Darren Haynes top 25 prospects

[shotinthebacklund]

http://flamesfrom80feet.blogspot.ca/

Interesting to see how this compared to our list.

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/08/2...kings-summary/

Couple drops in comparison. was surprised to see rasmus and Oliver this high.

[icarus]

McDonald ahead of Gillies is a big call.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I like this list for the most part but Janko at #15? I can understand having different opinions than me but how the hell can someone think Wotherspoon, Arnold or the two defensemen just drafted late in the 2nd round are better prospects than Jankowski at this point? There's others I disagree with ahead of him too, but those 4 were the ones that stood out the most.

The Kylington love is getting a little irritating. I was/am thrilled we got him when we did, but lets not kid ourselves, the kid is the definition of a longshot and is coming off of a TERRIBLE season. Went from being a potential top 5 pick to #60. I'm going to defer to the people employed by actual NHL teams and keep my expectations grounded. Pronman and Haynes are nuts to rate him so high based on what he's shown so far. Somehow him and Andersson are better than Klimchuk, a former 1st round pick who is progressing nicely. Makes no sense.

[Goodlad]

One important quote at the beginning of that article

For my rankings, I should note that this is not the order I expect players to ascend to the NHL, but rather it is sorted by the impact/role I expect that player to have when (or if) they do make it to the NHL.

I think that's likely one reason his list varies quite a bit from CP's. I think quite a few prospects in the CP poll benefited from being close to making the NHL (Ortio being an example). Also interesting to see how much higher he has Andersson and even Kylington, and how much lower Ortio, Ferland and Jankowski are. Bill Arnold ahead of Jankowski also intrigues me, and I could definitely see a case being made for that.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by icarus

McDonald ahead of Gillies is a big call.

Not really, IMO. Gillies is closer right now (and 2-3 yrs older) but MacDonalds upside is right there with Gillies. People are sleeping a little bit on MacDonald due to him playing on an averagish team in the high scoring QMJHL but he has great numbers for that league (better than Uber goalie prospect Zach Fucale, while being younger and on a far worse team) and is likely about to be the starter for the most difficult junior hockey team in the world to make in the Canadian WJHC squad. Make no mistake, McDonald is an absolutely elite G prospect in the hockey world with upside every bit as high as Gillies'.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by icarus

McDonald ahead of Gillies is a big call.

For me, Gillies is clearly our top goalie prospect.

But I love the fact that there are a lot of people that think Ortio is. And there is another lot of people that think MacDonald is.

That is awesome.

And I agree that Jankowski was low. Also Ferland is low, IMO.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Good list. Arnold would be too high and Jankowski too low for my taste, but it is interesting that he indicated that Janko wouldn't have even made the list last year (indicating that he did indeed see improvement).

I think it does show the good depth and overall improvement from prior years. Whether that depth will actually translate into impactful NHLers remains to be seen.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Not really, IMO. Gillies is closer right now (and 2-3 yrs older) but MacDonalds upside is right there with Gillies. People are sleeping a little bit on MacDonald due to him playing on an averagish team in the high scoring QMJHL but he has great numbers for that league (better than Uber goalie prospect Zach Fucale, while being younger and on a far worse team) and is likely about to be the starter for the most difficult junior hockey team in the world to make in the Canadian WJHC squad. Make no mistake, McDonald is an absolutely elite G prospect in the hockey world with upside every bit as high as Gillies'.

I'm going to be "that guy", but not necessarily the case for goaltending where Hockey Canada definitely has a problem with development in comparison to our peers in Sweden, USA and Finland. Something that culminated with the CHL banning Euro goalies from being picked in the import draft starting 2014.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by saillias

I'm going to be "that guy", but not necessarily the case for goaltending where Hockey Canada definitely has a problem with development in comparison to our peers in Sweden, USA and Finland. Something that culminated with the CHL banning Euro goalies from being picked in the import draft starting 2014.

Fair enough, there is no doubt that some of the other countries are Canadas equal in producing goalies right now, but that doesnt change the fact that McDonald was the first goalie taken in his draft class and hasn't regressed. You could make a case for him that he's seen as the best (or at very least top 2) goalies from his age group/draft class in the world right now.

[GranteedEV]

Unsurprising, but disappointing how low Jankowski is. I think a lot of people are going to be stunned how seamlessly Janko's going to jump to the big leagues, the bad college stats are going to be a blip on the radar once we see what he'll do with NHL talent on his wings.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Unsurprising, but disappointing how low Jankowski is. I think a lot of people are going to be stunned how seamlessly Janko's going to jump to the big leagues, the bad college stats are going to be a blip on the radar once we see what he'll do with NHL talent on his wings.

Janko played very well in the playoffs. If he can keep up that level of play for a full season, he will rise up the rankings.

[Vulcan]

Klimchuk

He has declared himself ready to turn pro but we'll see. An overage season in Brandon could still be in the offing. As the least hyped of the first rounders in 2013, every development camp Klimchuk reminds us not to forget about him. He's deadly when he gets the puck anywhere around the net.

IMO there is no way in hell Klimchuk goes back to junior. His only problem is that we've got too many young forwards vying for a job.

Oh yeah, he's got Jankowski about where he should be. I have him a little higher at 12th. He was supposed to be a scoring centre but he hasn't shown anything like that so far. It's a little early in his career for him to be downgraded to being a defensive player but so far that's all he's shown. A guy like Byron was a good scorer in junior and even in the AHL. It wasn't until he got to the NHL that he had to become a defensive player.

I favour players who are more proven over possible high end, so I have Ortio, Wotherspoon, and Arnold much higher ranked.

[ricardodw]

so based these picks are made on impact?

Ferland had perhaps the biggest impact on the Flames of all the Flames (veterans and prospects) winning their first playoff series since 2004 and he is ranked as our #10 impact players???

Outside of Bennett is there any prospect that you consider might have a chance to have the impact that Ferland had on the Canuck series on any playoff series.


Anyone who is soft-selling Ferland's playoff performance probably also thought that Gaudreau's world cup performance in the spring of 2014 was not a significant indicator of things to come.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

so based these picks are made on impact?

Ferland had perhaps the biggest impact on the Flames of all the Flames (veterans and prospects) winning their first playoff series since 2004 and he is ranked as our #10 impact players???

Outside of Bennett is there any prospect that you consider might have a chance to have the impact that Ferland had on the Canuck series on any playoff series.


Anyone who is soft-selling Ferland's playoff performance probably also thought that Gaudreau's world cup performance in the spring of 2014 was not a significant indicator of things to come.

I imagine he's taking his regular season into account as well. Unfortunately, Ferland wasn't great after his injury (and wasn't even that great in Adirondack). So, can he maintain the Canuck series level of performance (or near to it) consistently? I think it's a legit question.

After all, for every Dryden in the POs, there's a Druce.

[Poe969]

I think he means future impact. And I think he means that Ferland is likely a high energy third line guy who is important but a guy like Kylington is potentially a top pairing guy and that top pairing defensemen are more impactful then third line forwards.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think he means future impact. And I think he means that Ferland is likely a high energy third line guy who is important but a guy like Kylington is potentially a top pairing guy and that top pairing defensemen are more impactful then third line forwards.

Especially wingers.

[Robbob]

He was on the Fan960 this morning with Pinder at 9am. I don't see it up on the website yet but the knocks on Ferland is that he needs to prove some consistency. Yes he has proven to be a gamer but he also has some long stretches where he doesn't contribute (I believe the example he gave was in the minors he went 20 or 30 games without scoring). If he can come out and be more consistent then there is no reason why he won't climb.

He also mentioned that the list is ongoing and plans on updating it in January.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Robbob

He was on the Fan960 this morning with Pinder at 9am. I don't see it up on the website yet but the knocks on Ferland is that he needs to prove some consistency. Yes he has proven to be a gamer but he also has some long stretches where he doesn't contribute (I believe the example he gave was in the minors he went 20 or 30 games without scoring). If he can come out and be more consistent then there is no reason why he won't climb.

He also mentioned that the list is ongoing and plans on updating it in January.

That is true of most prospects. And it is important to remember that Ferland's lackluster play at the NHL level was after his concussion.

In fact, Poirier has the same issues - and he mentioned them - but still ranked Poirier 2nd.

Ferland has already done what Poirier hasn't - been impactful at the NHL level.

[Robbob]

Poirier missed the first third of the season because of his shoulder surgery. After that he put up a decent season and collected 42 points in 55 games in the AHL. That isn't too shabby for a first year pro.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Poirier missed the first third of the season because of his shoulder surgery. After that he put up a decent season and collected 42 points in 55 games in the AHL. That isn't too shabby for a first year pro.

Not at all - and I wasn't knocking Poirier.

I was merely pointing out that Poirier was also under-whelming at the NHL level. A criticism that he held against Ferland (but not Poirier)