Gridin was a 19 year old in the weakest league of the CHL. While he had lots of points, he didn't dominate.
I am far from a scout, and my opinion is primarily based on what I have read, not observed, BUT I have very low expectations for Gridin. I have him ranked 11th of our prospects.
At least I think he has a higher likelihood of success than Honzek (ranked 14th).
for sure Gridin was an atypical QMJHL rookie, as this was his D+1 year, but he was only 19 in the same way as Battaglia or Mews- they are all March 2006 birthdays and younger than Parekh (by a month admittedly). I think your guarded perspective is fair (and I'm not claiming he outplayed those OHLers) but I'm guilty myself of treating Gridin as older than he is (because he's AHL eligible next season). guess not saying you are doing the same, just pointing it out based maybe on my own biases
Have the same opinion but for me its gets even more complex.
I am a firm believer in higher levels. Parekh is a no brainer here. I have never seen a prospect engineer their first goal in the nhl. The junior career, pick placement so on but then it gets more complex.
Honzek, in spite if many posters opinion here, is a serious consideration for second in the poll. He made the team last year, was half a point p/g in his first year in the A, after some injury issues.
Stromgren same thing but a shorter leash and based on his comments he knows this year is a bit of a make or break. I expect both to be super motivated coming into camp but for different reasons.
Brewski also got a taste of the big leagues has a year in the A expect him to be looking for a spot.
Time on solo and kuzis probably coming to an end.
However based on sheer potential its probably Reschy, premium position, high iq, i think one of the best passers in the draft, improve his skating he could be a first line forward, potter to me has the same potential just not sold on it being at center.
After Parekh a legitimate call could be made for half a dozen different guys.
Honzek is probably the most under-rated prospect among Flames fans. He made the team out of camp, as a 20 year old, and looked fantastic doing it.
And many still call him a bust.
I like Hanzek at #2, but I can also see the case for Brzstewicz and Gridin. For me, Reschny and Potter need a year of progression before I can rank them that high.
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Honzek is probably the most under-rated prospect among Flames fans. He made the team out of camp, as a 20 year old, and looked fantastic doing it.
And many still call him a bust.
I like Hanzek at #2, but I can also see the case for Brzstewicz and Gridin. For me, Reschny and Potter need a year of progression before I can rank them that high.
Honestly until i make the choice i am not even sure at this point.
For me any of Honzek, Stromgren,Gridin,Brewski, Reschny ,Potter all have justification to go second.
I have I! Dar! Suniev! As my darkhorse guy in camp this year.
My 2nd is Honzek still. He hasn't had the luck with injuries, but I still see a fast, big prospect with an elite shot and who generates his own offence. I am not dropping him because - AFAIK - the injuries aren't recurring, but random injuries in different areas. I can see why some people are down on him, but I still have him really high. Hopefully he is just killing it this off-season again with Pospisil, and comes into camp this fall and does even more to grab a spot on the team.
Gridin is up there. Huska was fairly confident that Gridin would be challenging for a spot this season on the Flames.
Reschny might be the new shiny toy, but his IQ is off the charts. If he works hard on his skating, he has the chance of becoming a core piece. If he can't, then I think he tops off as a middle-six winger (though who am I to really shoe-horn him?).
Potter is another new shiny toy, but other than being a couple of inches short, what weaknesses are we really talking about here? I see his floor as Byron (and that's Mr. 20 goals per season Byron, BTW, who was an elite PKer). He will make the NHL, and he will be good. How good remains to be seen.
Basha can compete here too. He dropped because he was battling an ankle injury all season in his draft. Even on one healthy ankle, he was fast and he looked really strong out there. During preseason at times, he looked like the best player.
Morin is the most overlooked prospect. If we have a Giordano in the system, it is him. He does everything. I mean everything. Name something he isn't good at. You can't, because it doesn't exist. He is the most well-rounded defencemen in the Flames' system, with top-pairing potential in my opinion. He may not translate into a really good #1, but he may end up becoming Parekh's long-term partner. If not Parekh, he will be on the 2nd pairing helping to give the Flames two #1 pairings.
Looks like a 6-way run-off!
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Honzek is probably the most under-rated prospect among Flames fans. He made the team out of camp, as a 20 year old, and looked fantastic doing it.
And many still call him a bust.
I like Hanzek at #2, but I can also see the case for Brzstewicz and Gridin. For me, Reschny and Potter need a year of progression before I can rank them that high.
He was actually still 19 when he made the team last fall.
I don't see the offensive upside with Honzek myself, but with his size and skating he could be a really good two way 3rd liner for a long time. Hopefully with time he finds some offense and it'd be nice if he can stick at center.
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Honzek is probably the most under-rated prospect among Flames fans. He made the team out of camp, as a 20 year old, and looked fantastic doing it.
And many still call him a bust.
I like Hanzek at #2, but I can also see the case for Brzstewicz and Gridin. For me, Reschny and Potter need a year of progression before I can rank them that high.
I dont see many calling him a bust.
Unfortunately injuries have derailed him a bit, but can still see a bright future for him.
I don't think Honzek is a bust but I think the most likely outcome for him is as a third or fourth line forward and he's missed a lot of time at critical points in his development. He isn't in my Top 10.
That 2023 first round is looking worse by the day.
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Honzek put up unreal results in fitness testing recently, has been training hard with Posp, and is only 2 playing seasons removed from his draft so I think it’s still too early to declare him as a bust. This next season is a huge one for Honzek though and I’m rooting for him.
God, Langkow would have scored 50 deflection goals if he and Parekh could have played together.
His highlights are unreal, he looks like an absurdly patient Makar out there. How he opens up shooting lanes, uses screens, and his completely unexpected back door passes... He'll absolutely feast on the PP.
I hate to do it, but I will call him a bust.
If his ceiling is a third liner, I consider that a waste of a first round pick.
I thought he may have turned a corner last camp when he made the team, but it was a fluke. Otherwise, he would have dominated in the AHL (he didn’t).
Doesn't always work that way. Some guys work on specific things while in the A. Other guys just fit one league better than another. I don't put much weight at all on how he played in the A, I am far more concerned/impressed with how he looked with NHLers. TO me, that is the indication of who he will be as a player.
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