Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd1

[flames_fan_down_under]

I think Bennett. He's a top flight centre who just turned 18. Johnny is an amazing prospect but I think Bennett has more potential.

[Hackey]

Gaudreau is almost three years older so the fact that the discussion is even close makes it pretty exciting to think about how good Bennett will be in three years time. Hopefully they are both tearing it up for the Flames. At the end of the day I don't really care who is better just hope they both pan out as top 6 players for us.

[Yrebmi]

Gaudreau over Bennett
Age was not considered as we are polling best prospect now, not potential.

[Jacks]

Seems pretty obvious that this poll will end with 1) Gaudreau & 2) Bennett. Might as well skip #2 and go directly to #3.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I'd skip 3 as well, Baertschi will be the clear favorite for #3.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I'm curious to see where Max Reinhart ends up in the rankings, he lead the Heat in scoring last season and pretty much solidified the #1 C by season's end. We have a log jam at C, guys like Knight and Granlund are going to have to consider RW if they want to break into the NHL

Max was playing wing on the top line centred by Granlund. In my humble opinion, I've got Max ranked at 6th. Looking at the Heat forwards, Max and Granlund both passed Baertschi.

1. Bennett
2. Gaudreau
3. Wotherspoon - I look to see him make the Flames this year
4. Ortio - has been great
5. Granlund - could make the Flames this season
6. Reinhart - really showed his offensive upside
7. Poirier - did well at the tail end of the Heat season
8. Gillies - still a top goalie prospect
9. Klimchuk - I like him
10. Baertschi - has great skill but poor season
11. Kulak - has done well in his brief play with the Heat
12. Sieloff - should be ranked higher but for injuries and health

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

What matrix do you use to determine your vote? All the prospects have a certain amount of hype, projection or speculation to them. I didn't vote Gaudreau very high last year and he won the Hobey Baker, performed well at the WC, played in his first NHL game and didn't look out of place.

Perhaps you need a full NHL season with solid (Monahan like) performance to get him over the hump? If so, that's fair. But when compared to his peer class, he has to be either choice #1 or #2 - hype or not.

I voted based on potential. That's my understanding of what top prospect means. I don't care where Bennett ends up this season but I think he has to considered the top prospect in the system.

Yeah, especially a player of Gaudreau's size, I want to see a full season. The jump to the NHL is by far the biggest one in a young player's career. Even just a few normal regular season games would give a far better idea than the meaningless last game of the season which was terrible hockey by NHL standards.

I'm sure he'll make it but I think the expectations are sky high. I'm not the least bit negative on him, just a little taken aback by the hype here. People have called him the most skilled prospect in the league, not just on the Flames. Maybe I'm just not used to such positive thoughts expressed of a Flames prospect.

[FBI]

Gaudreau because he's the player I'm most excited about since iggy.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Miniac

May I ask, have you seen Gaudreau play live (in person)?

I haven't seen any Flames prospect in person, just on television.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Gaudreau, because I think he is the best, most exciting prospect today. Bennett might be the best player in 3 years, but I don't see that as the question being asked.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I'm suprised some people are so down on Baertschi and he should be no lower than #3 on anybody's list. The whole first 5 mins of this video is the Baertschi-Monahan show. Sven making some magic with an 18 year old rookie. This isn't a guy that has trouble playing in the NHL, obviously. This is a guy that needs good time and good linemates (like Colborne was gifted last season, and guess what, he improved greatly as the year went on).

To say that there are more than maybe Gaudreau and Bennett that are better prospects in our system than Sven is crazy talk.

I like Hartley for the most part but his biggest mistake/downfall right now is how he has treated Beartschi so far. It's almost as if it's personal or something.

Colborne was a more mature professional last year, which is why Bob stuck with him.

Hartley knows how to handle players like Sven better than we do. The kid hasn't been ready to be an everyday NHL player to this point.

[Henry Fool]

With Bärtschi, the important thing is how he comes to the camp and into the preseason. If he looks like he did last year, then there might be reason to worry, but until then I think we can be cautiously optimistic that a young player has the drive to do what it takes once he's seen that last year wasn't enough. Should be a big summer for him.

On Granlund, still don't quite know what his potential should be, but after last year, and what he managed to do last summer especially, and based on his brother's progress, I have a lot of faith that he knows what it takes and is determined to make the team. Reinhart as well.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I'd skip 3 as well, Baertschi will be the clear favorite for #3.

I don't think so. He's #4 at best on my list. I think he's going to slide a little.

Besides, having the percentages for each pole is nice to have years down the road. I think regardless of assumptions, each spot should have its own pole (and run off if close). Especially in the top 10.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The "reality" is that he has surpassed expectations at every level he's played and continues to do so, including his first game in the NHL during which he did not appear to be in any kind of struggle physically.

I have a different recollection of that game.

I recall him getting absolutely dumped at least twice.

Not to say he didn't have a good game, because he clearly had a fantastic game.

But seeing him play in the NHL did nothing to convince me that he's not going to get murdered at the NHL level. I still see that as a very real possibility.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

Gaudreau over Bennett
Age was not considered as we are polling best prospect now, not potential.

If that is your methodology for voting, then I am assuming Bennett will be way down your list, as he is not NHL ready. Reinhart, Granlund, Baertschi and many others are all better prospects NOW.

Of course you have to vote on potential. Some formula of 'right now' and 'future potential'.

For the record, I voted Gaudreau, but not just because of him being better right now. I think there is a whole lot more potential with this kid, as he is hardly a finished product.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

If that is your methodology for voting, then I am assuming Bennett will be way down your list, as he is not NHL ready. Reinhart, Granlund, Baertschi and many others are all better prospects NOW.

Of course you have to vote on potential. Some formula of 'right now' and 'future potential'.

For the record, I voted Gaudreau, but not just because of him being better right now. I think there is a whole lot more potential with this kid, as he is hardly a finished product.

Valid point. Perhaps Bennett should be down further. But he is so shiny and new.
Are we polling a depth chart or ceiling potential.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

Valid point. Perhaps Bennett should be down further. But he is so shiny and new.
Are we polling a depth chart or ceiling potential.

I've always looked at it as a mix of the two.

An mix of ceiling and "make it" potential.....but ceiling is usually has more influence on the decision.

For instance, Bouma was ranked way down on the list in last year's CP rankings despite pretty much being a sure fire NHL player, just an NHL player with a lower ceiling.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I'd skip 3 as well, Baertschi will be the clear favorite for #3.

Seems some people will be selecting off the board, though, so maybe still have the poll?

[jaymac106]

Would like to see Bill Arnold in the top ten, imho he is one of our most under rated prospects.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Seems some people will be selecting off the board, though, so maybe still have the poll?

It does seem like it.