[News] Martin Pospisil expected to miss a couple weeks

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

If only Ruzicka can hustle like Pospisil

Flames scout should learn size means nothing unless they use it. Jankowski and now this guy. Watching him floating around is super frustrating

Flames took a top 60 talent in the 4th round with a very known scouting report of having all the tools, but an inconsistency in applying them.

No surprises from the scouting staff on how he turned out.

But if all 4th rounders make it to the show you really can't complain.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Flames took a top 60 talent in the 4th round with a very known scouting report of having all the tools, but an inconsistency in applying them.

No surprises from the scouting staff on how he turned out.

But if all 4th rounders make it to the show you really can't complain.

Yes from that’s perspective

Also understandable why he was a 4th rounder and not more

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yes from that’s perspective

Also understandable why he was a 4th rounder and not more

Well, as Bingo just alluded to, he would’ve been a good pick even if he was taken in the 2nd round.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yes from that’s perspective

Also understandable why he was a 4th rounder and not more

Yes. That is exactly why Ruzicka is a 4th rounder, but could have been higher in retrospect.
Which player should they have drafted at 109th instead, and why?

And here are the average stats of ALL players taken in the 2017 draft as of today:

Average NHL Career Games: 126
Average NHL Career Goals: 19
Average NHL Career Points: 53

So as the 109th/217 players taken, he is pretty dang close to having the average stats of all drafted players, but he actually has the 38th most points in his draft class of the 102 players who have played a game, so I would put that at well above average for those actually playing.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Well, as Bingo just alluded to, he would’ve been a good pick even if he was taken in the 2nd round.

Yes because he made it. Most picks after the 1st round don’t make it?

But if he doesn’t step up his game, he’ll be out of the league pretty soon or a fringe player at best.

[foofighter15]

Think this clears the path for Peltier more than anyone, if he’s ready. He’s more similar to Pospisil than anyone else being mentioned plus the experience from last year

[SuperMatt18]

If it's a concussion I hope they are very patient and don't rush him back at all. With his history and with the way he plays another concussion wouldn't be impossible.

Klapka is up now...Coronato waiting in the AHL...Pelletier getting his legs back post injury.

Lots of options and no need to rush him back at all.

[blender]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I think the flames scouts are always trying to find the next Rantanen… big guy with soft hands that uses his frame to protect the puck and make plays. Not necessarily a physical guy either. Rantanen was the comparison used when they drafted Honzek last year.

Everybody is always trying to find the next Rantanen.

[stemit14]

I think it has to be Coronato that gets called up. He’s been lighting it up in the AHL. The spot available is for a 2nd line right winger on a scoring line. That all indicates him as the obvious choice for a deserved call up.

I know he’s a different player than Posposil but he deserves to get his shot at the position he was drafted and developed to play in.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by blender

Everybody is always trying to find the next Rantanen.

For sure. But the flames are really stressing size up front in their drafting lately… especially last year.

[stemit14]

Really sucks to lose Posposil going into the oiler game. Every time we play the oilers I’m hoping for someone to line up McDavid and absolutely crush him. Right now, Posposil is the heaviest hitter on the team so I was hoping it might be him that does it this time. Maybe Klapka will surprise. He will become an instant fan favourite if he does something like that tomorrow night.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by stemit14

For sure. But the flames are really stressing size up front in their drafting lately… especially last year.

Were they stressing size? I don't remember the Flames drafting any mutants(6'5"+) lately.

I think everyone except Coronato, and Jack Beck over the last 3 drafts, were between 6'-6'4". It seems about average for NHLers.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Were they stressing size? I don't remember the Flames drafting any mutants(6'5"+) lately.

I think everyone except Coronato, and Jack Beck over the last 3 drafts, were between 6'-6'4". It seems about average for NHLers.

I think they would be considered taller than most for forwards. The average height of an NHL forward in 2023 is just over 6 feet (6 feet plus 0.54 inches). In the 2023 draft, the flames took three forwards in the draft and their heights were 6’4”, 6’3” and 6’2”. In 2022, they took three forwards in the draft and their heights were 6’2”, 6’3” and 6’5”. And that was their heights when drafted… it’s possible they are taller than that now. But even if they have not grown much since then, that is still quite a few larger forwards.

[Circa89]

I only saw the replay once but it looked kinda sketchy on Matthews. That was a weird way to put on the brakes. He swung his right leg way, way wide and tripped Pospisil when he turned. Anyone else see it that way or just me with homer glasses on?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I think they would be considered taller than most for forwards. The average height of an NHL forward in 2023 is just over 6 feet (6 feet plus 0.54 inches). In the 2023 draft, the flames took three forwards in the draft and their heights were 6’4”, 6’3” and 6’2”. In 2022, they took three forwards in the draft and their heights were 6’2”, 6’3” and 6’5”. And that was their heights when drafted… it’s possible they are taller than that now. But even if they have not grown much since then, that is still quite a few larger forwards.

Later rounds you are drafting the big guys and the long shots. But aside from Honzek, who is skilled, their first and second round forwards are 6'2" or less. 6'2" isn't huge.

Plus, they probably feel like the first rounders who have made the team lately or are expected to - Zary, Coronato, Pelletier - are all smaller so they need some size as well.

[Enoch Root]

I think Klapka (or maybe someone else) is a better fit for that line than Coronato. Yes, Coronato needs a top 6 role, but that doesn't mean that any top 6 role is the right one. Pospisil is bringing physicality, speed, forechecking, and chaos to that line, whihc is creating space for Kadri and Zary. Coronato does none of that, and the forechecking would fall more to Zary, which I think makes for a poorly constructed line.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Klapka (or maybe someone else) is a better fit for that line than Coronato. Yes, Coronato needs a top 6 role, but that doesn't mean that any top 6 role is the right one. Pospisil is bringing physicality, speed, forechecking, and chaos to that line, whihc is creating space for Kadri and Zary. Coronato does none of that, and the forechecking would fall more to Zary, which I think makes for a poorly constructed line.

Could be. But I think you have to find a fit for Coronato at some point. He has been the Wrangler’s best scoring forward and it’s a right wing spot in the top six. That’s what he is here for. If the flames sell Lindholm at the deadline and don’t end up taking back any roster players, Coronato will likely need to find a spot in the top nine - ideally the top six.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Klapka (or maybe someone else) is a better fit for that line than Coronato. Yes, Coronato needs a top 6 role, but that doesn't mean that any top 6 role is the right one. Pospisil is bringing physicality, speed, forechecking, and chaos to that line, whihc is creating space for Kadri and Zary. Coronato does none of that, and the forechecking would fall more to Zary, which I think makes for a poorly constructed line.

I don't think anything about adding a top prospect to a line with talent makes for poorly constructed at all. If anything, it give the line an added element of skill and really no drop off at all in terms of work ethic and tenacity.

Just because you don't have Pospisil levels of physicallity and agitation doesn't mean that Coronato (who is a tireless worker and good forechecker) can't have a similar effect.

The alternative is leaving Coronato in the AHL the rest of the season or until the trade deadline in March. You aren't brining him up to play 8-10 minutes a night on the 4th line and 2nd PP. He proven he's at or above that level and it's time to let him show it again with players that are playing well.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Could be. But I think you have to find a fit for Coronato at some point. He has been the Wrangler’s best scoring forward and it’s a right wing spot in the top six. That’s what he is here for. If the flames sell Lindholm at the deadline and don’t end up taking back any roster players, Coronato will likely need to find a spot in the top nine - ideally the top six.

Of course, but that's a different conversation.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I don't think anything about adding a top prospect to a line with talent makes for poorly constructed at all. If anything, it give the line an added element of skill and really no drop off at all in terms of work ethic and tenacity.

Just because you don't have Pospisil levels of physicallity and agitation doesn't mean that Coronato (who is a tireless worker and good forechecker) can't have a similar effect.

The alternative is leaving Coronato in the AHL the rest of the season or until the trade deadline in March. You aren't brining him up to play 8-10 minutes a night on the 4th line and 2nd PP. He proven he's at or above that level and it's time to let him show it again with players that are playing well.

No it's not. Managing 4 lines is not a single binary decision.