineup spot completely sewn up already for next season so that argues for him still being considered a prospect. I'm gonna count him as a prospect for now.

1. Sean Monahan - C
2. Sven Baertschi - LW
3. John Gaudreau - LW
4. Mark Jankowski - C
5. Jon Gillies - G
6. Tyler Wotherspoon - D
7. Emile Poirier - RW/LW
8. Roman Horak - C/W
9. Corban Knight - C
10.Pat Sieloff - D
11.Morgan Klimchuk - LW
12.Markus Granlund - C/W
13.Max Reinhart - C
14.Kenny Agostino - LW
15.Chris Breen - D
16.Reto Berra - G
17.Kari Ramo - G
18.Keegan Kanzig - D
19.Mark Cundari - D
20.John Ramage - D
21.Brett Kulak - D
22.Ryan Culkin - D
23.Bill Arnold - C
24.Ben Hanowski - LW/RW
25.Laurent Brossoit - G
26.Joni Ortio - G
27.Michael Ferland - LW
28.Josh Jooris - C
29.Greg Nemisz - RW/C
30.Tim Harrison - C/W
31.Turner Elson - LW
32.Matt Deblouw - C
33.Eric Roy - D
34.Coda Gordon - LW
35.Rushan Rafikov - D
36.John Gilmour - D
37.Chad Billins - D
38.David Eddy - RW
39.James Martin - D
40.Ryan Howse - LW

I've never seen a group this deep in all my time as a fan. Hard to rank em but that was my attempt. I feel like the top 5 guys in particular could be special.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I've never seen a group this deep in all my time as a fan. Hard to rank em but that was my attempt.

I won't even try, but it is crazy and really impressive to see a prospect like Bill Arnold—whom has been in spitting-range of the team's top-ten at various points since he was drafted—to be ranked way down in the 20's, or not listed at all. This is a huge testament to how positively the Flames's prospect depth has improved over the past three years.

[Caged Great]

My list, based both off skill, and potential as well as the significance of the question marks surrounding them.

1. Monahan
2. Baertschi
3. Jankowski
4. Gillies
5. Gaudreau
6. Klimchuk
7. Poirier
8. Sieloff
9. Knight
10. Wotherspoon
11. Granlund
12. Cundari
13. Agostino
14. Horak
15. Culkin
16. Kulak
17. Harrison
18. Arnold
19. Hanowski
20. Berra
21. Brossoit
22. Kanzig
23. Billins
24. Reinhart
25. Breen
26. Elson
27. Ramage
28. Ortio
29. Roy
30. Ferland
31. Nemisz

All of Jooris, Deblouw, Gordon, Gilmour, Eddy, Martin, House have to improve by a level or two to have NHL potential. Rafikov is a wild card, because he could be in the top half of the list if not for the Russian thing.

[getbak]

Anyone questioning why Gillies might be the Flames' best prospect, just read this: http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/...4/apr12roy.php

He had an outstanding freshman season, and he did it as an 18 year-old. If his development continues at the same pace this season, he could be fighting for the starter's job in a couple of years.


Quick only played two years of College, and he wasn't even his team's starter as a 19 year-old freshman. Gillies is far ahead of where Quick was at the same age.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by getbak

Anyone questioning why Gillies might be the Flames' best prospect, just read this: http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/...4/apr12roy.php

He had an outstanding freshman season, and he did it as an 18 year-old. If his development continues at the same pace this season, he could be fighting for the starter's job in a couple of years.


Quick only played two years of College, and he wasn't even his team's starter as a 19 year-old freshman. Gillies is far ahead of where Quick was at the same age.

Wow.

Originally Posted by Hockey East Online

Gillies was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star and selected as the League's Rookie of the Year (also named to the All-Rookie Team). He was the first ever freshman to be selected as the Hockey East First-Team goaltender and just the third freshman at any position to be named to the first team, joining Hall-of-Fame defenseman Brian Leetch (Boston College) and Hobey Baker winner Paul Kariya (Maine).

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Wow.

It's not undeserved. From that rookie camp, he would give Ramo a run for his money as the starter right now. If he improves like a lot of goalies do from 19 to when he's 22, he could be a top 5 goalie in the league.

He has the same size as Henrik Karlsson and Reto Berra, but he's very quick with his pads, glove and blocker. The only weakness is his lateral movement and it's only a bit worse than Luongo's (speed moving across the net). I was shocked that he was that good considering he's only 19.

Because of his height, when he is on his knees, there are only a couple inches below the bar to aim for when he's hugging the post, which if he's playing out at the top of the crease to face a shooter like a normal goalie, there will be almost nothing to shoot at.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Then how did he go 75th overall?

FWIW (probably not much), Corey Pronman told CP's Ashasx that he considered Gillies to be better than Zach Fucale, who was the highest ranked goalie in this year's deep draft.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I've never seen a group this deep in all my time as a fan. Hard to rank em but that was my attempt. I feel like the top 5 guys in particular could be special.

It's hard to fault your list. Unbelievable to think that Joni Ortio may not even be in the club's top 25 prospects.

[Red Menace]

1 Sven Baertschi
2 Sean Monahan
3 John Gaudreau
4 Jon Gillies
5 Emile Poirier
6 Mark Jankowski
7 Morgan Klimchuk
8 Roman Horak
9 Corban Knight
10 Max Reinhart
11 Lance Bouma
12 Bill Arnold
13 Mark Cundari
14 Tyler Wotherspoon
15 Markus Granlund
16 Christopher Breen
17 Laurent Brossoit
18 Patrick Sieloff
19 Ken Agostino
20 Chad Billins
21 Ben Hanowski
22 John Ramage
23 Eric Roy
24 Ryan Culkin
25 Paul Byron
26 Turner Elson
27 Keegan Kanvig
28 Michael Ferland
29 Joni Ortio
30 Brett Kulak
31 Tim Harrison
32 Greg Nemisz
33 Rushan Rafikov
34 Carter Bancks
35 Josh Jooris
36 John Gilmour
37 Coda Gordon
38 Matt DeBlouw
39 James Martin
40 Ryan Howse
41 David Eddy

[Lanny_McDonald]

I believe that prospects really need to prove themselves once they are drafted. What they do in their post-draft years is way more important than what they do in their draft year, and that's why I would place all of the new picks so much lower in the rankings. I'm excited to see their performance after being drafted and how they step up with some expectations and promise placed on themselves. This when the real character comes out. We'll find out what we have with these new picks this coming season and see whether they deserve the high rankings.

[JJsChaos]

Gillies reminds me of Pekka Rinne. I sure hope he develops into a stud like Rinne. I imagine we'll be drafting high for the next couple years. I can't wait to add to this list. If people are happy about the prospects now, imagine how people will feel in two years from now.

[blankall]

No one here should have Gaudreau over Baertschi.

Both have similar upside. However, Baertschi is miles ahead in his development. There is still a massive risk that Gaudreau will not ever play in the NHL beyond a couple cups of coffee.

Baertschi is our clear #1 prospect. Monahan is our clear #2. Gadreau fits in with the rest of the upper tier pack. His upside is much higher than guys like Reinhart, Cundari, etc.. however, he is much risker.

[xxdanglerxx]

Originally Posted by blankall

No one here should have Gaudreau over Baertschi.

Both have similar upside. However, Baertschi is miles ahead in his development. There is still a massive risk that Gaudreau will not ever play in the NHL beyond a couple cups of coffee.

Baertschi is our clear #1 prospect. Monahan is our clear #2. Gadreau fits in with the rest of the upper tier pack. His upside is much higher than guys like Reinhart, Cundari, etc.. however, he is much risker.

Yeah I agree Gaudreau is a unreal college player and probaly be a above avergae player in the NHL he made a smart move by going back to BC for a year he needs to put on some weight and develop more before he is fully NHL ready if he went this year he would probaly get demolished hitting wise because of his size and weight he reminds of Nathan gerbe a little bit but I think he will be better than gerbe

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by blankall

No one here should have Gaudreau over Baertschi.

Both have similar upside. However, Baertschi is miles ahead in his development. There is still a massive risk that Gaudreau will not ever play in the NHL beyond a couple cups of coffee.

Baertschi is our clear #1 prospect. Monahan is our clear #2. Gadreau fits in with the rest of the upper tier pack. His upside is much higher than guys like Reinhart, Cundari, etc.. however, he is much risker.

I completely disagree with you. Bartschi had a disappointing season last year and that has to affect his standing. When he was sent to the farm he spent some time sulking and didn't dominate the way you would expect a future star to, like the Oilers kids did. Except for April, Bartschi did not look like top six player last season. Conversely, Gaudreau had another amazing season, was the go-to guy for the best college program in the country, was dominant at the world juniors, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker. Just another great season where he proved to be a dominant player. Finally, in prospect camp, Gaudreau was the standout player, again. Head-to-head I'll take Gaudreau. Futures are up in the air for both, as Gaudreau has to prove he can exist with the physicality of the NHL game, but Bartschi has to prove he can play a full season and remain healthy. His concussion history is worrisome. Bartschi had that monster season in his final year of junior, but he has to follow that up. Gaudreau is on a roll and only getting stronger. I'm happy we have both as prospects.