[News] With the 28th OA pick, the Flames select RW Matvei Gridin

[Reggie Dunlop]

QMJHL camps start up this week and no updates on Gridin's status. The anticipated trade from Val d'Or hasn't materialized yet.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I don't think he'd get much playing time on the Wranglers. Putting him in the ECHL would be ill-advised as that bush league is full of never-been goons who'd like nothing better than to take down a first-rounder kid.

[Niemo]

Is Gridin ready for the AHL? It’s not common for a team to be able to bring a 1st rounder straight into the AHL. At this point, it feels like that’s the plan.

3rd line RW with PP2 time may be better than a really bad team in the Q.

[sureLoss]

The beat writer for the Val-d'or Floreurs says Gridin's QMJHL trade to Shawinigan will be made official at the start of the season.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1827349341385699610

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The beat writer for the Val-d'or Floreurs says Gridin's QMJHL trade to Shawinigan will be made official at the start of the season.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1827349341385699610

That’d work great.

[dammage79]

I suspect he will go to the Q. I do agree however that it's kind of a lateral move from the USHL. But, it is the Q and he's going to score a ton of points.

[Geeoff]

Man, the Q is in a rough spot, huh? Don't think they had any 1st round picks

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The beat writer for the Val-d'or Floreurs says Gridin's QMJHL trade to Shawinigan will be made official at the start of the season.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1827349341385699610

Is Shawinigan a good spot for him? Coaches?

[Toonage]

The only spot in the Q I'd be happy with is Rimouski

[dammage79]

Isn't Shaw8nigan hosting the mem cup and that's why he's going there?

[Roof-Daddy]

Rimouski is hosting the 2025 memorial cup

[Enoch Root]

II was hoping for Moncton so he could play with Morin

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by Toonage

The only spot in the Q I'd be happy with is Rimouski

There are many world class Junior programs in the Q.

Québec (Cream of the crop when it comes to junior programs), Rimouski, Saint Johns, Halifax, Shawinigan, Chicoutimi and Moncton.

Even in a lower program, if you become the main driver things can go great.

The Q gets a ton of flack but people often forget to mention that they have brought back 5 of the last 10 memorial cups. The league has steadily gotten better, especially in the past two decades.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

There are many world class Junior programs in the Q.

Québec (Cream of the crop when it comes to junior programs), Rimouski, Saint Johns, Halifax, Shawinigan, Chicoutimi and Moncton.

Even in a lower program, if you become the main driver things can go great.

The Q gets a ton of flack but people often forget to mention that they have brought back 5 of the last 10 memorial cups. The league has steadily gotten better, especially in the past two decades.

To each their own. For me, I'd prefer him in the OHL.

With Rimouski, he'd be there for the Memorial Cup, and I think that would be great for his development. Outside of that, I'm not sure the Flames have a great recent history with their prospects in that league.

[Reggie Dunlop]

NHL teams "strongly suggest" certain picks for the CHL Import draft. I'm surprised Val d'Or went off-script.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

There are many world class Junior programs in the Q.

Québec (Cream of the crop when it comes to junior programs), Rimouski, Saint Johns, Halifax, Shawinigan, Chicoutimi and Moncton.

Even in a lower program, if you become the main driver things can go great.

The Q gets a ton of flack but people often forget to mention that they have brought back 5 of the last 10 memorial cups. The league has steadily gotten better, especially in the past two decades.

I think teams like the ones mentioned above have made the Q less of a pond hockey league in the last 10-15 years, and now they actually pay some attention to team defense in that league.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Toonage

To each their own. For me, I'd prefer him in the OHL.

With Rimouski, he'd be there for the Memorial Cup, and I think that would be great for his development. Outside of that, I'm not sure the Flames have a great recent history with their prospects in that league.

Historically, the Flames have rarely dabbled in the Q to be honest. The last 4-5 drafts they have waded into the waters a bit more and really have done pretty well.

Pelletier is a good young player that should turn out and Morin, Poirier are also looking promising. You can't really hold a bust that was a bad pick in general in Emile Poirier and some middle to late round picks against them as failures.

The biggest thing is that a guy like Gridin is in a decent program and is going to see a ton of ice. He's on a great trajectory and it's unlikely the Q is going to be his downfall at this point.

[SuperMatt18]

Wonder if part of the delay is that the Flames are considering keeping Gridin in the AHL and teams won't trade for him until he's actually been assigned to the Q

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Wonder if part of the delay is that the Flames are considering keeping Gridin in the AHL and teams won't trade for him until he's actually been assigned to the Q

That makes sense. I would do the same in their shoes.

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Wonder if part of the delay is that the Flames are considering keeping Gridin in the AHL and teams won't trade for him until he's actually been assigned to the Q

This makes a ton of sense. After the Young Stars and early training camp the Flames will see where he fits and the QMJHL season doesn't start until late September.