[News] With the 144th OA pick, the Flames select LW Ethan Wyttenbach

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Roko

There is also money to made if he does go pro. Even if he mostly plays on the AHL, he could burn a year of ELC or at least get NHL games on a poor flames roster. Before spots get taken by other young guys it may not be the worst idea to try and go pro after this season.

No idea what Quinnipiac can offer as far as NIL money, but without question if one of the bigger programs were to entice him to enter the portal and move schools, they could offer him substantial $$...and likely far more than he would get playing AHL (if he is even eligible).

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No idea what Quinnipiac can offer as far as NIL money, but without question if one of the bigger programs were to entice him to enter the portal and move schools, they could offer him substantial $$...and likely far more than he would get playing AHL (if he is even eligible).

These kids have agents that consider the big picture. Burning a year off ELC likely worth long term more than a single year NCAA money.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No idea what Quinnipiac can offer as far as NIL money, but without question if one of the bigger programs were to entice him to enter the portal and move schools, they could offer him substantial $$...and likely far more than he would get playing AHL (if he is even eligible).

Not necessarily. Most info suggests the highest profile guys getting very low six figures and others much less. AHL salary is probably comparable, AHL salary + signing bonus pushes it higher than what they’d probably make in college.

And then as mentioned there is the fact that it moves higher earning years closer.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Not necessarily. Most info suggests the highest profile guys getting very low six figures and others much less. AHL salary is probably comparable, AHL salary + signing bonus pushes it higher than what they’d probably make in college.

And then as mentioned there is the fact that it moves higher earning years closer.

Most lower draft picks in the A are making 10% of their NHL salary....others even less. A couple years back 75K was pretty common.

Most of those deals are sub 1M if on their ELC.

Now the Flames could choose to pay anyone whatever they want to.They wont of course because its bad business and really opens the door for agents to start playing the "whatabout" game.

The top NIL earners in NCAA hockey will pull in 150-200K and more for the McKenna level guys.

Burning a year of the ELC can certainly be a benefit and would be considered heavily by any player/agent worth their salt.

The other side of that is that there is another year of paid for education to consider as well while earning a decent wage.

Lots goes into this stuff for sure, but turning pro cuz "money", isnt as cut and dried as it maybe once was

[Tacoman]

Will depend on how ready he and the Flames think he is and also how he feels about school. Most of the players at Denver that left early did it in some part because they just didn’t like school. Money should be better in the pro’s even if he’s in the AHL. Signing bonus will be roughly $100k per year for three years and AHL salary also roughly $100k per year. So US$200k per year even with no NHL games will likely be higher than NIL.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Not necessarily. Most info suggests the highest profile guys getting very low six figures and others much less. AHL salary is probably comparable, AHL salary + signing bonus pushes it higher than what they’d probably make in college.

And then as mentioned there is the fact that it moves higher earning years closer.

Exactly, Gridin has played 13 NHL games and has made around 200k so far, just a taste of NHL action puts the earnings through the roof.

[transplant99]

The other thing in play here is that there is a very limited amount of NCAA programs that can offer substantial NIL deals in hockey, so that is certainly a consideration.

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

Will depend on how ready he and the Flames think he is and also how he feels about school. Most of the players at Denver that left early did it in some part because they just didn’t like school. Money should be better in the pro’s even if he’s in the AHL. Signing bonus will be roughly $100k per year for three years and AHL salary also roughly $100k per year. So US$200k per year even with no NHL games will likely be higher than NIL.

Exactly. Thanks Taco.

Of course it’s whether both sides think he is ready. Aside from the guys with injury shortened seasons or clearly more development it’s beneficial too to get guys in under contracts and team control.

Lots of factors. If I’m the flames im pushing for reschney, wyttenbach, and 2026 1st to join the team if it makes sense. Even if it’s just the AHL. Assuming the pick is out of the NCAA/SHL. Flames will wanna sell tickets and excitement if not next year, the following year.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Most lower draft picks in the A are making 10% of their NHL salary....others even less. A couple years back 75K was pretty common.

Most of those deals are sub 1M if on their ELC.

Now the Flames could choose to pay anyone whatever they want to.They wont of course because its bad business and really opens the door for agents to start playing the "whatabout" game.

The top NIL earners in NCAA hockey will pull in 150-200K and more for the McKenna level guys.

Burning a year of the ELC can certainly be a benefit and would be considered heavily by any player/agent worth their salt.

The other side of that is that there is another year of paid for education to consider as well while earning a decent wage.

Lots goes into this stuff for sure, but turning pro cuz "money", isnt as cut and dried as it maybe once was

The minimum most ELC players would make playing in the AHL next year is around $140k.

Parker Bell, another 5th round pick, makes $166k annually (just to put into perspective).

And that’s not including any brand or sponsorship deals higher profile players would have access to in the AHL/NHL, which makes up a bunch of the NIL money anyway.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Slanter

It's okay to be excited, and it's also fair to discuss the strength of opposition. Quinnipiac just beat unranked teams 9-1 and 8-0 this weekend. Compare that to the 1 and 2 ranked teams Michigan and Michigan State who played two games that finished 4-3 (OT) and 5-2. Wyttenbach is obviously playing in a bit of a point factory.

But at the same time, the absolute best you can hope for a prospect is that they dominate whatever situation they're in. That's what's happening here, and I think it's super exciting.

Ok, now pick another weekend. Do you really think Michigan and Michigan State play top 5 teams every weekend and Quinnipiac only plays teams like Yale and Brown?

By the one measurement system I looked at their strength of schedule is 12th in the country. They are 9th in the NPI and the teams you chose to compare are 1 and 2 respectively.

I am not trying to say Quinnipiac is the premier program in the country or that Wyttenbach is going to come into the league and do the things he's done this year, but both the Program and the player are being undersold in the posts from those telling everyone else there's not much to be excited about yet. What he's done this season is historically significant and Quinnipiac is a high level NCAA program. Theres no point in denying either of those things and accepting them doesn't mean one is assuming NHL stardom either.

People said the same.things about Johnny too.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It's not like ECAC is Division III. Quinnipiac is a quality program.

Still, money has entered collegiate hockey.

This is a good point that I didn't consider. However, it does seen Wyttenbach's goal is NHL as soon as he can get there. A transfer for a NIL deal might not serve that goal. Then again, any NIL he would have thought possible he has probably obliterated at this point.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

Will depend on how ready he and the Flames think he is and also how he feels about school. Most of the players at Denver that left early did it in some part because they just didn’t like school. Money should be better in the pro’s even if he’s in the AHL. Signing bonus will be roughly $100k per year for three years and AHL salary also roughly $100k per year. So US$200k per year even with no NHL games will likely be higher than NIL.

Came here for Tacoman's first hand knowledge, left satisfied.

[TheScorpion]

Wyttenbach has the same agent, er, "advisor" as Coronato. I don't think it's any question that he's having a better D+1 ECAC season than Coronato did. I would be shocked if he transferred. My guess is he goes back for one more year, especially if he doesn't win the Hobey.

[FlamesAddiction]

Whatever is best for his development. It looks like going to Quinnipiac a year earlier than originally planned was the best decision in that regard. Does staying at Quinnipiac another year challenge him enough if there are other options on the table? Is there value in having him burn the house down at the same level in his D+2 year? I obviously don't know, but I would think you would want him to move up to another level if possible.

[Sandman]

I thought he would be completely overwhelmed in going to college one year early. Shows what I know….

[Rick M.]

How good is Wyttenbach’s skating? Most video I see starts with him in the O zone preparing to shoot.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

How good is Wyttenbach’s skating? Most video I see starts with him in the O zone preparing to shoot.

It was a knock last year, and I still think it needs work, but it certainly doesn’t appear to hinder him in any way.

[Reggie Dunlop]

The thing that impressed me about Coronato when he came into the Flames was how determined he was -- and how he absorbed eagerly the advice he was getting from coaches and development staff. You could see it in his interviews. Work on this, work on that. He was like a sponge.

If he has any ability to impart that experience onto the younger Wyttenbach, he'll have been a good training partner.

[Muta]

Here’s a question - if you re-draft him today, what round/pick is he going at?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The thing that impressed me about Coronato when he came into the Flames was how determined he was -- and how he absorbed eagerly the advice he was getting from coaches and development staff. You could see it in his interviews. Work on this, work on that. He was like a sponge.

If he has any ability to impart that experience onto the younger Wyttenbach, he'll have been a good training partner.

Everything we have heard from him so far would suggest that he will put in the same work that Coronato has shown. I suspect he will be all over the skating coach (if he hasn't already started)