Rank The D Prospects

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

are you even suggesting that all GM's and NHL teams do not have some sort of team toughness measurement and standard that they are following? I would hope that it is more extensive and the statistics more accurate and analysis more sophisticated than the little spare time exercise that I put up.


It is just an accident that all successful teams have a few small talented guys surrounded by beef that allows them to use their skills to win hockey games?

Jesus Christ. Did you invent sunshine and air too? Was water wet before you called it so?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

are you even suggesting that all GM's and NHL teams do not have some sort of team toughness measurement and standard that they are following? I would hope that it is more extensive and the statistics more accurate and analysis more sophisticated than the little spare time exercise that I put up.


It is just an accident that all successful teams have a few small talented guys surrounded by beef that allows them to use their skills to win hockey games?

[cannon7]

Kylington is probably near the top in terms of upside, along with guys like Hickey. But in terms of realistically reaching that potential he's middle of the road among our prospects. I'm surprised to see Wotherspoon ranked so low, he's on the bubble as an NHLer. Kylington on the other hand is likely 4-5 years away. He's a worthwhile gamble, but he's still a big gamble.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Wotherspoon is criminally underrated on CP.

He's still closer to the NHL than any defenseman in the system.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

There's a clear top 5 in Kylington, Hickey, Andersson, Morrisson and Wotherspoon. All have top 4 potential imo.

Thats right, we only need two of those 5 to be good 3-4 dmen - 4 to 5 years from now we are likely Hamilton-Brodie as top 2, Gio/one of those guys likely as third pairing.

Instant depth on Defense...love it

[Roof-Daddy]

Damn. My thread got ricardodw'ed.

Worst part is i have him on ignore so half the thread is invisible to me.

A big thanks though to everyone quoting him like you guys always do.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Wotherspoon is criminally underrated on CP.

He's still closer to the NHL than any defenseman in the system.

I agree that hes probably the closest but i dont think he has even close to the best upside. At least thats why i have him lower in my rankings.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Wotherspoon is criminally underrated on CP.

He's still closer to the NHL than any defenseman in the system.

But he's got really no 1st pairing or pp upside

[Vulcan]

Just a general ranking of our best defence prospects.

1. Wotherspoon
2. Hickey
3. Culkin
4. Morrison
5. Rafikov
6. Kulak
7. Andersson
8. Kylington
9. Kanzig
10. Sieloff
11. Ramage
12. Gilmore
13. Ollas-Mattsson
14. Bruce

There's is lots of competition and lots of room for movement with any list though.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

wow... there are a lot of guys here that are basically calling Trevling and the Flames management stupid in talent evaluation.

They picked Andersen at pick #53 and passed on Kylington.... full stop. Then 6 other teams passed on Kylington... 2 that picked d-men.

Honestly, I don't know how you formulate some of this garbage. Pretty clear that management saw two guys on the board at 53 that they really liked, and went with the one that presented less of a risk. With no other picks in the first or second round at the time, there's no way to justify swinging for the fences with a boom or bust player.

Then, when the opportunity presented itself to take the second guy as well, they went for it. It was an area of significant weakness within the organization, so why not take a flyer for what is essentially a 3rd rounder? I can't say I've ever watched Kylington, but many scouting reports seem to agree that if he gets his head on straight people will wonder how he fell all the way to a team that picked up Dougie Hamilton that same day. That has me really excited.

But please, continue to tell me why that makes me or anyone else praising the shrewdness of management here an idiot. How does Kylington rank on that RGI scale of yours, by the way?

[GranteedEV]

Kulak is also way underrated on CP. He gets sent down to the ECHL and everyone writes him off for it. Even though ECHL should be a similar level of play to the league Hickey played in, arguably higher as a lot of NCAA stars end up there.

[Red Menace]

I like Worherspoon to a degree, but many have predicted he will be a top 4 d-man, while I have never seen him as any more than a #5 at best.
He is a nice prospect to have, but him having any significant impact on the Flames in his career is rather doubtful at this point.
(By significant I mean a player in the top half of your roster....the bottom half is rather expendable)

[Caged Great]

Players that have NHL upside

Andersson, Kylington, Wotherspoon, Morrison, Kulak, Culkin, Hickey, Rafikov

I'd rank them in terms of potential

Kylington
Hickey
Morrison
Andersson
Kulak
Culkin
Wotherspoon
Rafikov

All the other guys are long shots.

Spoon is rated low because his offensive game is not anywhere near as good as those above him. He's also the most likely to cement a spot in the NHL, but more as a 5-6 guy, where those above him have top 4 potential. We are now actually deep in defense. Now we need centers and right wingers coming through (most of the C's have graduated to the AHL except Jankowski, so there is a void beyond him)

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Players that have NHL upside

Andersson, Kylington, Wotherspoon, Morrison, Kulak, Culkin, Hickey, Rafikov

I'd rank them in terms of potential

Kylington
Hickey
Morrison
Andersson
Kulak
Culkin
Wotherspoon
Rafikov

All the other guys are long shots.

Spoon is rated low because his offensive game is not anywhere near as good as those above him. He's also the most likely to cement a spot in the NHL, but more as a 5-6 guy, where those above him have top 4 potential. We are now actually deep in defense. Now we need centers and right wingers coming through (most of the C's have graduated to the AHL except Jankowski, so there is a void beyond him)

So do you foresee a trade of D-man depth for forward depth this summer? Seems like this might be the time.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Now that we've been schooled using the RDSI here's my take on our defense prospects.

1. Wotherspoon - nice blend of skills and physicality. Should be the player that makes Russell expendable.
2. Hickey - same as Wotherspoon, except a few years away. could be a really nice replacement for Giordano down the road.
3. Morrison - solid guy that should be able to step in and play in the #5-7 slots.
4. Rafikov - a possible game changer on our blue line for different reasons. Plays mean and dirty. You need a guy like this.
5. Culkin - a future Wideman replacement?
6. Gilmore - plays the same game that Giordano does. Reminds me of Gio a lot actually. High hopes here.
7. Andersson - all the right skills, just needs to show jam.
8. Ollas-Mattsson - big guy that can skate. Big good!
9. Kylington - has to prove this year was an outlier.
10. Kulak - needs to stick in the AHL for the season.
11. Ramage - his window is closing quickly. Bottom pairing guy at best, but love his attitude and leadership.
12. Sieloff - needs to be a top performer this year in the AHL. Too many guys coming in that can steal his opportunity.
13. Kanzig - can't skate.
14. Bruce - who? Huge guy, but can he play?

[greentree]

Heartened to see a few lists with Kanzig in the top ten. He's been my favourite dark horse prospect since the Flames drafted him.

I'm 100% convinced he has the smarts, character and development trajectory (incl. Flames management support/belief) to be a solid shutdown 5/6 NHL regular. He obviously has great size and strength. The one remaining concern I have is his skating. He has improved in this area but is it enough? I don't know...still too early to tell. Very interested to see how he fares in Stockton this year.

[The Swedish Flame]

We have a prospect by the name of Sena Acolatse? Never heard of! Heading to HockeyDB.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by greentree

Heartened to see a few lists with Kanzig in the top ten. He's been my favourite dark horse prospect since the Flames drafted him.

I'm 100% convinced he has the smarts, character and development trajectory (incl. Flames management support/belief) to be a solid shutdown 5/6 NHL regular. He obviously has great size and strength. The one remaining concern I have is his skating. He has improved in this area but is it enough? I don't know...still too early to tell. Very interested to see how he fares in Stockton this year.

My problem with Kanzig is exactly that, his skating. He can barely keep up in the western league, I just don't see him ever making it. I'd love to be wrong on that, because he has everything else, but he's going to have to work real hard to make it.

[kehatch]

1. Hickey
2. Morrison
3. Andersson
4. Kylington
5. Wotherspoon
6. Culkin
7. Rafikov
8. Sieloff
9. Ollas-Mattsson
10. Kanzig
11. Kulak
12. Bruce
13. Cundari
14. Gilmour
15. Ramage

[dammage79]

Still cannot believe we got Hamilton and then robbed Kylington at 60. Such a total plundering of the weekend. And then Rasmus Andersson! I mean...if you were banking heavily on D men this is a total dream come true.

I really feel like they got who they wanted @15 anyways just late enough to keep the weary ones at bay down at 60. Total coup.