Yes, I think Wolf should be called up before Granlund. I think going on the whole earned thing, he's earned it.
Don't see it. I don't think Wolf can skate at the NHL level. I'd love to see Wolf replace Bollig, as Bollig is the Flame I like the least, but I just don't see Wolf surviving the speed of the NHL. Granlund is a NHL player because he has a NHL skill level. I don't think Wolf has NHL quality skill regardless of how many points he puts up in the minors.
Don't see it. I don't think Wolf can skate at the NHL level. I'd love to see Wolf replace Bollig, as Bollig is the Flame I like the least, but I just don't see Wolf surviving the speed of the NHL. Granlund is a NHL player because he has a NHL skill level. I don't think Wolf has NHL quality skill regardless of how many points he puts up in the minors.
If Drury says Wolf is more deserving than Granlund to get the callup, he's more deserving than Granlund.
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Don't see it. I don't think Wolf can skate at the NHL level. I'd love to see Wolf replace Bollig, as Bollig is the Flame I like the least, but I just don't see Wolf surviving the speed of the NHL. Granlund is a NHL player because he has a NHL skill level. I don't think Wolf has NHL quality skill regardless of how many points he puts up in the minors.
I don't understand where the David Wolf cant skate thing comes from. I watched him a few times live and a bunch online, never saw an issue with his skating. Sure he's not TJ Brodie, but he seems to keep up just fine.
Don't see it. I don't think Wolf can skate at the NHL level. I'd love to see Wolf replace Bollig, as Bollig is the Flame I like the least, but I just don't see Wolf surviving the speed of the NHL. Granlund is a NHL player because he has a NHL skill level. I don't think Wolf has NHL quality skill regardless of how many points he puts up in the minors.
What is this based on?
How many games have you watched Wolf play?
There are a few posters that are heavily involved in following the AHL, and one of them who has and does watch a lot of Wolf thinks he deserves a shot. You never know what you have until you see what you have.
If Drury says Wolf is more deserving than Granlund to get the callup, he's more deserving than Granlund.
Not to take anything away from "Drury" but sometimes some of the regular watchers of our AHL club get a little to invested of our farm team players. I remember when a regular AHL watcher/poster was saying Ben Street would be a NHL player. Same with the Goalie that the flames called up a couple of years ago. ( forgot his name ).
New Era does post a good question, granted it was not a question more of a statement, about Wolfs speed. I can't comment on it because I have not seen him play. I did see Hanowski play a couple of times this year and didn't think he has the speed to stay up in the NHL. Hopefully Wolfs skating is better than Hanowksi.
If Drury says Wolf is more deserving than Granlund to get the callup, he's more deserving than Granlund.
The two guys don't even play the same position or even remotely fill the same role. How can the two even be comparable? Got to think and hope that while I'm sure the Flames call up criteria has an element of "earned" to it, I also hope it puts some thought into positional need and role required when making call ups.
The two guys don't even play the same position or even remotely fill the same role. How can the two even be comparable? Got to think and hope that while I'm sure the Flames call up criteria has an element of "earned" to it, I also hope it puts some thought into positional need and role required when making call ups.
There's enough capable centers up that forward position of the call up isn't that important
Is Wolf better than Bollig? Many people seem to be asking that. Wolf hasnt played in the NHL yet, fair point I guess.
What does Bollig bring to this team? Toughness? I am so disappointed in his play in this regard. Does he bring offense? Think we can all agree he does not. Is he a defensive liability? Plays die on his stick and the puck goes to the other team always. I really want to like Bollig, I was hoping for another Bouma when we got him, just tougher. We didnt get that.
Is Wolf the answer? Wont know till he gets a shot. In the A he is showing some offensive skill, maybe Bollig would too in the A. Physical game though is a regular thing for Wolf, not so much for Bollig.
If we let Bollig go and Wolf does not pan out what happens? We play Ferland, or Agostino, or Van Brabant or a host of others. I say its time to call up the WOLF! I promise you I will never say that was a mistake, wish we still had Bollig.
As for point totals and stats? Bollig has 39 games played, 2 assists, and is a minus 7, and 42 penalty minutes. His play is uninspired, he protects no one and does not play a physical game.
I want to like Bollig, I really do. Guy is a good skater for his size, he can play agressive but chooses not to. He is like a Rene Bourque of the fourth line forwards lol! Toolbox is there to be excellent at his role but just does not pull it off.
The answer to the first bold is no - at least until he proves at the NHL level that he is. And the only way to find out is to give him a chance. IF he can show that he can be an effective NHLer then great. Until then, he is only a prospect.
But there is little question in my mind that Wolf has a higher potential ceiling than Bollig. And his AHL stats, vs Bollig's AHL stats, are somewhat helpful in that comparison.
Wolf is a bull in a china shop, and that is what we thought we were getting with Bollig (I am not as disappointed as some of you with Bollig, btw).
Is Wolf's skating good enough to provide 3rd/4th line service in the NHL? Again, the only way to tell for sure is to give him a try. IMO, his skating is not the problem that some posters are making it out to be. He is faster than McGrattan and I would bet that he is faster than Bollig - though again, it comes down to being able to get the job done on NHL ice.
Based on what we have seen in Adirondack, Wolf is more consistently tough than Bollig. He brings that every night. He doesn't just know what his role is, he relishes it. He is the kind of guy that would much rather go through a player than around them.
But to the second bold: why release Bollig before knowing what you've got? Let's give Wolf a shot and then see where we go from there.
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If Drury says Wolf is more deserving than Granlund to get the callup, he's more deserving than Granlund.
And I'll say otherwise, since Granlund has spent more time in the NHL than the AHL this season. Obviously the Flames see something in the kid to keep him in the NHL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumby Lager
What is this based on?
How many games have you watched Wolf play?
There are a few posters that are heavily involved in following the AHL, and one of them who has and does watch a lot of Wolf thinks he deserves a shot. You never know what you have until you see what you have.
I've seen maybe a half dozen Adirondack games this year, which is no where near as close as those AHL fans, but I think it's been enough to see that Wolf doesn't have a good enough game to play in the NHL. There are much better players on the farm with real NHL potential. Wolf has been on a roll of late, but I just can't see his game translating to the NHL in any shape or form. He might be able to cut out a nich like a Ville Nieminen, and be an uber-pest, but his skating will have to improve dramatically for that to happen. I don't think he has enough speed to play in the NHL and his agility is below average. I could see giving him a shot to see what he has, but not at the expense of a player like Granlund. Someone on the 4th line has to get hurt for Wolf to get a call up.
And I'll say otherwise, since Granlund has spent more time in the NHL than the AHL this season. Obviously the Flames see something in the kid to keep him in the NHL.
I've seen maybe a half dozen Adirondack games this year, which is no where near as close as those AHL fans, but I think it's been enough to see that Wolf doesn't have a good enough game to play in the NHL. There are much better players on the farm with real NHL potential. Wolf has been on a roll of late, but I just can't see his game translating to the NHL in any shape or form. He might be able to cut out a nich like a Ville Nieminen, and be an uber-pest, but his skating will have to improve dramatically for that to happen. I don't think he has enough speed to play in the NHL and his agility is below average. I could see giving him a shot to see what he has, but not at the expense of a player like Granlund. Someone on the 4th line has to get hurt for Wolf to get a call up.
-Place a fact massively out of context in order to make a point
-Admit that opinion and judgement is inferior to those of others
-Continues with it anyway
Got it, thanks.
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And I'll say otherwise, since Granlund has spent more time in the NHL than the AHL this season. Obviously the Flames see something in the kid to keep him in the NHL.
I've seen maybe a half dozen Adirondack games this year, which is no where near as close as those AHL fans, but I think it's been enough to see that Wolf doesn't have a good enough game to play in the NHL. There are much better players on the farm with real NHL potential. Wolf has been on a roll of late, but I just can't see his game translating to the NHL in any shape or form. He might be able to cut out a nich like a Ville Nieminen, and be an uber-pest, but his skating will have to improve dramatically for that to happen. I don't think he has enough speed to play in the NHL and his agility is below average. I could see giving him a shot to see what he has, but not at the expense of a player like Granlund. Someone on the 4th line has to get hurt for Wolf to get a call up.
I don't think it's a stretch at all to say that, over the last month, he has been the best player on the team. Well, except for Ortio.
Surprising how many posters seem to know more about our AHL squad than the people actually watching or listening to EVERY game.
I don't follow the AHL as much as some, but from what I've seen Wolf has been the most consistent forward in the past month. He plays a Ferland style of game, but has actually been producing whereas Ferland's production dropped after his last concussion.
Surprising how many posters seem to know more about our AHL squad than the people actually watching or listening to EVERY game.
I don't follow the AHL as much as some, but from what I've seen Wolf has been the most consistent forward in the past month. He plays a Ferland style of game, but has actually been producing whereas Ferland's production dropped after his last concussion.
It's one poster, and he is not talking about production, he is talking about having NHL speed. I think it's a good question on whether wolf has the foot speed to be an NHL player. I'll wait for the Backburner group to chime in. I have no idea the answer to the question.
It's one poster, and he is not talking about production, he is talking about having NHL speed. I think it's a good question on whether wolf has the foot speed to be an NHL player. I'll wait for the Backburner group to chime in. I have no idea the answer to the question.
I count two, but even one is too many. I've never seen PMM questioned in all his wise years. Drury follows Adirondack to a similar degree and is one of the biggest contributor to the back burner right now.
It's one poster, and he is not talking about production, he is talking about having NHL speed. I think it's a good question on whether wolf has the foot speed to be an NHL player. I'll wait for the Backburner group to chime in. I have no idea the answer to the question.
His stride is weird and he skates like a gorilla, but it's not slow to the point where he'd be eating ice chips in the NHL.
If his conditioning is fine - as he'd be playing less minutes against easier QOC in the NHL, I don't see where speed becomes a problem...especially since he's lately shown a knack of being the trailing forward that pulls the trigger or bangs in a rebound.
Very hard shot with a weird release as well that might screw with some goalies.
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-Place a fact massively out of context in order to make a point
A fact massively out of context? You mean where Granlund has played 33 NHL games this season compared to the 9 he's playing in the AHL? Where is that out of context, let alone massively out of context?
Don't see it. I don't think Wolf can skate at the NHL level. I'd love to see Wolf replace Bollig, as Bollig is the Flame I like the least, but I just don't see Wolf surviving the speed of the NHL. Granlund is a NHL player because he has a NHL skill level. I don't think Wolf has NHL quality skill regardless of how many points he puts up in the minors.
I think you took my comment out of context. I never said call up Wolf to REPLACE Granlund in the lineup. That's insane, the players aren't even comparable. Granlund is a Top 6 player, maybe a 3rd line centre. Wolf's peak is 3rd line.
Granlund hasn't scored or put up a point since December 29th and his F/O percentage isn't that great either. He's also been healthy scratched. For him to spend an extra week in Adirondack isn't the end of the world. It will probably help him get some scoring confidence and well based on his goal last night, it already worked. I watched the game when I got home and he looked more confident with the puck then he had in the last few Flames games. Leaving him in Adirondack for a week to give someone else a chance seems like a good plan.
Wolf can be called up temporarily (although depending on his play, he could force the Flames hand like Ortio is doing) and Bollig can be sat and we can assess what we have in Wolf. We can also reward him for his excellent play and hard work in Adirondack as he's by far, the most deserving player. He's on a one year contract and the Flames need to see what he can do in the NHL to determine whether or not to resign him. It's called proper prospect management. To leave him in the AHL, especially while he's playing so well, and not give him a look when he's at his peak there is just poor management. Additionally, if you saw Jooris last year, you'd also say he couldn't keep up to the speed or skill of the NHL. He sort of proved everyone wrong this year, so perhaps those sort of statements need to be made with caution because there are no certainties how a players game in the AHL will translate to the NHL. Lots of people are making suggestions to release Bollig/Raymond/Glencross/Stajan/Whipping Boy of the Week for players who are currently in the AHL that haven't been assessed in the NHL. I'm simply making the suggestion that using the open spot we have now to call someone up with Granlund/Wotherspoon/Ortio being sent down, we call up Wolf so that the Flames management can do some future planning.
As for his speed and skating, yes he does have a unique skating style, but there is nothing wrong with his speed. He might not be a clean or pretty skater, but he's an effective skater. Someone mentioned Hanowski, well Hano doesn't play the PP very often due to his skating. Wolf is on the 2nd unit and playing with Poirier and keeping up just fine, he's not causing offsides, missed chances or blowing plays for his team because he's chugging along from behind trying to keep up. He's also shown bursts of speed up the boards with the puck. He has good puck control when using his speed as well as using his size. I don't think Huska has backed away from putting him into different situations because of his skating, so I think you are bringing up a non-issue. He's also said he's worked with the guys in Adirondack to adjust his skates (he mentioned in the interview they put something in or on his skates and now he can feel his ankles and move them better, he didn't have this in Germany) and get some more help with his skating style, something he didn't have access to in Germany. If he's brought up to Calgary and they identify something they don't like in his skating, I'm sure he will be offered more help and based on how he's taking everything so far, he will listen and improve. Again, this isn't a kid who came up through the CHL/NCAA system with access to all these additional coaches and training and equipment, he came up in Germany where they have limited access to anything. He hasn't been taught all these things that our kids here have been educated about since 16 and just not getting it, he's learning this for the first time.
As for skill, if guys like Matt Cooke and Jordan Nolan can hold down an NHL job, I don't see why Wolf couldn't fight for one. He has more actual hockey skill then both of those players combined. Again, he can control the puck, he knows how to use his size to make room and while his shot looks odd and confusing, it seems to be beating alot of goalies lately so I'm not sure how much you can knock it. He doesn't need to be a flashy player to be effective or successful in the NHL, especially not if he's projected to be a 4th liner.
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Wolf is aggressive for sure but I think he could take a few lessons from McGrattan in how to fight before he's ready to replace Bollig permanently. He never really got to compete in that way over in Germany.
Here's his 4 fights in the AHL. I'd say he's 2 and 2 so far but he seems to be willing and that's a plus compared to Bollig.
