Granlund discussion

[FBI]

Honestly I'm not sure what I think of this guy.. I go back and forth about him all the time. Seems like he always comes up from the AHL looking great for 5 games and then kind of fades off.

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he is back in the AHL again this year. I didn't really see the chemistry that many were talking about with Bennett and Granlund, I actually think he hasn't been that helpful for Bennett.

I think many comments on CP here have it right as well, stop playing him at Center, let's try him at wing, see if he can get more shots off. He's not ready to take NHL faceoffs either.

I just can't seem to get excited about this guy. Agree / disagree?

[GranteedEV]

He's skilled. I watch him in preseason or the AHL and I see shades of good wingers like Eberle, Hudler, Cammalleri. I watch him on the penalty kill and his ability to read passes is very valuable, not unlike Frolik.

He is a terrible center.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FBI

Honestly I'm not sure what I think of this guy.. I go back and forth about him all the time. Seems like he always comes up from the AHL looking great for 5 games and then kind of fades off.

Pretty much this. I keep waiting for him to find his offensive game after he trails off, but it requires sending him down to the minors for him to find it. That doesn't work long term.

As for trying him at wing, it's been done for periods of time and it didn't make much difference. Plus, he's yet another left handed shot, so unless he can play the right side (and I don't have any evidence that he can) he isn't much use. I wouldn't mind him on Bennett's wing, but he's not ready for full-time center duties either. Is he a top 6 player? I don't think so. Could he be useful as a bottom 6 player? Possibly, but I don't know where he fits on this team.

Basically, I think you see Granlund packaged for some other similar assets that make more sense for the Flames. I don't think he has a long term future in Calgary.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

He's skilled. I watch him in preseason or the AHL and I see shades of good wingers like Eberle, Hudler, Cammalleri. I watch him on the penalty kill and his ability to read passes is very valuable, not unlike Frolik.

He is a terrible center.

He definitely showed flashes of being skilled, but he's playing too much of a typical North American style of hockey which I don't like in a European. I would like to see more of a Gaudreau or Eberle in him. Sadly, Granlund is starting to look a lot like Backland and it's just like hohum. If he uses his skills like Gaudreau uses his, I'm sure he'll be a top 6 player. Play like Stajan and end up in the bottom 6.

[442scotty]

Bust unfortunately unless he can step it up a couple of notches consistently..

[Vinny01]

I am of the opinion that one of Granlund or Backlund needs to go over the summer. Bennett needs to be developed as a centre next season. Monahan is entrenched as number 1 and I think Stajan is here for the rest of his contract as the 3/4.

Because we have Stajan as the 3/4 making north of $3M I think that Backlund should be the guy moved. If that is the case I am okay keeping Granlund as I think he has good potential as a number 3 centre

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Bust unfortunately unless he can step it up a couple of notches consistently..

He is 22 years old ? Bill Arnold is a year older, Grant is 26. Give the kid a chance before we declare him a bust.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by CSharp

He definitely showed flashes of being skilled, but he's playing too much of a typical North American style of hockey which I don't like in a European. I would like to see more of a Gaudreau or Eberle in him. Sadly, Granlund is starting to look a lot like Backland and it's just like hohum. If he uses his skills like Gaudreau uses his, I'm sure he'll be a top 6 player. Play like Stajan and end up in the bottom 6.

We can probably move him, Backlund and one of the expiring vets for a RW. We still have Jankowski or even Bill Arnold for third line duties.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

He may develope the offence to be a 2nd liner but he could also follow the Backlund path and just end up a great two-way 3rd line type.

I've liked what I've seen of him. He's cheaper than Backlund and could have a higher offensive upside. So it allows Treliving to deal Backlund or Granlund in a package before next season.

It's nice to have expendable assets that might actually have value. With Backlund/Granlund + Engelleand/Smid/Wideman/Russell + our prospects and picks Treliving certainly has some assets to make things happen at the deadline and leading up to the draft.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

I like him but there is something disappointingly robotic to his game when the puck is on his stick. In prior call-ups, he was hesitant to shoot the puck. It certainly appears that with this call-up, Hartley has stressed that he shoot the puck when he can. Now it seems that 3/4 of the time he has the puck, he ends up shooting.

Posters have mentioned in the past that he has a great shot, and I agree. Now he just needs to be able to take the next step and mix it up a bit on offense. Part of the advantage to having a great shot is making defenders over-commit. Granlund has been so intent on shooting that the defenders are just playing the shot and getting a stick in the way to neutralize the play.

A bit more confidence in his overall offensive game mixed with a dash of composure in the offensive end will go a long way. I don't worry at all about his defensive game.

[Funkhouser]

I am a big fan of Granlund, but agree he has yet to put all the pieces together. He seems to have a great hockey IQ, responsible defensively, has a great shot and appears to have the ceiling of a 2nd liner.

BUT I think he has learnt what he needs to at the AHL.

I agree that he should be at left wing though...

[budblazer]

should put granlund on the wing and let bennett center

[Erick Estrada]

I expect more from Granlund but he's been saddled with Backlund who has been ice cold for almost two seasons now. This is a one line team right now and nobody other than Monahan and Gadreau have stepped up and at times like this is when you would hope Backlund given he's in his prime would finally put things together but he's just not that player and I wonder if the Flames should package him off in a deal while he still has some moderate value.

[robbie111]

Granlund has scored all of his goals from the Left side of the ice. I can't see why they don't have Bennett center and Granlund left wing where he belongs. That or experiment with him on the right side with Monahan and Gaudreau as nothing else has worked with them so far.

For the postives he has been the Flames best penalty killer this year far above any of the other forwards.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Granlund is being misused. He should be in the middle, he should be on the wing as a finisher. Swap Bennett and Granlund and you will see both have greater success.

[GioforPM]

Granlund has a hard shot but it's always over the net or into the crest.

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

He is 22 years old ? Bill Arnold is a year older, Grant is 26. Give the kid a chance before we declare him a bust.

If you read what I said " Unless he steps it up a couple of notches" Just another small 3/4 guy if he doesn't step it up...

[442scotty]

I think he's missing the Bennett desire

[Hackey]

I expected Granlund to make a bigger impact by now. At the start of last year I thought he was ready to have a solid semi break out season but then he just kind of faded. My excitement for him as a prospect has definitely faded. He's young so by no means do I think he's a bust but I think he trending more towards that 3rd line or worse than he is 3rd line or better.

[Itse]

I see the same problem in Granlund as I've always seen. Not fast or strong, not skilled enough. Overall a solid meh. Servicable filler in the lineup.

Would probably work better as a winger, but I don't see him being significantly better at that either.