2014 Training Camp Cuts. UPD: Oct 5 - Baertschi, Jooris and Ortio cut

[Nme-Territory]

Been a while since I posted anything but I think this is a good time to chime in.

As a fan I hope JG stays up with the Flames (a popular sentiment by the sounds of it). However, I think for the organization the best thing will be to give him time in Addy. Not only will it be a good place for him to round out the finer points of his game while building confidence, it will allow a vet to improve their stock throughout the league. You send a vet down to Addy and there's a chance you lose that asset for nothing. If said vet proves to be worth something in the NHL, you may pick up a later round pick or prospect.

For Sam, another year in Jr. will not be a bad thing. Give him a crack at the Flames next year after another year of physical maturation. What's the rush?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

wow, well done jooris, looks to be one of the last cuts this preseason.


Smells like he may have earned himself that 4th line center role given his strong play?

doubt it since he has been mostly used on RW throughout the pre-season

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Don't get me wrong I am happy with what Jooris has shown. I am just saying that the way the organization sits right now on RW depth, Jooris is pretty much the only option the Flames have in terms of a right shooting RW.

is there a list of flames players/prospects that can play RW? i was asking myself this question last night seeing as how most of our hopeful prospects and NHL regulars are all LW

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/teams/calgary_flames/ and other sites don't really tell the whole story. most places have hudler listed as a C so its hard to get a real concrete answer aside from pulling names from memory

the only real RW prospect that comes to mind is Poirier, and he's a converted rw at that

we are basically covered with lw/c prospects but nobody up the right side

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Doug_Dadswell

Who's still in camp?

Forwards (20): Backlund, Baertschi, Bennett, Bollig, Bouma, Byron, Colborne, Ferland, Gaudreau, Glencross, Granlund, Hudler, Jones, Jooris, Klimchuk, McGrattan, Monahan, Raymond, Setoguchi, Stajan.

Defensemen (10): Brodie, Diaz, Engelland, Giordano, Potter, Russell, Sieloff, Smid, Wideman, Wotherspoon

Goaltenders (3): Hiller, Ortio, Ramo

[Cali Panthers Fan]

My thoughts on how this will shake out:
Green=almost assuredly safe and on the opening day roster
Orange=in contention for one of the last few spots
Red=has a shot at a roster spot, but is a long shot
Purple=outside extreme long shot at the roster, but still has a chance
Bold=almost assuredly cut due to injury status or extreme lack of talent
So here's who's left:

Forwards (20):
Raymond (injured)
Monahan
Hudler
Gaudreau
Backlund (injured)
Colborne
Glencross
Stajan
Jones (injured)
Bollig
Bouma
McGrattan
Byron
Setoguchi (injured)
Bennett
Baertschi
Reinhart
Ferland
Granlund (injured)
Knight
Poirier (injured)
Klimchuk (injured)
Arnold
Elson
Jooris

Defence (10):
Giordano
Brodie
Smid
Wideman
Russell
Engelland
Brookbank (try-out)
Diaz (try-out)
Yonkman (try-out)
Wotherspoon (injured)
Potter (injured)
Kulak
Sieloff
Cundari
Culkin
Ramage
Acolatse

Goalies (3)
Hiller
Ramo
Ortio

Almost everyone who was cut needed to be at this point. Reinhart really hasn't shown much all camp, and I'm worried he's going to be a depth minor league forward for the foreseeable future. Not writing him off just yet, but this was an important camp for him to distinguish himself and he just didn't do it. Same exact thing can be said for Knight. These are not bad players at all, just guys that will fill a hole without hurting you, and not necessarily make you a better team. Arnold has potential as a checking center, but will need some professional experience first.

Acolatse didn't look awful, but he sure is inconsistent. Same for Kulak, but more inconsistent with a much higher upside. I see Acolatse as a career AHLer with a few games in the NHL over his career. Kulak I can see as an NHLer, but he needs a lot of work on his decision making and defensive coverage. At least 2 years in the AHL before he's likely ready. I never saw Brookbank, but judging by the reports he wasn't overwhelmingly great, and he's always been a 7th man/tweener throughout his career, so no surprises there. I can't understand how Yonkman made it this far in camp. Best of luck to both.

This leaves Diaz all but guaranteed to be our 7th man (not a bad thing at all), and Wotherspoon will likely be given a chance to practice with the team once he's recovered from surgery fully before being sent down. Potter is also injured and will likely start of in the AHL to get his conditioning back. That leaves Sieloff, and while he had a very impressive game against Colorado the other night, I'll be shocked if he beats out Diaz for the last spot. Stranger things have happened though.

Of course, the most interesting battles are at forward. Baertschi, Gaudreau, Ferland, and even Jooris have all been impressive in camp at various times, some more consistently than others. Bennett will get a chance to shine again, but obviously there has already been a toll on his underdeveloped frame, so I think management leans towards sending him back unless he's lights out the next two games. With the injuries up front to Raymond, Jones, Setoguchi, and Backlund, you could feasibly have all four of the guys mentioned in the first sentence on the team to start. Bennett will stay if Backlund remains injured to start the year.

Opening night lineup might be like this:

Glencross-Monahan-Baertschi
Gaudreau-Colborne-Hudler
Byron-Stajan-Ferland
Bollig-Bouma-McGrattan
Jooris

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland
Diaz

Ramo/Hiller

[Goriders]

Remaining Players I believe:

Raymond
Monahan
Hudler
Gaudreau
Backlund
Colborne
Glencross
Stajan
Jones
Bollig
Bouma
McGratton
Byron
Setoguchi
Bennett
Ferland
Baertschi
Granlund
Klimchuk
Jooris

Giordano
Brodie
Smid
Wideman
Russell
Engelland
Diaz
Wotherspoon
Sieloff
Potter

Ramo
Hiller
Ortio

[Vulcan]

Forwards (20): Backlund, Baertschi, Bennett, Bollig, Bouma, Byron, Colborne, Ferland, Gaudreau, Glencross, Granlund, Hudler, Jones, Jooris, Klimchuk, McGrattan, Monahan, Raymond, Setoguchi, Stajan.

Without some surprises, the guys in bold get sent down leaving one of Baertschi, Ferland, and Gaudreau to make the team.

injuries could help a rookie find a spot as well

[Goriders]

I think the next round of cuts will be (assuming Raymond, Setoguchi and Backlund are ready for opening night) Jooris, Klimchuk and Grandlund. Along with Ortio, Wotherspoon, Potter (assuming Smid is still out).

So young guys left until injured guys come back are Gaudreau, Bennett, Ferland, Baertschi, Sieloff. Could probably also switch Baertschi and Grandlund.

I hope some of the injured guys don't come back (Jones).

[Muta]

We should send down Setoguchi and keep Jooris up. Josh has shown way more so far. Although I know the chances of that happening are incredibly few and far between.

[FlameZilla]

Has Jooris played any centre this preseason? He could be a decent option as 4th line centre...

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Has Jooris played any centre this preseason? He could be a decent option as 4th line centre...

Not sure about previous games, but he played RW last night.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Has Jooris played any centre this preseason? He could be a decent option as 4th line centre...

A few shifts here and there at center, but nothing consistent throughout the preseason. Predominantly been used at RW.

[FlameZilla]

I thought Jooris was a great pick-up at the time. Glad to see him on the verge of making the team.

Would he have to clear waivers?

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I thought Jooris was a great pick-up at the time. Glad to see him on the verge of making the team.

Would he have to clear waivers?

No, he's still on his ELC.

[SuperMatt18]

IMO if there were any disappointments this camp it was Reinhart and Knight.

Both really needed to show something and elevate their game and they were unable to do so.

[skudr248]

are they trying Baerstchi at RW?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by skudr248

are they trying Baerstchi at RW?

nope

[devo22]

Originally Posted by skudr248

are they trying Baerstchi at RW?

no. Didn't work in Abby last year and I doubt that has changed ... he's a left winger, period.

[FBI]

Hanowski was a disappointment too..

[OzSome]

October 1
Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
Acolaste (D) is on waivers with the intent of assignment to the @AHLFlames.

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
#Flames Roster Update: Arnold (F), Reinhart (F), Knight (F), and Kulak (D) have been assigned to the @AHLFlames.

@NHLFlames: Brookbank (D) and Yonkman (D) have been released from their PTOs.

No surprise there. I like Acolaste but there is no spot for him on the D at the beginning of the season. I am sure he'll be one of the callups sometime this season.

Max Reinhart unfortunately did not do himself a favour as he didn't really showed anything during the pre-season games he played. Corban Knight, we all know would have a hard time getting a spot at the opening of regular season. Really hard to impress the coaching staff also when you were playing with Bollig and McGrattan on one of the few pre-season games he played. Brent Kulak is still young and he's still need to learn and adjust to NHL speed. I like this kid though and I am sure he'll be with the Flames sometime in the near future. He's more of an offensive defenseman but not a liability on his defensive game. Looking forward in seeing him with the Calgary Flames in a season or two.

As for Brookbank and Yonkman, I didn't think they'll make it. You can tell because Hartley keeps playing Raphael Diaz more games. He probably like his two way plays. I am actually rooting for Diaz to make the team. With Ladislav Smid and Tyler Wotherspoon out, he'll probably be the #6 D right now.

We are getting close to the regular season and I can't wait to find who amongst the young guys are going to make it.