Flames prospects to be excited about

[Jiri Hrdina]

Worth noting that for a team like San Jose, the rankings exclude Celebrini and Smith.

[Enoch Root]

We knew going in that he would have the Habs at #1. I can't wait to see his rationale on having the Flames ahead of SJS

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Worth noting that for a team like San Jose, the rankings exclude Celebrini and Smith.

If it excludes Celebrini, then it excludes Wolf

(i.e. the NHL games played number is up to date)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

We knew going in that he would have the Habs at #1. I can't wait to see his rationale on having the Flames ahead of SJS

You can read his explanation for San Jose but here it is. When you take Celebrini and Smith out of the equation, their remaining prospect pool isn't nearly as strong:

To be completely honest, I expected the Sharks to finish in the top 3, maybe even #1. I guess that assumption came in factoring guys like Celebrini and Smith, who aren't eligible to be ranked here. San Jose's prospect pool is led by Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni. Both these guys project as possible star defensemen, if even one of them turns into a star, it's going to be great news for the Sharks. Dickinson falling to the Sharks last summer was a miracle and Cagnoni's been underrated for a long time due to his size. Quentin Musty is up next. His power-forward playstyle is one that GMs fall in love with. He also has the stats to back it up, unlike some other highly touted power forwards. To end it off are Jack Thompson and Leo Sahlin Wallenius, two defensemen that the model both projects as impact guys. Living in California, I am rooting for the Sharks to be great soon and I think they have the potential to.

[Jiri Hrdina]

He calls it an NHLe model, which means it's probably based on NHL equivalencies. I suspect he has the Flames high on the strength of their last draft including what those players have been doing this season. The model probably favors offensive production over other things.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He calls it an NHLe model, which means it's probably based on NHL equivalencies. I suspect he has the Flames high on the strength of their last draft including what those players have been doing this season. The model probably favors offensive production over other things.

And that would explain why he likes the Flames: Parekh, Mews, Misa and othere are all putting up points.

A bit one-dimensional for my tastes.

As for SJS and excluding Celebrini and Smith - I have always felt that excluding guys because they are already good enough to play in the NHL is the stupidest thing you can do with these sorts of lists.

"We have Celebrini (18) and Smith (19)!"

"Doesn't count - they're already NHL stars. We have <insert names of guys not in NHL because they're not as good> so we win"

If you want to know which teams are set up for the future, just include everyone 23 and under (or 22 or whatever you deem appropriate)

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He calls it an NHLe model, which means it's probably based on NHL equivalencies. I suspect he has the Flames high on the strength of their last draft including what those players have been doing this season. The model probably favors offensive production over other things.

I think that's right . its just one guy and I think there are deficiencies, obvious, to the model, but we should still celebrate the outcome! mostly the 24 draft to be sure for the Flames- the draft looked good from day one, based in large part on the offensive production/projection


pretty easy to imagine the Flames D rank as #1using this criteria- they have 3 or 4 guys with eye popping numbers and run about 12 deep with their 2nd six likely on par with some teams' top 6


the forwards lack a game breaker/elite, but you have the 'big 4' from this year putting up numbers, sprinkle in Honzek, Suniev, Kerins, Stomgren (too lazy but I think all eligible) and its probably a top half group also

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And that would explain why he likes the Flames: Parekh, Mews, Misa and othere are all putting up points.

A bit one-dimensional for my tastes.

As for SJS and excluding Celebrini and Smith - I have always felt that excluding guys because they are already good enough to play in the NHL is the stupidest thing you can do with these sorts of lists.

"We have Celebrini (18) and Smith (19)!"

"Doesn't count - they're already NHL stars. We have <insert names of guys not in NHL because they're not as good> so we win"

If you want to know which teams are set up for the future, just include everyone 23 and under (or 22 or whatever you deem appropriate)

every way of slicing things has limits and tells slightly different things- as long as they are consistent in the criteria


clearly using your scope Sharks shoot to the front of the line, but Flames (for once?) would also drag some names back in - Coronato, and in this exercise I think Wolf and Zary-



I don't mind what this list is projecting- who has the best set of goodies not currently in the NHL essentially. not the only question worth asking but it is one

[D as in David]

How do the Flames' prospects look using the GRIT index™?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Top 4 is now posted inclusive of a shot at Team Canada:
https://x.com/nickthehabsfan/status/1875962242757501163


#4: Calgary Flames - The Flames had an amazing 2024 draft. Last spring, they came in at #17 in my U23 Pipeline Rankings. Now, their prospect group is at #4. Like Washington yesterday, the effect that one strong draft class can have is huge. Just look at Dallas for a current example and their 2017 draft class when they picked up Heiskanen, Oettinger, and Robertson. Calgary's best prospect today is Zayne Parekh. He's one of the best junior Canadian defensemen, he must've had a huge impact on Team Canada in this World Juniors. The gold medal game is today, I'm sure he'll be huge in helping Canada win... Outside of Parekh, Calgary has two more 2024 draft picks who project as possible stars. These two are Henry Mews and Luke Misa. Both are guys that were falling in last summer's draft and have not disappointed this season. Moving onto the possible impact pieces are three guys from the 2023 draft and one from 2024. The three from 2023 are Hunter Brzustewicz (acquired via trade), Étienne Morin, and Aydar Suniev. All three of these guys are developing nicely for the Flames. The Brzustewicz acquisition from the Lindholm trade seems to be a great move from GM Conroy so far. Andrew Basha is the guy from the 2024 draft. He's another player that the Flames decided to draft after he started falling which has proved to be another good decision by Calgary. The Flames were supposed to be tanking this season but with their current prospect group, it wouldn't hurt them too badly in the long term if they continued to make a playoff push.

[Enoch Root]

He has CAR #2 for defensemen, and the Flames #3 - who was #1?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He has CAR #2 for defensemen, and the Flames #3 - who was #1?

San Jose. On the strength of Dickinson and Cagnoni.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Top 4 is now posted inclusive of a shot at Team Canada:
https://x.com/nickthehabsfan/status/1875962242757501163


#4: Calgary Flames - The Flames had an amazing 2024 draft. Last spring, they came in at #17 in my U23 Pipeline Rankings. Now, their prospect group is at #4. Like Washington yesterday, the effect that one strong draft class can have is huge. Just look at Dallas for a current example and their 2017 draft class when they picked up Heiskanen, Oettinger, and Robertson. Calgary's best prospect today is Zayne Parekh. He's one of the best junior Canadian defensemen, he must've had a huge impact on Team Canada in this World Juniors. The gold medal game is today, I'm sure he'll be huge in helping Canada win... Outside of Parekh, Calgary has two more 2024 draft picks who project as possible stars. These two are Henry Mews and Luke Misa. Both are guys that were falling in last summer's draft and have not disappointed this season. Moving onto the possible impact pieces are three guys from the 2023 draft and one from 2024. The three from 2023 are Hunter Brzustewicz (acquired via trade), Étienne Morin, and Aydar Suniev. All three of these guys are developing nicely for the Flames. The Brzustewicz acquisition from the Lindholm trade seems to be a great move from GM Conroy so far. Andrew Basha is the guy from the 2024 draft. He's another player that the Flames decided to draft after he started falling which has proved to be another good decision by Calgary. The Flames were supposed to be tanking this season but with their current prospect group, it wouldn't hurt them too badly in the long term if they continued to make a playoff push.

I really like our prospect pool. I see Suniev,Stromgren,gridin, basha, Honzek as high probability nhl’ers. With Bell,Battaglia,Klapka making cases as well.

Kerins i think has earned his right to a call up. Not sure i see misa as a center but he is doing everything you could ask at his level.

Bruster, morin,Parehk, Poirier, Kuznetsov, mews; has to be a couple of good nhl’ers in there ?

If we trade Anderson a first is coming back so we would have three firsts this year or next.

Never seen a flams team have this many assets.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I really like our prospect pool. I see Suniev,Stromgren,gridin, basha, Honzek as high probability nhl’ers. With Bell,Battaglia,Klapka making cases as well.

Kerins i think has earned his right to a call up. Not sure i see misa as a center but he is doing everything you could ask at his level.

Bruster, morin,Parehk, Poirier, Kuznetsov, mews; has to be a couple of good nhl’ers in there ?

If we trade Anderson a first is coming back so we would have three firsts this year or next.

Never seen a flams team have this many assets.

I've long maintained the the biggest issue with this franchise for the better part of 30 years has been they constantly are working with a poor asset base. But indeed I think that is finally changing. They need more elite prospects with star potential, but that'll come with time.

There's been a lot of talk that the Flames are trying to emulate the Stars. I see them more trying to emulate the Canes actually.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I've long maintained the the biggest issue with this franchise for the better part of 30 years has been they constantly are working with a poor asset base. But indeed I think that is finally changing. They need more elite prospects with star potential, but that'll come with time.

There's been a lot of talk that the Flames are trying to emulate the Stars. I see them more trying to emulate the Canes actually.

To me the dallas model is hitting on a three high end players in one draft.

I agree on the canes model. Depth at positions wins cups somehing the Treliving edition was constantly fighting with. Endless stream of picks going out to shore up( usually) the bottom end of the roster.

Why i advocate trading Anderson this year beside the fact i think he will decline quickly. Adding another first and good to very good prospect would give us huge flexibility especially if that prospect is a center.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I really like our prospect pool. I see Suniev,Stromgren,gridin, basha, Honzek as high probability nhl’ers. With Bell,Battaglia,Klapka making cases as well.

Kerins i think has earned his right to a call up. Not sure i see misa as a center but he is doing everything you could ask at his level.

Bruster, morin,Parehk, Poirier, Kuznetsov, mews; has to be a couple of good nhl’ers in there ?

If we trade Anderson a first is coming back so we would have three firsts this year or next.

Never seen a flams team have this many assets.

Don't forget Grushnikov, Solovyov and Hurtig

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I've long maintained the the biggest issue with this franchise for the better part of 30 years has been they constantly are working with a poor asset base. But indeed I think that is finally changing. They need more elite prospects with star potential, but that'll come with time.

There's been a lot of talk that the Flames are trying to emulate the Stars. I see them more trying to emulate the Canes actually.

I sure hope so. IMO, CAR is the perfect role model for us - small market team that understands that they have to keep all their picks, and in fact generate extras by trading older guys that are getting expensive. They are the best ongoing asset managers in the NHL, IMO, and that is what the Flames need to be.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I've long maintained the the biggest issue with this franchise for the better part of 30 years has been they constantly are working with a poor asset base. But indeed I think that is finally changing. They need more elite prospects with star potential, but that'll come with time.

There's been a lot of talk that the Flames are trying to emulate the Stars. I see them more trying to emulate the Canes actually.

Yeah I see alot of what they've done recently aligning with the canes as well.

Finding value, asset management and staying young.


We'll see what they do with Rasmus though. The canes avoided re-signing Skjei and Pesce, instead going for some value contracts in Walker and Ghost. I assume this is because they got some studs like morrow and Nikishin being close.

The flames are in a somewhat similar situation. We have guys like Parehk, Bruz, Mews, Morin plus a few others that might be ready sooner then later.

They'll probably lock up Bahl. They already have Weegar. Will they lock up another spot with Rasmus longterm? Or you do recoup some assets from him and try and find a cheaper short term stop gap in FA.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Yes and I would add that the Canes model also includes:
- Placing a high value on picks and trying to accumulate as many as possible
- Drafting for skill over everything else

To me when i look at how Conroy handled the last draft - it reeked of the Canes.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by traptor

Yeah I see alot of what they've done recently aligning with the canes as well.

Finding value, asset management and staying young.


We'll see what they do with Rasmus though. The canes avoided re-signing Skjei and Pesce, instead going for some value contracts in Walker and Ghost. I assume this is because they got some studs like morrow and Nikishin being close.

The flames are in a somewhat similar situation. We have guys like Parehk, Bruz, Mews, Morin plus a few others that might be ready sooner then later.

They'll probably lock up Bahl. They already have Weegar. Will they lock up another spot with Rasmus longterm? Or you do recoup some assets from him and try and find a cheaper short term stop gap in FA.

Honestly I don't think it will matter because I think Rasmus won't re-sign because it will become increasingly clear this team is not close to winning, and reportedly that's what he's looking for.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I've long maintained the the biggest issue with this franchise for the better part of 30 years has been they constantly are working with a poor asset base. But indeed I think that is finally changing. They need more elite prospects with star potential, but that'll come with time.

There's been a lot of talk that the Flames are trying to emulate the Stars. I see them more trying to emulate the Canes actually.

I think they are definitely trying to emulate the Canes.

Conroy has added 8 picks to what he started with when he became GM. 3 firsts, 2 seconds and three 3rds.

I suspect future trades that he makes will also involve pick up picks. They talk about the Stars model but they are following the Canes the model.