[News] Gridin and Brzustewicz assigned to AHL for Olympic break

[TheScorpion]

Flames have two P/GP+ NCAA centres in their D+1s, plus a winger who is leading the entirety of NCAA D1 hockey in scoring. Two firsts in each of the next two drafts. Parekh, Gridin, Honzek, Mews, Brzustewicz, Coronato, Wolf. Bleak!

[cam_calderon]

It's a long way from playing hockey after your morning lecture to the NHL.

Parekh spends more time on the treatment table than on the ice, Wolf has crashed back to earth, Coronato is maybe playing to his contract at best.

Parekh is not a future 1D at this stage. So right now, all you have is a top 10 goalie, who is small, no top D and no top line forwards at all. Will they be drafted in the next 1-3 years? Yes, I hope so, but it's far from guaranteed. Even if a top coach wants to come here and the stars align, Edwards will probably be too cheap to pay him.

Are we a contender by the end of the decade? My money is on no.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You come across like you're desperate for those picks not to work out so that the outlook for the club can be bleak.

I don't think there's a bleak outlook at all. People who specialize in analysing the draft and prospects are coming around to the view that the Flames have one of the best prospect pools in the league now, and they are continuing to accumulate extra picks. The team will be ugly for a few years until (some of) those picks turn into players, but I don't consider that bleak.

Bleak is what they're facing in Vancouver, where they are short of picks and prospects, the team unexpectedly stinks, and they just had to trade away their best player because he demanded to get out.

We've been tanking for three season at this season's end, according to some people at least, and we still have a middle of the road pool. So that is not "one of the best", one of the best would be top 5.

Sure it depends on who is drafted in the first two rounds in the 26 draft, but if we get some rotten luck, as is the Calgary way, we could miss out on a top 5 pick and get a good, but not great player. Three years of pain completed, with multiple more years to come.

Being in a better spot than Vancouver is a pretty low bar, but I guess a low bar is what Flames fans have been brainwashed into thinking is an acceptable standard.

[The Cobra]

The fact remains that the Flames prospect pool has been improving each year, and most experts view it as top 10, likely closer to top 5 now.

Will all these prospects hit their ceiling? Of course not. But all aren't going to fail also.

That's why you accumulate as many high picks as possible, to increase those odds.

The Flames have some very good players among those prospects.

Who they are and how good, I don't know, but the Flames appear to have a very good scouting department. I wouldn't be betting against them.

Let's enjoy the ride as we find out.

[BigThief]

"Dustin Wolf came crashing back down to earth" tells me all I need to know about cam's little emotional regulation game. Out of the 27 goalies who've started over 30 games (Wolf's had 40) only three of them are the same age as him. 24 is the age goalies start coming into their own, and suggesting a 2nd year player in wolf is crashing back down to earth playing on one of the worst teams is just pure ignorance.

Flames fans have been extremely excited about Gridin and Wyttenback this season, for good seasons. There's plenty of prospects we've cooled on, go discuss Basha or Battaglia if you want to be a downer.

[cam_calderon]

ESPN have them eighth, Athletic 13 and 17. Upside Hockey 18th. Where are these top five spots coming from? Maybe if they get a McKenna or Stennberg in 26.

[Bingo]

Man am I glad Cam showed up to make sure I don't get excited about anything Flame related during an Olympic break.

I almost cracked a smile on the way in this morning, so I needed someone to make sure I wouldn't get disappointed in 3 years.

I think you almost have to cancel out any lists that are six or more months old. Focus on the 2026 publishing date and you'll only see top 10.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

The hockey writers: 6
Daily faceoff: 10
Usa today: 3
Bleacher Report: 6

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

That they have 4 (likely 5 after the TDL) first round picks coming in the next two drafts logically says their system will climb in the rankings.

How many other teams will be drafting at that clip in the first round outside of maybe the Backhawks? Very few if none more than the Flames.

And we know the Flames pick will be in that top 5 range.

Not hard to figure out, unless you're some closet baby oil-ers fan.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

The hockey writers: 6
Daily faceoff: 10
Usa today: 3
Bleacher Report: 6

6 and 10 are higher than 5, genius

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

That they have 4 (likely 5 after the TDL) first round picks coming in the next two drafts logically says their system will climb in the rankings.

How many other teams will be drafting at that clip in the first round outside of maybe the Backhawks? Very few if none more than the Flames.

And we know the Flames pick will be in that top 5 range.

Not hard to figure out, unless you're some closet baby oil-ers fan.

Never said the ranking wouldn't climb, but to amass one of the best prospect pools, you need to draft well and definitely get some luck along the way. Strictly being bad on the ice isn't enough. You could have an Islanders like lottery win again.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

The OP you were responding to said "top 10, closer to top 5"

A statement perfectly in line with those rankings. You're the one creating negatively-oriented narratives.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

The OP you were responding to said "top 10, closer to top 5"

A statement perfectly in line with those rankings. You're the one creating negatively-oriented narratives.

You only cited glorified blog sites. Some of those writers are barely literate, probably not even paid, whereas I referenced two of the biggest sports media companies around, so I'd put a lot more stock into what the likes of Pronman and Wheeler are writing about prospects.

Negativity ≠ realism.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

You only cited glorified blog sites. Some of those writers are barely literate, probably not even paid, whereas I referenced two of the biggest sports media companies around, so I'd put a lot more stock into what the likes of Pronman and Wheeler are writing about prospects.

Negativity ≠ realism.

I also like to find reasons to arbitrarily dismiss views that don't align to my own. It makes things much more efficient.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I also like to find reasons to arbitrarily dismiss views that don't align to my own. It makes things much more efficient.

How is it arbitrary? You wouldn't put JK Rowling in the same sphere as Tolstoy or Steinbeck, now, would you? The more informed and reputed people's perspectives align with my own, which is no surprise.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I look at Gridin and I see Pavel Bure - Lite. Decent size, fantastic skater (Pavel was better of course), and a lethal shot, and high IQ. I think he is Calgary's most likely top-line talent on the team, and perhaps a future star. Point out his weaknesses. There aren't many at all, and none of them are weaknesses that can't be overcome with experience and development. Love this kid.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

How is it arbitrary? You wouldn't put JK Rowling in the same sphere as Tolstoy or Steinbeck, now, would you? The more informed and reputed people's perspectives align with my own, which is no surprise.

As I said above you need to throw out all quality if the date on the analysis is older than New Year's Eve.

Wyttenbach makes that pretty clear.

The next round coming out before the draft and anything published with a 2026 date of any quality has more credence.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Technically every entity that makes opinionated commentary on a game is a glorified blog.

Haven't Pronman and Wheeler had a recent track record of being wrong on many fronts, but especially in relation to the Flames/Flames players?

At least cite some better glorified blogger champions for your paltry attempt at realism.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Bingo

As I said above you need to throw out all quality if the date on the analysis is older than New Year's Eve.

Wyttenbach makes that pretty clear.

The next round coming out before the draft and anything published with a 2026 date of any quality has more credence.

These aren't stock tips, they don't just become irrelevant after six months. Of course there are fluctuations, and that includes prospects who are now trending in the opposite direction, or the ones whose development has been stunted by serious injuries.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Technically every entity that makes opinionated commentary on a game is a glorified blog.

Haven't Pronman and Wheeler had a recent track record of being wrong on many fronts, but especially in relation to the Flames/Flames players?

At least cite some better glorified blogger champions for your paltry attempt at realism.

Journalists with decades of experience are not bloggers, they are journalists. Bloggers are bloggers.