Not that it particularly matters... but using December 31st as a cut-off is as arbitrary (although more common) as using the NHL draft cut-off date.
Well it is the date that is used by most (all?) minor hockey leagues and used by junior hockey leagues, WJHC and the AHL.
I think it makes more sense because it deals with guys who are at similar spots in their development in terms of how many years they have been playing and how many years they have been in junior (or at least eligible for junior).
I'm so damn excited about our organizational depth right now. The Baby Flames have lost a total of 5 forwards (Jooris, Granlund, Ferland, Baertschi and Reinhart) to NHL callups and have still managed to go on a 5 game winning streak because we still have Poirier, Hanowski, Arnold, Knight, van Brabant, Agostino and Wolf up front. Simply amazing. I know I have said this before, but: thanks Jay Feaster. Say what you will about this guy, but he has laid a lot of groundwork in terms of youth and prospect depth and the Flames are reaping those rewards right now.
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I'm so damn excited about our organizational depth right now. Thanks Jay Feaster. Say what you will about this guy, but he has laid a lot of groundwork in terms of youth and prospect depth.
I hope that this can be attributed to Todd Button and his group. I'm still a little concerned that Burke's and Treliving's obsession with size might cause us to pass on Gaudreau, Granlund, Baertschi types in the future.
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Even before Shinkaruk's injury though, his stats in junior were already regressing. I know stats don't tell the entire story, but that is concerning. Add in the fact he is an undersized left-winger and that makes me even happier the Flames took Poirier. Shinkaruk probably is still going to end up being a good player, but Poirier looks like he'll be the more important player long-term.
Have a question for the guys that are watching all the baby flames games.......
How is hanowski speed coming along? His stats would say he is close to a call up, but Hartely wants speed in his lineup. Does he have the speed to get the call up?
Have a question for the guys that are watching all the baby flames games.......
How is hanowski speed coming along? His stats would say he is close to a call up, but Hartely wants speed in his lineup. Does he have the speed to get the call up?
Pretty much the same. He's still got that awkward kind of lumbery stride, but it gets the job done. He can keep up with the play, but I wouldn't say he pushes the play with his feet.
The one difference I see this year is that he always seems to be in a good position to score. Last season, he'd be a foot or two in the wrong direction of where he was supposed to be.
Label me surprised with how he's been doing in the absence of the "stars" of the team.
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I hope that this can be attributed to Todd Button and his group. I'm still a little concerned that Burke's and Treliving's obsession with size might cause us to pass on Gaudreau, Granlund, Baertschi types in the future.
I have that fear myself but to be fair to both Burke and Treliving they kept Gaudreau on the team at training camp and called up both Grandlund and Bartschi. Burke has said time and time again that you need skill on your top lines, that trumps size.
