Which Prospect Are You Most Excited For?

[mile]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Nope, your average group of eight B-list prospects, none of whom were 1st rounders, and none of whom would fetch much more than 'future considerations' in a trade, are probably not going to generate at least a couple of decent NHLers. They will probably produce somewhere between zero and one full-time NHLer.

Usually zero.

Wotherspoon, a guy who is probably at most a full AHL season away from being an NHL regular and Morrison, a guy who drew considerable interest as a free agent wouldn't fetch anything more than future considerations? Nope.

There's at least couple guys who have a solid chance of being decent NHLers. In addition to the two above I also like Hickey, Culkin, and Kulak. Rafikov and Gilmour are wildcards. I think they all could make it.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Nope, your average group of eight B-list prospects, none of whom were 1st rounders, and none of whom would fetch much more than 'future considerations' in a trade, are probably not going to generate at least a couple of decent NHLers. They will probably produce somewhere between zero and one full-time NHLer.

Usually zero.

I'm not speaking about "your average group of eight prospects'" ....I'm speaking about that specific group, and I already admitted that I think they are under rated. Just my opinion, we shall see.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'm not speaking about "your average group of eight prospects'" ....I'm speaking about that specific group, and I already admitted that I think they are under rated. Just my opinion, we shall see.

Ah, I see. That's where we differ.

That looks to me like an extremely average-at-best group of prospects, and what I and many others consider to be the weakest aspect of the organization.

Wotherspoon, a guy who is probably at most a full AHL season away from being an NHL regular and Morrison, a guy who drew considerable interest as a free agent wouldn't fetch anything more than future considerations? Nope.

There's at least couple guys who have a solid chance of being decent NHLers. In addition to the two above I also like Hickey, Culkin, and Kulak. Rafikov and Gilmour are wildcards. I think they all could make it.

I swear to god I can smell the Kool-Aid through the screen when I read this.

[Five-hole]

Jeez, good thing the good vibes police showed up. Things were getting awful fan-like in here.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Not to derail, but out of curiousity, how many of our prospects would have made the top5 on our rankings say.. 2-4 years ago?
Crazy

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I swear to god I can smell the Kool-Aid through the screen when I read this.

Give it a rest.

[Stay Golden]

Bennett
Poirrer
Wotherspoon
Hickey

Sieloff i had hoped he would have shown the organization more promise in AHL.
I wonder if Agostino, Hanowski and Cundari will ever become NHL players.

[mile]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Ah, I see. That's where we differ.

That looks to me like an extremely average-at-best group of prospects, and what I and many others consider to be the weakest aspect of the organization.

I'm not too high on our organizational depth on defense myself, and consider it to be our biggest weakness. That is an average group and none of them have top pairing upside. But to say Wotherspoon or Morrison wouldn't get anything more than future considerations is an exaggeration. As for how many of them end up becoming decent NHLers, we will see - I think at least couple could.

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I swear to god I can smell the Kool-Aid through the screen when I read this.

What a constructive, thoughtful, A+ response to my post! =)

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Drew Shore gets crazy underrated on this board. Of all the players with the Flames org who spent time in the AHL this season, who had the best PP/G? Drew Shore. Who is well known for his great face off ability? Drew Shore. Who has size and is one of 3 RH shots among the Flames forwards? Drew Shore.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

Not to derail, but out of curiousity, how many of our prospects would have made the top5 on our rankings say.. 2-4 years ago?
Crazy

All of them lol

[Righteous1]

Merc Jenkovski

[T@T]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Morgan Klimchuk gets my vote. I think he'll turn out to be the 2nd line LW we've been looking for.

After watching him a little during the playoffs I think Hartley might call him Sven by accident.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

If we're debating who could be an NHL defenseman out of the group of prospects we have, well let's just say that they all could make it, but likely maybe only 2 will actually make it.

My money is on Wotherspoon and Morrison. Culkin seems to be a possibility with his good showing last year, but he needs to show that he can do it again, and improve on it. Sieloff, Kulak, Ramage, Kanzig, Gilmour, Hickey, Ollas-Mattson and Rafikov all have potential, but have a lot of work to do to be considered as legitimate NHL prospects. Only Eric Roy seems to be destined to be a career minor leaguer.

So here's the thing, while none of those guys are sure-fire blue-chippers, the sheer odds of having 2 out of a group of 11 decent prospects develop enough to make the NHL on a regular basis is not out of the question. In fact, I think it will be closer to 4 out of that group that will eventually make it.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Nope, your average group of eight B-list prospects, none of whom were 1st rounders, and none of whom would fetch much more than 'future considerations' in a trade, are probably not going to generate at least a couple of decent NHLers. They will probably produce somewhere between zero and one full-time NHLer.

Usually zero.

You seem to be hung up on "none of whom were 1st rounders" more than anything about their actual capabilities/limitations.

It's true that first-rounders are usually expected to make the NHL sooner than later round players, if at all.

But what do Duncan Kieth, Shea Weber, Mark Giordano, Zdeno Chara, TJ Brodie, Roman Josi, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Johnny Boychuk, Kris Letang, Kris Russell, Jake Muzzin, Johnny Oduya, Dennis Siedenberg, Chris Tanev have in common? They too were not first rounders. Dmen are not a position that you can project greatly based on draft position.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I don't ever think he was really an NHL-level prospect to start with.

If you can think the game at an NHL level, you will put up points in juniors just from making the correct plays on a routine basis.

Even as a shut-down defenceman, if you have the basic skills that a legit NHL-level talent requires, you will put up points from sound break-out passes, holding the puck in at the offensive blue line, etc.

If you are playing the USHL, and getting outscored by your GOALIE, you do not have the tools to be an NHLer.

I was thinking along the same lines, that he was not really a good 2nd round pick in the first place. I didn't even think of his production but just moreso that he's undersized for the style he plays

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I think Hickey needs some more lovin in this thread. He's projected to be a Brodie type player with a booming slap shot from the point to boot. His coach has already declared that Hickey will be an NHLer. From what I've seen, I tend to agree.

[madmike]

Hickey for me. I'm not counting Bennett, since he's pretty much a given.

Gillies, Poirier and Klimchuk are also in the picture.

[goodyear]

Jankowski and Poirier.

[heep223]

Darkhorse favourite is Austin Carroll. Haven't seen him play much but he's big, has snarl, has some measure of offensive upside, is RH and is trending in the right direction. If we had him, Ferland and Bouma mixed through the lineup I think this is what Burke has been talking about getting bigger, faster and tougher.

[cannon7]

Agostino had an amazing finish to his AHL season, if he keeps it up he'll be challenging for a spot next season. At the top of the list for an injury call-up on LW for sure.

Jankowski and Hickey really made names for themselves in the NCAA this year. Both are still likely a year away from going pro, but I'm still really excited to see what they can do.

If Poirier can have a strong camp, I think he's really close. His speed would make him a useful forechecker and penalty killer, so even if he's not in the top-six he still has a lot to offer. Him on a line with Ferland/Bouma could be really effective.

Gillies and Ortio are gonna be battling for the backup rolebehind Hiller and considering how this season went it is more of a tandem role -- so both should be ready in training camp. Hopefully that high ankle sprain sorts itself for Ortio over the summer as I think he's the closer of the two to make that jump.

Stockton is gonna be stocked up the next couple years as the youth movement continues.