[News] With the 54th overall pick the Flames select RW Hunter Smith

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Reminds me some of Chris Simon. Can be a big ugly nasty winger on a third line that can score 10-15 goals, more if he's riding shotgun on a higher line or getting PP time.

Yeah, that may actually be a pretty good comparison.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

He really broke out last year, perhaps he is a late bloomer? If he became a decent 2nd line RW, that would be great.

Meh, couple things you need to keep in mind about Smith is that while this is his draft +1 year it's actually his draft eligible +2 year and he plays on a powerhouse team (He's 8th on his team in scoring... or 6th if you don't want to include the guys above him that were midseason pick-ups)... considering his age, size, and quality of teammate advantages you'd want to see more from him in terms of counting stats if he has legit top six potential.

I think Sureloss has the right of it. Upside is probably more that of a bottom sixer that get's some PP special team play as the screener/deflector who jams in short rebounds. So a David Moss type when he was here.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Commandant

I interviewed Hunter Smith following his three point night last night. We also talked about his time in Calgary's training camp.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/09/...ront-presence/

Missed this article when it was posted, but thought this was funny in hindsight:

I also asked Smith about the Generals scoring 9 goals in two nights, all in the third period of their games, and what was leading to the result. Smith stated, “I don’t know why exactly we are scoring all our goals in the third, but I do know that the team never gives up. That said, its probably not a good thing to always play from behind, as you won’t always be able to come back. Good teams will shut you down eventually. Tonight we were able to feed off each others’ energy, as well as the fact we still had some beefs with Mississauga from last year’s hard-fought playoff series and that fuelled the Flame tonight.”

Sounds like he'll fit right in.

[bubbsy]

power forwards can have some definite growing pains when they go pro, and the size/physical advantage isn't so glaring.

i guess my question with regards to smith is how different is he than ferland? How similar/different is their development thus far?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Reminds me some of Chris Simon. Can be a big ugly nasty winger on a third line that can score 10-15 goals, more if he's riding shotgun on a higher line or getting PP time.

I'm thinking more Tomas Holmstrom. He didn't do much more than stand in front of the net and score ugly goals, but he was really effective at it.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i guess my question with regards to smith is how different is he than ferland? How similar/different is their development thus far?

Ferland was pushing a 100pt pace at a comparable stage in his career.

Ferland has always projected to have a much higher ceiling, and has a much more versatile tool kit that Smith. Ferland doesn't need to stand in the crease to score.

Doesn't mean Smith won't make the NHL, or that Ferland will, but Ferland is a lot more likely to be better than a replacement-level player.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Smith is an intriguing prospect. He plays the power forward style and looks like a great third/second line guy who could become one hell of a first line power forward player if his game evolves. His progression isn't that great but I don't see it dropping as he moves up either, it could just be that he plays that well against any competition.

You're expecting quite a bit if you see him as a potential top 6, nevermind 1st line forward.

A lot of people on this board did and still make fun of the Oilers for drafting Mitch Moroz early on in the 2nd round in 2012, but at the same age, he outproduced Smith by a small margin.

[Poe969]

I'm not really expecting much of Smith at all. He could be a good NHL'er or he could just never pan out. I still think that if he continues his play and doesn't lose a step playing against other grown men he could be a decent third/second line guy (third line guy who can step up to the second at times or play some pp time).

[Fire]

Doesn't it really come down to whether his skating will be good enough for the NHL or not? If it is, he'll be a bottom 6 player, maybe middle-6 player, if not he'll be a career AHLer.

[Enoch Root]

Guys that big often take a while to grow into their bodies and get co-ordinated. Skating is tough in that regard.

Smith has some skill - more than some of you seem to think. If he can continue to develop, with that 6'7" frame, he could be a homerun pick.

If he becomes a 4th liner, that's a very good pick. Any NHL player is a good pick in the 2nd round. If he becomes anything more than that - say a 2nd or 3rd liner, that's a homerun.

I for one, am very excited about his prospects. I am a little disappointed that his production didn't jump a bit more this year, but that could just as easily be about how he is being utilized as it is about his progression.

We will see him at camp again in the summer - looking forward to seeing how his skating is coming along.

[PeteMoss]

Very likely he only has 4th line upside in the pros.

But I will say in regards to his point totals, the fact they loaded up hasn't really helped him out much. Without the additions he's likely playing with Dal Colle/Cassells.

If you take just their Oshawa stats - he's scoring at a similar rate to McCarron who was a 1st round pick.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I'm thinking more Tomas Holmstrom. He didn't do much more than stand in front of the net and score ugly goals, but he was really effective at it.

If Hunter Smith became a Holmstrom, he would be among the best Flames 2nd rounders ever.

[edslunch]

If people are generally okay with Smith being a third or fourth liner as a second round pick how do they feel about the three second-round picks we have this year? Similar expectations?

[mile]

Originally Posted by edslunch

If people are generally okay with Smith being a third or fourth liner as a second round pick how do they feel about the three second-round picks we have this year? Similar expectations?

No, this draft is apparently deeper than last years. I expect more risks taken if they keep the picks and go for players with higher ceilings. Preferably more defensemen.

Last year doesn't really have anything to do with my expectations for this year.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

You're expecting quite a bit if you see him as a potential top 6, nevermind 1st line forward.

A lot of people on this board did and still make fun of the Oilers for drafting Mitch Moroz early on in the 2nd round in 2012, but at the same age, he outproduced Smith by a small margin.

You made fun of this pick yesterday, seemingly writing it (and the McDonald pick) off as a wasted picks for Calgary.

Way too soon to be doing that, so it's a bit rich listening to you criticize others for their early projections.

[CroFlames]

Thought Hunter looked pretty darn good at the rookie tournament. Like previous posters said: if he turns into a Holmstrom, we are laughing.

I like his mean streak. I don't like how the NHL is getting wimpier every year.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's pretty meh. We'll really have to see how he does at the AHL level.

It's pretty meh for an average size player but a point a game from a monster sized man is pretty impressive as it's not like he's Chris Dingman slow. Even if he can't make it as a top 6 forward he could be a force as a bottom 6 guy and net presence on the powerplay.

[MrMastodonFarm]

It's pretty interesting how, despite being a draft re-enter, everyone seemed high on Hunter. Plenty of scouting resources had him going in the 2nd round. Was at the Doctors office just this morning, he had last years draft preview sitting on the table, both Hunter and Mason MacDonald were in the 50's IIRC.

Holmstrom is probably too high in terms of offensive potential but it could be he's just a big guy filling in and a late bloomer compared to his draft peers.

[tvp2003]

It's hard to compare him to other prospects because it sounds like he is very much a late bloomer (i.e. not your typical trajectory from junior to the minors to the NHL).

His size, speed, and physicality all suggest he's a guy who is hard to play against, which is good. His offensive skill set will be what determines whether he can be a top six or more of a third/fourth line mucker with a PP presence. I'd be happy either way.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

It's pretty interesting how, despite being a draft re-enter, everyone seemed high on Hunter. Plenty of scouting resources had him going in the 2nd round. Was at the Doctors office just this morning, he had last years draft preview sitting on the table, both Hunter and Mason MacDonald were in the 50's IIRC.

Holmstrom is probably too high in terms of offensive potential but it could be he's just a big guy filling in and a late bloomer compared to his draft peers.

Isn't he also really close birthday wise to being a 2014 puck too? He could be a good bottom 6 guy I think. You have to have hands to play at all in the NHL, and he at least can score. The thing that struck me at the penticton tournament is the Bambi on ice skating stride. I wonder how strong he is on his skates