Pronman:NHL Pipeline Calgary ranks 26th

[SportsJunky]

Last year Calgary was ranked #12. That surprises me.


Calgary’s system is led by its three most recent first-round picks in Matthew Coronato, Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary, who all look like potential good NHL players. The lingering effects of 2017 and 2018 where the Flames moved a lot of picks still is apparent in their system, but they are steadily building up the young depth in the pipeline.

1. Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago-USHL

Nov. 14, 2002 | 5-foot-10 | 183 pounds

Drafted: No. 13 in 2021

Tier: Projected middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above-average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average
Shot: Above-average

Coronato was one of the best players in the USHL and among the leaders in most offensive categories. Coronato is an undersized forward with a lot of skill who can make plays with pace. He’s a strong skater, not elite for a small guy, but good enough to be an NHL player. He’s able to create controlled entries with his speed and skill, and make tough plays to his teammates on the move. Coronato is also able to play the half-wall on the power play and find seams as well as finish from distance. He killed penalties for Chicago and works hard enough to advance levels and win battles despite his size. Coronato projects as a versatile second-line NHL winger.

https://theathletic.com/2794625/2021...thew-coronato/

[stemit14]

Seems strange that a team that ranked 12th last year would drop to 26th this year even though they have not traded away or graduated their prospects during that time… they have only added to the prospect pool. Unless he considered Valimaki a prospect last year.


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[Vinny01]

It is not prospects. His list is for 23 and younger assets so that includes NHL players. They were 12th last year because Tkachuk was as part of that list

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It is not prospects. His list is for 23 and younger assets so that includes NHL players. They were 12th last year because Tkachuk was as part of that list

That makes more sense.


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[shutout]

His list of Flames players

1. Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago-USHL
2. Connor Zary, C, Kamloops-WHL
3. Jakob Pelletier, LW, Val-d’Or-QMJHL
4. Juuso Valimaki, LHD, Calgary-NHL
5. Adam Rucizka, C, Stockton-AHL
6. Mathias Emilio Pettersen, C, Stockton-AHL
7. Cameron Whynot, LHD, Halifax-QMJHL
8. Yan Kuznetsov, LHD, Connecticut-Hockey East#
9. Dustin Wolf, G, Everett-WHL
10. William Stromgren, LW, MODO-Allsvenskan
11. Jeremie Poirier, LHD, Saint John-QMJHL
12. Martin Pospisil, C, Stockton-AHL
13. Cole Huckins, C, Acadie-Bathurst-QMJHL
14. Ryan Francis, C, Saint John-QMJHL
15. Emil Heineman, LW, Leksands-SHL
16. Rory Kerins, C, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL

[robertsfanatic]

while wearing my homer glasses, I think there will be some surprisingly good players in the bottom 8 of his list.

[DoubleK]

I hope Ryan Francis continues to improve. He could very well turn out to be the right handed eat bread.

[Strange Brew]

Pettersen sixth? I don't think so.

Goalies might be voodoo and all but Wolf is more important to the Flames than 9th. And on the trade market, he would fetch a higher return than almost all of these guys. Certainly no worse than 5th.

[1qqaaz]

He is ridiculously low on Wolf

[Number 39]

I tend to agree with much of his assessment. We have some sure fire NHLers but no real elite prospects. A lot of middle 6 types. I'd love to be wrong though

[Monahammer]

He is also high on Whynot, who I think will fly up our own internal rankings over the next year.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

He is ridiculously low on Wolf

I think he always has been lower on Wolf than say Scott Wheeler who frickin loves Wolf.

[prizefighterinferno]

Don't think Pronman's subjective ranking is anything to be too concerned about especially considering the criteria (u23, all levels).

If anyone wants a little shot of optimism after seeing that, you should check out Byron Bader's prospect rankings (which, as most here know by now, are based off statistical modelling/comps as opposed to his own heuristics/preferences) where Calgary's pipeline placed sixth overall.

[Strange Brew]

It's all just one person's opinion. I don't follow these guys close enough to get excited one way or the other, or know who to believe over someone else, but I do remember Pronman being super high on Fox so he got that right.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The reason why the Flames are ranked so low, which is appropriate, is that while there are many intriguing prospects - there is a complete lack of a true blue chippers. Most of the teams ahead of them have one or two guys that you'd say are potential high impact blue chippers.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The reason why the Flames are ranked so low, which is appropriate is that while there are many intriguing prospects - there is a complete lack of a true blue chippers. Most of the teams ahead of them have one or two guys that you'd say are potential high impact blue chippers.

Their best guys project as middle-six forwards.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Their best guys project as middle-six forwards.

We badly need another Fox, Gaudreau, Brodie etc. to emerge. Gaudreau and Fox were obviously outperforming their draft pedigree almost immediately while playing in college. Brodie made the team as a 20 year old briefly before being sent down.

Hopefully someone bursts onto the scene at camp this year.

[Erick Estrada]

Interesting how they downgraded Valimaki's Tier projection to just "to play NHL games".

4. Juuso Valimaki, LHD, Calgary-NHL

Oct. 6, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 204 pounds

Drafted: No. 16 in 2017

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average

Valimaki was very good in Liiga last season. With the Flames he was fine but didn’t have a standout season. The skating and size combination stands out when you watch Valimaki. He can skate at an NHL level, helping him bring pucks up ice well. He can close gaps efficiently and has some physicality to go with his frame to make stops. The question on him for the NHL level has always been just how much offense he will have. I see hockey sense, he can make some plays and hit seams, but I wouldn’t call it the selling point of his game. For now I project him out as a regular third pair type but if the offense comes a little bit I could see him elevate to a second pair guy.

If he pans out to be nothing more than a 3rd pairing defenseman that's probably going to be a disaster for the Flames as they had high hopes for this player.

[loosecannon3]

Didnt the Flames have some Russian forward prospect who lit it up in one camp or off-season. I believe his first or last name started with a Z. What happened to him?

[howard_the_duck]

It's about right.

Which is why, short of adding top flight talent like Eichel, this team should not be trading picks. Big couple of drafts coming up - hopefully they can be on the other end of adding picks, not subtracting them.