Friedman's 30 thoughts now on Sportsnet

[edn88]

Glad to see these again...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...d-summer-news/

Check out #13 for a little love for Johnny

[PeteMoss]

I do wonder if #14 is the Flames getting some stuff out there about him going to the AHL being ok.

I know some people here will have a meltdown if he goes down, but it isn't the end of the world.

[mile]

Wouldn't surprise me if Baertschi or Granlund made the team before Johnny.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I do wonder if #14 is the Flames getting some stuff out there about him going to the AHL being ok.

I know some people here will have a meltdown if he goes down, but it isn't the end of the world.

It's the right thing to do. Let him compete for a championship in the AHL, then bring him up next season. Hell, I'd be happy if Sven was left down there as well.

Can Poirier play in the AHL this season?

FORWARDS
Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Bill Arnold ($0.888m) / Emile Poirier ($0.894m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Markus Granlund ($0.768m) / Max Reinhart ($0.618m)
Kenneth Agostino ($0.845m) / Corban Knight ($0.900m) / Michael Ferland ($0.612m)
David Wolf ($0.868m) / Josh Jooris ($0.925m) / Ben Hanowski ($0.851m)
Bryce Van Brabant ($0.913m) / Turner Elson ($0.565m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) / Corey Potter ($0.700m)
Patrick Sieloff ($0.894m) / John Ramage ($0.690m)
Keegan Kanzig ($0.662m) / Brett Kulak ($0.657m)
Ryan Culkin ($0.657m) /

GOALTENDERS
Joni Ortio ($0.600m)
Brad Thiessen ($0.550m)

That could be a very, very good AHL team in Adirondack.

[djsFlames]

I don't know what he's talking about at #14... no way would any here anyays feel it's a failure. I know many are in fact hoping he spends time there.

However I personally feel that because of the lack of high end skill/finish on the Flames roster (no cammalleri) that just like Monahan last year (lack of centres) he'll wind up on the team anyways. I'll be a bit irked if he gets cut (especially if he continues this play) but won't consider it a "failure".

[djsFlames]

Sven would have to have a HUGE camp to get in before Johnny, don't kid yourself.

Granlund though I would put a step ahead in terms of NHL readiness. He's our most ready prospect.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It's the right thing to do. Let him compete for a championship in the AHL, then bring him up next season. Hell, I'd be happy if Sven was left down there as well.

You can't look at this as just a black and white decision. Could it be the right thing? Yes. Is it definitely the right thing? Not at all.

If Johnny puts up a point per game in pre-season, they would look pretty ridiculous sending him down.

[djsFlames]

I have this nagging hunch that he puts up over a point a game in the exhibitions, and still gets sent down, at least for the first few weeks. Brad's emphasis on not rushing kids makes me think he's gonna hold Johnny down as long as possible simply because of the size/strength factor. Having already proven himself in the AHL, I think Granlund is the favourite within the current management to make it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by edn88

Glad to see these again...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...d-summer-news/

Check out #13 for a little love for Johnny

It bears mentioning that the source of the quote in Friedman's article was an anonymous scout/manager from another NHL team—this was not an in-house assessment.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Sven would have to have a HUGE camp to get in before Johnny, don't kid yourself...

I would actually expect that more realistically it is the other way around. Since Baertschi already has a major edge in pro experience, I think that Gaudreau would have to have a huge camp to supplant him. All things being equal it's an easier decision for the Flames to send Gaudreau to the A than it is Baertschi.

Of course, I also think that there is a very realistic possibility that Gaudreau forces their hand, and plays so good that they have to add him to the starting day roster.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I do wonder if #14 is the Flames getting some stuff out there about him going to the AHL being ok.

I know some people here will have a meltdown if he goes down, but it isn't the end of the world.

I'm not sure that's true at all. I know there are some that are very high on him (myself included) but most people I've seen are expecting him to spend at least some time in the AHL.

I'm of the opinion that he'll end up starting with the big club and either stick or be up and down a few times, but that's just my inclination. It's not an expectation that will have me personally angered at management or anything.

Most seem to be on board with taking time with all the prospects.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I do wonder if #14 is the Flames getting some stuff out there about him going to the AHL being ok...

I seriously doubt that Friedman would ever publish a propaganda piece at the behest of a team. From what I heard on the radio today and based on what always appears in his "30 Thoughts," these are his own very strong feelings on the matter of AHL development.

[bubbsy]

if i were to put my money on things, i'd say:
- Baertchi has a good camp and makes the flames
- Gaudreau has a good camp, but starts with the heat, but is wiht the flames before xmas

- i wouldn't be shocked to see granlund make the team and center that 4th line, or play in place of any injured C.

[bubbsy]

i really feel gaudreau playing against pro players in the AHL would help him get accustomed to the speed/size of the game. I'm not saying he's not ready for it or that he'd struggle at the NHL, but getting a month or so in, and then assessing seems logical to me.

Baertchi has a more inside track on starting with the big team in my opinion.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm not too worried about whether Johnny Hockey makes the Flames roster or not. There's a process and I have faith the organization will bring him along the right way. Baertschi has a lot more on the line in this camp and according to reports he's in good shape and prepared to do what it takes to make the team.

[djsFlames]

In no way does Sven have an edge going in. Even with the experience factor, Sven didn't do much to rectify the issue management expressed with him last fall. He had an alright season (started lousy), and improved marginally from what I heard, but wasn't a leader on the team when he should've been, esp in the playoffs. Johnny and Sven are the same age, and league experience aside, I think Johnny backchecks harder and better than Sven already. And I think the maturity factor is in JG's favour - he's humble and looks very willing to learn. I think Sven still has issues to sort out, and needs to emerge a top player in the farm team while addressing the 200ft game issues, so I don't think sending him down would be an issue at all. Johnny dominates every level he's played at, meanwhile committing at both ends of the ice to the extent that a player of his size can.

Experience doesn't mean #### when you don't make a conscious and willing changes to your game that the management have laid out for you that are required to make the next level, and when you make comments like "im sticking to my game, because that makes me good" (or whatever it was). Based on that, Sven has much larger obstacles in order to change the minds of the guys watching from above, than Johnny, who simply has to keep convincing, which seems to be a continual habit for him.

[sempuki]

Johnny will start the season in the AHL regardless of how good his camp is. The only question is how long he stays there. I have a feeling he'll be a fixture in the NHL before the season's out.

I really hope Sven makes the team out of camp, because if he doesn't, and he goes to the baby-Flames and gets outperformed again it may be the beginning of the end of the road.

Granlund seems to have the mental edge, he's an NHLer by next season for sure.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I wouldn't mind both Johnny and Sven playing in Adirondack. If they do not play well enough to get top 6 minutes in the NHL, let both LW's get the 1/2 spot in Adirondack, where they'll get the most playing time. If a rookie should come up, I'd love to see a little bit of Granlund/Reinhart unless Johnny is tearing it up in the AHL.

[calgarygeologist]

I don't think Sven is getting a spot on the team. In my opinion, he under-performed in the AHL last year (despite some stellar play at times) and he was a huge disappointed during his time with the Flames. He might get the occasional call-up but not a starting role. He lacks consistency.

[Blaster86]

If he were on my team, I'd let Gaudreau start in the AHL and if he's doing well make him the first call up. Why rush him in? It's the approach I hope the Canucks take with guys like Horvat and have taken with Shinkaruk.