Sonny Milano on PTO in Calgary

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

More competition for the young guys, keeps pushing them to show up for camp as competition for that last forward spot is definitely heating up.

See what I did there.. I'll show myself out..

They definitely need to try and wrangle that last spot.

I wonder if the lack of flash from Pelletier in these rookie games played into this PTO signing

[bax]

So if he makes the team we’re looking at:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Kadri - Dube
Milano - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis
Pelletier - Ruzicka

Hanifin - Andersson
Weegar - Tanev
Kylington - Zadorov
Stone - Meloche
Mackey - Valimaki

Markstrom
Vladar
Wolf

Lots of depth and and flexibility there. It will be interesting to see how Sutter utilizes everyone. I can see Milano, Coleman, Toffoli, Dube and Mangiapane bopping around the lineup a lot depending on performance and matchups.

[Hot_Flatus]

It's fairly telling that he wasn't able to get a contract and says that he's likely not viewed as someone that will produce enough if he's not playing premium minutes, on a first unit PP like he was with the Ducks.

I don't mind this as maybe he's got a bone to pick and really comes into camp with something to prove this year. Should make Dube, Pelletier really push to make sure they're viewed ahead of him.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by bax

So if he makes the team we’re looking at:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Kadri - Dube
Milano - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis
Pelletier - Ruzicka

Hanifin - Andersson
Weegar - Tanev
Kylington - Zadorov
Stone - Meloche
Mackey - Valimaki

Markstrom
Vladar
Wolf

Lots of depth and and flexibility there. It will be interesting to see how Sutter utilizes everyone. I can see Milano, Coleman, Toffoli, Dube and Mangiapane bopping around the lineup a lot depending on performance and matchups.

Anything can happen, but it would be almost tragic if Milano took a spot next to Backlund-Coleman ahead of Pelletier.....It's up to the players in a lot of ways, but I can't see any way that this audition is not more for the second line wing spot than it would be anywhere else.

Milano isn't exactly the kind of guy that will give you what you need playing on that third line, shut down/energy role over someone like Pelletier either. (If it wasn't clear, I'm extremely high on Pelletier - I think this kid is going to surprise a lot of people with how seamlessly he fits into a Sutter roster).

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Here is a good article from HockeyBuzz on Sonny.
https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Trev...ano/297/118518

Deployment

Sonny’s career year offensively may have been helped a long a bit by Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins.

A zone start pertains to where the puck is when a player starts their shift.

Milano’s Deployment

Offensive Zone Starts: 252
Neutral Zone Starts: 157
Defensive Zone Starts: 52


Offensive Zone Faceoffs: 410 (128 of them on the powerplay)
Neutral Zone Faceoffs: 231
Defensive Zone Faceoffs: 126

Whether there is room on the Flames in terms of cap – he’s not getting gifted deployment like this under Darryl Sutter.

Well the PP stuff is probably true but you can clearly give guys offensive zone starts if you want. Its not like Sutter doesn't do that.

Last year it was the 4th line and 3rd defense pair who got sheltered in that way while the Backlund line and Tanev/Kylington were given more defensive zone starts.

[agulati]

Happy with this PTO for sure! No risk. If he works his way on to the roster, he can definitely contribute offensively in the middle six.

[Flaming Horse]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah I'm really surprised that he couldn't get at least a one year deal from a team. There are worse players in the league under contract.

Surprised to but I like it.It should put more pressure on the younger guys like Pelts to steppe their game.

[Flame On]

So in terms of rules, does this mean he can't sign elsewhere while he is in this process with Calgary?

[Toonage]

Anyone can sign him until he has a contract with Calgary

[JurassicTunga12]

Hope he does well and signs here

[bax]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Anything can happen, but it would be almost tragic if Milano took a spot next to Backlund-Coleman ahead of Pelletier.....It's up to the players in a lot of ways, but I can't see any way that this audition is not more for the second line wing spot than it would be anywhere else.

Milano isn't exactly the kind of guy that will give you what you need playing on that third line, shut down/energy role over someone like Pelletier either. (If it wasn't clear, I'm extremely high on Pelletier - I think this kid is going to surprise a lot of people with how seamlessly he fits into a Sutter roster).

I like Pelletier a lot too, but he’ll have to wow at camp to earn a spot. Not like Sutter to just gift a young player a spot.

I wonder if Milano is able to play his off wing?

[Flames1217]

In a third line role with powerplay time he would likely do well here.

Backlund and Coleman are more than capable of covering up for his perceived lack of defensive play.

[TheIronMaiden]

[Electricprez]

If he plays to potential, maybe this gives them some room to move somebody else out. I have no idea who, but at least having a guy like this who could play 2/3 line gives you some options.

I am not at all in love with the idea of Dube sitting in the top six, though I'm open to being surprised on him this year.

I know these games are a complete nothingburger, but I'd hoped to see more out of Pelletier in the prospects games; I'd still love for him to crack the lineup and he feels like a much better fit third line than someone like Milano.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He was a -9 on a terrible team this is overblown

Getzlaf was -14
Zegras was -21

Sutter can straighten him out

34 points in 66 games is pretty good for a 26 year old PTO. I bet the Flames sign him quickly if they like what they see.

2014 first rounder

It’s a PTO and maybe a minimum salary contract if he makes it so I do not have any issue at that price

He scored like 12 pts after December and his play got worse drastically

There is a reason Anaheim doesn’t want him or anyone else

It’s also not the first time he is available for free. He has serious issues.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s a PTO and maybe a minimum salary contract if he makes it so I do not have any issue at that price

He scored like 12 pts after December and his play got worse drastically

There is a reason Anaheim doesn’t want him or anyone else

It’s also not the first time he is available for free. He has serious issues.

You are always so over the top negative

It wouldn't be the first time a player "nobody wanted" did well with a new team

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by bax

I like Pelletier a lot too, but he’ll have to wow at camp to earn a spot. Not like Sutter to just gift a young player a spot.

I wonder if Milano is able to play his off wing?

I don't suggest that he's gifted a spot, IMO he's going to grab it quite firmly.

Everything the Flames have done with him has been bang on in terms of development, and given the amount of pro hockey he played last year, he will be ready to make the jump.

[FanIn80]

Interesting that this happens right after the prospect games. I know everyone says "they don't mean anything" but one goal scored in two games... followed immediately by a PTO for potentially that #3W spot.

[dino7c]

I think there is a good chance the Flames offered he a PTO before Friday...I highly doubt it has anything to do with a couple prospects games. Camp starting soon is likely why he decided to sign, he was likely holding out for a contact.

I would also wager multiple teams offered him a PTO

[Icon]

Meh, seems like a one dimensional guy.

Maybe Sutter can find more in him, but I doubt he earns a spot. Worst case scenario it's at least more competition for camp, which is good.

Hopefully Treliving's still on the hunt for a way to bring in another top6 winger... Maybe it's Milano in the end but that'd surprise me.