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

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Bouma was drafted as an 18 year old in 2008 and then back for Vancouver for 2 more seasons. Joined the Heat for the 2010 playoffs past his 20th Birthday March 3 2010. That gave him 4 full seasons in the WHL... was he eligible to go back to the WHL for another year?

Yes, he was. He wasn't an overaged player in his 4th year. Overaged status is based on if you're over the age not on seasons played.

Yes, drafted when he was 18 years old, his birthday was 3 months prior to draft day but that was his 17 year old season.
2008-09 he was 18
and 2009-2010 he was 19.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Didn't we go through the same thing with Ferland? Struggled at the pro level, sent him back to junior to dominate and then worked his way back up.

Seems to have worked out ok for him. Wouldn't be worried at all to see Smith make the jump next year.

We do have to be careful when comparing a guy like Hunter Smith to Ferland.

In my opinion, if NHL teams felt confident that Ferland's head would be where it is today at this age when he was drafted...He would have been a 2nd round pick at the latest. I don't think teams ever questioned his physical skills and ability, but there was always risk associate with the off ice stuff. Today he seems to be on a great path in terms of the off ice stuff and has himself set up to be a really successful NHL player if he can stay on that path.

Hunter Smith still went in the 2nd round in his draft year. I think his character and work ethic has been less of a concern to NHL teams as his NHL level skills. At this point the AHL in my opinion is the place where he needs to be for skill development.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

In my opinion, if NHL teams felt confident that Ferland's head would be where it is today at this age when he was drafted...He would have been a 2nd round pick at the latest. I don't think teams ever questioned his physical skills and ability, but there was always risk associate with the off ice stuff.

...That's got very little if anything to do with Ferland's draft position. He was a 4th, maybe 3rd liner his draft year and his countables reflected it.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

...That's got very little if anything to do with Ferland's draft position. He was a 4th, maybe 3rd liner his draft year and his countables reflected it.

What were Milan Lucic's stats in his draft year? What was he in his draft year in terms of position in the lineup? Where was he drafted? Johnny Gaudreau was a first line top scorer in the USHL in his draft year where was he drafted?

If it was as simple as taking a players role and stats in his draft year the draft would look drastically different than it actually does.

There still is a lot of projection that has to occur, and a players character and background is a factor because teams rely on data like that for projecting a player. Also how a player looked to start the year and finish the year is a big factor too.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

We do have to be careful when comparing a guy like Hunter Smith to Ferland.

In my opinion, if NHL teams felt confident that Ferland's head would be where it is today at this age when he was drafted...He would have been a 2nd round pick at the latest. I don't think teams ever questioned his physical skills and ability, but there was always risk associate with the off ice stuff. Today he seems to be on a great path in terms of the off ice stuff and has himself set up to be a really successful NHL player if he can stay on that path.

Hunter Smith still went in the 2nd round in his draft year. I think his character and work ethic has been less of a concern to NHL teams as his NHL level skills. At this point the AHL in my opinion is the place where he needs to be for skill development.

Hunter Smith was one of the most improved players in the OHL this year. I think spending time with the flames in the pre-season really helped his game. He could make huge strides over the next season or two.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

We do have to be careful when comparing a guy like Hunter Smith to Ferland.

In my opinion, if NHL teams felt confident that Ferland's head would be where it is today at this age when he was drafted...He would have been a 2nd round pick at the latest. I don't think teams ever questioned his physical skills and ability, but there was always risk associate with the off ice stuff. Today he seems to be on a great path in terms of the off ice stuff and has himself set up to be a really successful NHL player if he can stay on that path.

Hunter Smith still went in the 2nd round in his draft year. I think his character and work ethic has been less of a concern to NHL teams as his NHL level skills. At this point the AHL in my opinion is the place where he needs to be for skill development.

Ferland was drafted after 1 season - 61 WHL games 28 pts and 15 playoff games 4 pts.

Hunter Smith 3 seasons - 109 OHL games 42 pts and 17 playoff games 11 pts

Hunter Smith also has the "jankowski" factor being 6-6 as a 17 year old. If he grows as much as Jankowski has to he will be playing in the NHL at 240-250. Ferland is just normal big, Smith is scary big.

[cannon7]

Smith needs to get a hold of that skating coach Bouma used last summer. Bouma credits that for much of his success last season and if Smith can improve his footspeed he could very well develop into a Lucic type player. He has decent hands when he's in the right spot, just needs to get to the right spot at the right time.

Our RW depth in the AHL isn't much better than our NHL depth, so I wouldn't be surprised if Smith slots in on the 2nd/3rd line RW to start.

[AcGold]

So what league or team is he likely in? Stockton Heat? Hitmen?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by AcGold

So what league or team is he likely in? Stockton Heat? Hitmen?

Either Oshawa Generals or Stockton Heat.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by AcGold

So what league or team is he likely in? Stockton Heat? Hitmen?

Hitmen? That's WHL. He's already in the equivalent of that, the OHL. The Hitmen are a junior team. The Flames own them but then don't have an affiliation with them, juniors aren't a farm team.

It'll probably be Stockton in the AHL. Could go to the ECHL to start a well, and returning to Oshawa of the OHL as an overaged player is an option too.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Hitmen? That's WHL. He's already in the equivalent of that, the OHL. The Hitmen are a junior team. The Flames own them but then don't have an affiliation with them, juniors aren't a farm team.

It'll probably be Stockton in the AHL. Could go to the ECHL to start a well, and returning to Oshawa of the OHL as an overaged player is an option too.

There is an outside chance he makes the NHL too. He didn't necessarily look out of place at the young stars tourney. I'm not sure who he replaces at this point, but I do foresee some moves this summer.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

There is an outside chance he makes the NHL too. He didn't necessarily look out of place at the young stars tourney. I'm not sure who he replaces at this point, but I do foresee some moves this summer.

I don't see him sniffing NHL time one bit. We have plenty of options before him.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Hitmen? That's WHL. He's already in the equivalent of that, the OHL. The Hitmen are a junior team. The Flames own them but then don't have an affiliation with them, juniors aren't a farm team.

It'll probably be Stockton in the AHL. Could go to the ECHL to start a well, and returning to Oshawa of the OHL as an overaged player is an option too.

So why is Kanzig with the Hitmen then?

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by AcGold

So why is Kanzig with the Hitmen then?

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/20...-keegan-kanzig

Greg Chase is no longer a weapon for the Calgary Hitmen.

They traded the talented junior to the Victoria Royals late Wednesday night for 19-year-old Calgary Flames prospect Keegan Kanzig and a second-round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by AcGold

So why is Kanzig with the Hitmen then?

He was traded to the Hitmen by Victoria.


It has been very rare in the 20 years the Hitmen have been around for them to acquire a player previously drafted by the Flames.

I don't even think it's possible for an OHL team to make a trade with a WHL team.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by getbak

I don't even think it's possible for an OHL team to make a trade with a WHL team.

I don't think they can either. Only way for an OHL player to jump from the WHL or the QMJHL is to clear waivers by having all the OHL teams pass on him and then signing with a team in the other league.

[undercoverbrother]

Smith is a big unit, the type of body that might be able to level the size playing field. I think that will go a long way to helping come next fall. Flames need some meat, the organization is saying it needs some meat.

I don't reckon he is ready yet.

[tvp2003]

I know the odds of them all making the starting roster are relatively low, but can you imagine a top 9 in a few years that includes:

6'6 Hunter Smith
6'5 Joe Colborne
6'3 Mark Jankowski
6'2 Micheal Ferland

Size, speed, and in the case of Smith and Ferland, a definite physical edge...

[dammage79]

Smith should be AHL bound. He's NHL size ready now. What he needs is to hit the weights in the off season and match up against adults. Another year in Jr's would likely stunt his development.

[AcGold]

You forgot the tallest of them all. Kanzig has a chance too, if he can learn to skate.