The Calgary Flames 2015-2016 Training Camp Thread

[dammage79]

I for one really think Kylington's best option is in fact Stockton. I feel there's a good top 4 spot waiting for him there.

[devo22]

will be interesting to see how many cuts there are today, wouldn't be surprised if it's around 15 players or so. They still have 26 forwards and 17 defensemen at camp right now, would make sense to reduce that to 17-20 and 10-12 today.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Expecting a lot of cuts today.

Stockton starts their camp tomorrow.

I suspect we will see 11 cuts.

Gillies (G)
Kanzig (D)
Sieloff (D)
Agostino (F)
Elson (F)
Grant (F)
Hathaway (F)
Klimchuk (F)
Poirier (F)
Riley (F)
Van Brabant (F)

[dammage79]

Crazy that Poirier is likely not going to make it past this round of cuts. I'm sure he feels this has been a frustrating camp for him. I know I would.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Crazy that Poirier is likely not going to make it past this round of cuts. I'm sure he feels this has been a frustrating camp for him. I know I would.

He's showed bursts and shifts, but not a constant basis. I think he is having trouble finding the space where he can use his speed, and should be spending time down in Stockton figuring that out. Klimchuk, on the other hand, looked really good as the game wore on tonight and think he warrants a bit longer look.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by TheCommodoreAfro

He's showed bursts and shifts, but not a constant basis. I think he is having trouble finding the space where he can use his speed, and should be spending time down in Stockton figuring that out. Klimchuk, on the other hand, looked really good as the game wore on tonight and think he warrants a bit longer look.

He has spent a year in the AHL already and so it is disappointing he is not showing more. Wonder what the coaches told him after last year and how he has progressed in those areas? I am still hopeful he puts up big numbers with Stockton this year.

[devo22]

Let's not forget that Poirier is still only 20 (just 3 months older than Klimchuk) ... normally he'd only start his pro career now, just like Klimchuk. Lots of time for him to develop, I have no problem with him going back to the AHL for another year.

The situation on the blueline intrigues me more. Where will Kylington play? Does Wotherspoon make the team? Can Kulak steal a spot? What about Morrison or even Andersson? Just great to see the depth there all of a sudden. Just a pity that Culkin is injured again, I think he would have had a good chance to make it until Brodie is back.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by devo22

Let's not forget that Poirier is still only 20 (just 3 months older than Klimchuk) ... normally he'd only start his pro career now, just like Klimchuk. Lots of time for him to develop, I have no problem with him going back to the AHL for another year.

The situation on the blueline intrigues me more. Where will Kylington play? Does Wotherspoon make the team? Can Kulak steal a spot? What about Morrison or even Andersson? Just great to see the depth there all of a sudden. Just a pity that Culkin is injured again, I think he would have had a good chance to make it until Brodie is back.

I agree with all of this.

I believe the decisions up front are more or less made except who they will expose to waivers. The only other forwards besides the 16 guys that are that should stay beyond today IMO are those who are injured and Granlund. Not because I think Granlund will make the team out of camp, but because he has played too well so far to not get another preseason game.

On the backend though I think there are a few guys in the mix for two spots. Right now I think Wotherspoon and Wilson are the favorites, but if Treliving doesn't want to add another contract It could easily be Kulak or Morrison that make it, even Andersson getting a couple games isn't out of the question. Nakladal is still in the mix too if his injury is minor. Then Kylington it's more about where he will play, he may start in the AHL and go down to the WHL after a little bit, or he could go straight down.

[Enoch Root]

To me, Morrison doesn't look ready. He has shown some good things, but needs a year in Stockton.

Andersson has looked great and I would think they will give him more time in camp, to reward him and keep him around the veterans for a while. He is going to destroy the OHL this year.

Kylington is going to be fascinating to watch, regardless of where he goes.

Kulak showed me more last night than I have seen from him before. I would think that he will stay for now and continue to fight for that spot.

Nakladal seems almost certain to be in the 7 for opening day, IMO.

Wilson is interesting. Has shown some things, but probably needs to get ice-time in Stockton for now.

Wotherspoon got better as the game went on last night. He appears to be right where he left off last year - NHL ready, but not wowing anyone. I would think he too remains in camp and continues to fight for that temporary spot. I still believe he is the most ready of the bunch, but he needs to do something to prove it to management.

Assuming no more injuries, I think the opening night 7 is:

Giordano
Hamilton
Russell
Wideman
Engelland
Wotherspoon/Kulak
Nakladal

and Wotherspoon/Kulak go to Stockton when Brodie is back.

[Enoch Root]

I don't think Poirier has been that bad. I thought he showed a lot of effort and tenacity last night, and got better as the game went on.

In Penticton, he was getting lots of chances but they weren't going in. That may have eroded his confidence a bit for main camp.

I think all he needs is to go to Stockton, get ice-time, and learn how to be more consistent from shift to shift.

If he does that, the confidence - and the points - will come. If he goes point-per-game in the A, as a 20 year old, I don't see how people can be overly concerned about that.

[druetetective]

Omg Andersson's numbers this year will be godly.I can easily see 80+ points.

There's a Canucks blogger who does analysis on CHL prospects using only points. It's pretty in depth stuff but he doesn't watch any games only the stats. Anyways he was crying for the Canucks to draft both Andersson and Kylington all year and he doesn't let them forget it when his "picks' turn out better than the actual ones. I'm looking forward to his whining.

Canucksarmy I think it's called

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

To me, Morrison doesn't look ready. He has shown some good things, but needs a year in Stockton.

Andersson has looked great and I would think they will give him more time in camp, to reward him and keep him around the veterans for a while. He is going to destroy the OHL this year.

Kylington is going to be fascinating to watch, regardless of where he goes.

Kulak showed me more last night than I have seen from him before. I would think that he will stay for now and continue to fight for that spot.

Nakladal seems almost certain to be in the 7 for opening day, IMO.

Wilson is interesting. Has shown some things, but probably needs to get ice-time in Stockton for now.

Wotherspoon got better as the game went on last night. He appears to be right where he left off last year - NHL ready, but not wowing anyone. I would think he too remains in camp and continues to fight for that temporary spot. I still believe he is the most ready of the bunch, but he needs to do something to prove it to management.

Assuming no more injuries, I think the opening night 7 is:

Giordano
Hamilton
Russell
Wideman
Engelland
Wotherspoon/Kulak
Nakladal

and Wotherspoon/Kulak go to Stockton when Brodie is back.

I think you are right on here. Only tweak is that I do think Wilson is still in the mix and I can see Nakladal playing before Witherspoon or Kulak.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I think you are right on here. Only tweak is that I do think Wilson is still in the mix and I can see Nakladal playing before Witherspoon or Kulak.

They're not keeping kids up to sit in the pressbox.

Originally Posted by dammage79

I for one really think Kylington's best option is in fact Stockton. I feel there's a good top 4 spot waiting for him there.

The more I watch him, the more I think returning to AIK is the best blend of compromises for his development. He'll get Top Pair playing time against high level of competition and unlike the Junior schedule he'll get a lot of weight room time. But if not, AHL would be my plan B.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Andersson has looked great and I would think they will give him more time in camp, to reward him and keep him around the veterans for a while. He is going to destroy the OHL this year.

I think the neat thing about this camp is that the fan base has had their cake and eat it too.

A huge trade to bring in a core piece like Hamilton, but then Andersson shows up and basically fills the role of the new shiny first round draft pick anyway, despite the team not drafting in the first round.

His camp has had that kind of impact.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I agree Morrison might need some time in the AHL, but I think if he's sent down than he should be a likely candidate for first call-up. I have seen some steady play from him and great outlet passes. Fits right into the Flames system and you can see he's already got some size.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by druetetective

Omg Andersson's numbers this year will be godly.I can easily see 80+ points.

There's a Canucks blogger who does analysis on CHL prospects using only points. It's pretty in depth stuff but he doesn't watch any games only the stats. Anyways he was crying for the Canucks to draft both Andersson and Kylington all year and he doesn't let them forget it when his "picks' turn out better than the actual ones. I'm looking forward to his whining.

Canucksarmy I think it's called

It's actually extremely fascinating stuff. They use quite a bit more than points. It's called Prospect Cohort Success (PCS) model and they are building a database that finds similar prospects and determines potential NHL success. It uses scoring rates and adjusts for era and league (ie QMJHL now vs 10 years ago), height, and age (fairly specific, not just draft year). Basically, it finds players that followed similar routes with similar attributes and gives you the rate of success (200 games in nhl I believe?) for those players.

Really interesting. Kylington had very few comparables as he scored so early.

Note: finding comparables to Kylington's 16-year old season is nearly impossible. No one has ever been as young as he is and produced at his level in Swedish professional hockey. His only close 2014 comparable is from his time in the SuperElit, and is Erik Karlsson.

PCS Most NHL GP
Roman Hamrlik
Teppo Numminen
Tomas Jonsson

PCS Highest Pts/GP
Erik Karlsson
Tomas Jonsson
Teppo Numminen

Andersson was also analyzed:

PCS% 2014: 33.3%. PCS Pts/82 2014: 22.0
PCS% 2015: 31.7%. PCS Pts/82 2015: 26.8

PCS Most NHL GP
Glen Wesley
Brad Stuart
Stephane Quintal

PCS Highest Pts/GP
Drew Doughty
Robert Murray
Mario Marois

Here's the introduction to it. Looks to be a fantastic tool they continue to tweak:


http://canucksarmy.com/2015/5/26/dra...-success-model

I highly recommend reading it.

[Enoch Root]

What I like about the PCS is that it is good at showing the progression from year to year and from opportunity to opportunity.

It was also awesome to see them lose their minds when Andersson and Kylington were drafted by the Flames!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Now that we've had a chance to see some of these kids in camp I'd like to see a re-ranking of the prospects. I think some have seen their stock rise (Klimchuk) and some of has seen their stick take a hit (Poirier). Would be interesting to see the changes in rankings.

[Moneyhands23]

[QUOTE=Bingo;5435225]I think the neat thing about this camp is that the fan base has had their cake and eat it too.

A huge trade to bring in a core piece like Hamilton, but then Andersson shows up and basically fills the role of the new shiny first round draft pick anyway, despite the team not drafting in the first round.

His camp has had that kind of impact.[/QUO
TE]

I went to the young stars tournament and the game last night. Rasmus has been a stand out on both occasions. Just keep noticing him all over the pace doing so many things right, and at a high level. I would have been very pleased to have taken him around 15 in the draft!

Nom nom nom...I love cake! ��

[thymebalm]

Flames Pre-season Goalie Stats:

NO..GOALTENDER........ GP...MINS...AVG...W...L...OT..SO..GA..SA..SV%...A
37...Ortio, Joni................2...90.....0.67.....1...1...0. ...1...1...48..97.9...0
..1.. Hiller, Jonas..............2...89.....1.35....1....0...0.. .0...2...42...95.2...1
31.. Ramo, Karri..............2..102.....2.35...1....0...0... .0...4...64...93.8...0
72..*McDonald, Mason......1...20.....6.00....0...1...0.....0...2. ..8...75.0...0

I always assume I want a Ramo - Ortio combo, but the numbers are at odds with me again. Can't stand Hiller's style but boy is he effective with it.

Ramo has the lower percentage with a .938% sv. That's some pretty stellar goaltending from all three candidates.

I suspect we could see a trade in the coming days while all goalies are performing well.