Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd14

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Kulak's development the next two seasons will be key.

Is he our next TJ Brodie, or is he our next John Negrin. I can see it going either way.

That's the thing with Kulak for me as well. I need to see some more progression (and will be watching him closely in Adi this year) before I can jump on that bandwagon.

[Stormchaser]

I feel like we know what we have in Knight so I chose him. I also think he will be called up at some point this season so I graded him better than the others.

[Savvy27]

Went with Ferland. I like Knight and Agostino and Kulak, but I am excited to see what Ferland can bring. He was looking great before the injury. He strikes me as a Kyle Clifford type with better hands and creativity. Hopefully he'll be able to translate his skills to the NHL and the Flames can put him to use to build a tougher group up front.

[Neeper]

Ferland. He has such a unique skill set that we desperately need, to be a complete team in the future.

[rollie619]

Knight until he's gone as he's nearly a sure thing bottom six nhler. *knock on wood*

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by codynw

What makes you think Wotherspoon should have been ahead of Gaudreau, Bennett, Baertschi, Poirier, Granlund or Klimchuk? I could see Reinhart, but he shouldn't be above the other ones. The Flames just have really weak defensive depth.

Voted Ferland again this round. I think he has a chance to be a good top 6 winger.

It's just my opinion, but I like him better than Granlund or Klimchuk. Probably haven't seen enough of Klimchuk to be fair, but Granlund will be hard pressed to find his spot in the NHL. Not enough offense to likely be a top 6 player, not enough grit to likely be a bottom 6 player. I really like Granlund, but I don't see a long NHL future for him.

Wotherspoon I can see right now having a 10-12 year career barring significant injury. He's the kind of guy that goes unheralded, but is necessary for a championship team. He won't add a lot of offense, but he can play in any situation defensively, and has good enough instincts offensively to help drive the play forward. He's not a flashy guy, but he does nearly everything right, as we saw by his nearly seamless call up last year in, remember this, his FIRST professional season. Defensemen rarely look that good at his age. He's going to be part of a shutdown pairing in the top 4 for sure, and could likely play top 2 minutes if he keeps developing his game. Very, very underrated player IMO.

But you don't have to agree with me, just stating my case since you asked.

[RyZ]

Kulak again today, Big Rig tomorrow.

[djsFlames]

It's between Kulak/Ferland/Smith

I'm still trying to decide...

Edit: As important as an offensive top 4 d-man is in my mind, I think Ferland is vastly underrated and was on a good tear in the AHL before injury (over a PPG in a stretch of 11 or 12 games), he may just be our own Lucic-lite if he can put it together. That's an important player. Ferland for me. Kulak next probably.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The logic is sound, but there are one or two forwards left on the list who realistically make a bigger impact. If Ferland or Smith develop into 2nd/3rd line tweeners, I would argue that this is potentially a much more valuable contribution. Size, skill, speed, and a mean streak are a tantalising and volatile combination of attributes. Even if one of these players can harness that potential in a third-line role, he becomes an indispensable core player. If one of them does not look out of place on the second line, then this could arguably make him one of the most valuable players on the team.

Yeah, totally fair. My feeling is it's a rare 2nd liner who makes as much impact as an average 2nd pairing D, but they exist. At that point, for me, it's a matter of how likely that is to happen. Ferland's injury trouble and Smith's "I hardly know ye" put them just below Kulak for me.

It's pretty dang close at this point.

[robbie111]

Went with Ferland as I think his floor is top 6 power forward. Don't see Kulak or Knight making as much of an impact as Ferland.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by robbie111

Went with Ferland as I think his floor is top 6 power forward. Don't see Kulak or Knight making as much of an impact as Ferland.

Some guy on Edmonton Puck with have this as his signature for the next 10 years as a prime example of the rose coloured glasses Flames Fans wear when looking at their prospects.

[Vulcan]

Kulak again for me. He was good enough to win a spot with the Heat for the playoffs, so that puts him at a level with Poirier in accomplishments. Great stats and great shot as well.

Knight and Ferland deserve some love as well. Knight was Baertschi's centre when Sven had his hot streak and he has good size and skills as well. Ferland loses points because of his injury, so it's harder to say if he would have continued his pace. I just don't know enough about Agostino and nothing seemed to stand out for me but he could change my mind easily.

[Nehkara]

Agostino deserves it. He's playing that well.

[Yrebmi]

2013/2014
Rd1 249/ 495
Rd2 151/ 390
Rd3 191/ 378
Rd4 230/ 323
Rd5 279/ 321
Rd6 260/ 317
Rd7 260/ 293
Rd8 269/ 350
Rd9 199/ 381
Rd10 206/ 331 * 2014 rd 9/10 declared tie. 331 votes in subsequent run off
Rd11 223/ 369
Rd12 199/ 276 * 2013 rd 11 was 3 way tie. 199 is run off vote and counts for rd 12 and 13
Rd13 199/ 295 * 2013 rd 11 was 3 way tie. 199 is run off vote and counts for rd 12 and 13
Rd14 209/ ---


2013 rd 1-13 average votes per round 223
2014 rd 1-13 average votes per round 331

Interesting to see fan interest in prospects take such a leap.
(allowing that some increase could be due to increased CP membership)

PS. there has to be an easier way to post an excel list?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Stanathan

Still unclear what criteria is to be used when voting. All my votes were based in who I thought was going to have the biggest impact for the Flames in the future. It seems like many posters are voting for who is closest to being an NHLer at this point in time.

I thought about this for a while and it's a little of both for me. I don't put 'higher ceiling' above 'NHL readiness' unless I'm certain they can reach that ceiling. Kanzig vs Kulak is a good matchup to show that. I think Kanzig can be like Chara, but even after looking good he could still bust at this point - Kulak I'm more certain that he's Brodie clone with a heavier shot, so I'd rate Kulak above Kanzig.

In terms of positioning, all else being equal....for me the status quo goes:

1.) Top 6 Forward
2.) Top Pairing Defenseman
4.) Starting Goalie
5.) #3-5 Defensemen
6.) Bottom 6 Forward
7.) Bottom 2 Defensemen

[BlackWallStreet]

Went with BIG, Keegan kanZIG

[djsFlames]

Corban is not / will not be a high impact player, he's got a decent floor, but will more than likely be a grinder if a player at all. I don't know why he's eating up votes when there are players on the board that have the potential to be impact players.

eg: Ferland. Isn't a guy with the tools to be a 2nd line power forward that can fight more valuable than a bottom 6 forward (and IMO 3) forward?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Wow, three way tie.

[mile]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Corban is not / will not be a high impact player, he's got a decent floor, but will more than likely be a grinder if a player at all. I don't know why he's eating up votes when there are players on the board that have the potential to be impact players.

eg: Ferland. Isn't a guy with the tools to be a 2nd line power forward that can fight more valuable than a bottom 6 forward (and IMO 3) forward?

Well clearly people have different opinions and insights on these players. What is the point of running a poll if everyone viewed it the same way?

For example, PMM has watched Knight in Abbotsford and thinks he can be a top two line player. He isn't a bottom 6 player in everyone's eyes. With Ferland, some people don't see him as a 2nd line power forward (I personally lean towards seeing him as one though).

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Corban is not / will not be a high impact player, he's got a decent floor, but will more than likely be a grinder if a player at all. I don't know why he's eating up votes when there are players on the board that have the potential to be impact players.

eg: Ferland. Isn't a guy with the tools to be a 2nd line power forward that can fight more valuable than a bottom 6 forward (and IMO 3) forward?

Corban's quite the opposite of a grinder. He rarely goes out of his way to be physical. He's an offensive player first and foremost.

Knight had one of the best seasons out of any Flames rookie in the last 10 years. Ferland is awesome and if he ever recovers fully from his injury, he's going to be a hell of a player. But right now, there's no question in my mind that Knight has proven he's the best prospect left on the board.

Obviously, that's just my opinion and I'm biased, but Ferland hasn't proved half of what Corban has. A full, healthy could change that for Ferland though. I still have high hopes for that kid.