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

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by BigThief

No idea if he users the transfer portal this year but Quinnipiac is a top program, currently ranked sixth in Division I hockey, they been a strong team for over a decade now winning the national title in three years ago in 2023.

If he really wants to improve and be a player he should be looking to get into a conference with stronger teams and a bigger challenge. I hate going by NCAA rankings as balance doesn't exist. The Big 10 is the slaughterhouse of college hockey and where you see a lot of NHL players emerge from. I also hate the whole "national championship" stuff as the frozen four is the most flawed, made for college sports fans format you'll ever see. A small program can ride a hot goaltender through a tournament and not have to deal with the grind of a real playoff. That "national championship" team generated a single NHL player (Collin Graf). The rest of the roster is an ECHL who's who list. Not sure being a big fish in the small pond is the route to the show.

ECAC isn't the top conference but it's far from the lowest. They hold victories over Hockey East teams Boston College, Maine, New Hampshire and Boston University this year.

Yeah, I guess they can thank the ACHA or the CCHA for that honor. BTW, Boston College is the only team over .500 of those mentioned. Not sure beating the also-rans of another conference make you or your team anything of note.

It seems to be a fine well regarded program at the moment and Ethan Wyttenbach is the leading his team with 41 points, 11 point ahead of the guy behind him. I don't know if a "...just saying" is appropriate here.

Wyttenbach is an intriguing prospect. Love that he's taking names and kicking ass in his conference. But as mentioned, that "national championship" team from Quinnipiac generated a single regular NHL player. If Wyttenbach and the Flames want to make sure that talent continues to develop and become an NHL player, he should be exploring the transfer portal as an option. Don't let that development curve stagnate against weak competition. Just saying...

[Flamesfan05]

It’s the reason to get more picks, never know when you hit a home run

[Kipper_3434]

Why would he enter the transfer portal ,when he can just sign an ELC and get a better paycheck while upping the level of competition?

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Why would he enter the transfer portal ,when he can just sign an ELC and get a better paycheck while upping the level of competition?

He's small and young with only one year of college. Thinking he's ready to play pro sounds quite optimistic.

[Roof-Daddy]

Wyttenbach isn't Gaudreau small, it's not crazy to think he'll turn pro and start in the AHL next year. Apparently Potter was planning to turn pro at the end of the season before he got injured, and they are both from the same draft but Wyttenbach is producing at a higher level.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

If he really wants to improve and be a player he should be looking to get into a conference with stronger teams and a bigger challenge. I hate going by NCAA rankings as balance doesn't exist. The Big 10 is the slaughterhouse of college hockey and where you see a lot of NHL players emerge from. I also hate the whole "national championship" stuff as the frozen four is the most flawed, made for college sports fans format you'll ever see. A small program can ride a hot goaltender through a tournament and not have to deal with the grind of a real playoff. That "national championship" team generated a single NHL player (Collin Graf). The rest of the roster is an ECHL who's who list. Not sure being a big fish in the small pond is the route to the show.



Yeah, I guess they can thank the ACHA or the CCHA for that honor. BTW, Boston College is the only team over .500 of those mentioned. Not sure beating the also-rans of another conference make you or your team anything of note.



Wyttenbach is an intriguing prospect. Love that he's taking names and kicking ass in his conference. But as mentioned, that "national championship" team from Quinnipiac generated a single regular NHL player. If Wyttenbach and the Flames want to make sure that talent continues to develop and become an NHL player, he should be exploring the transfer portal as an option. Don't let that development curve stagnate against weak competition. Just saying...

You must be fun at parties.

[TherapyforGlencross]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

You must be fun at parties.

Not sure what he said was controversial at all.. thoroughly or overly explained, sure..

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Fire

He's small and young with only one year of college. Thinking he's ready to play pro sounds quite optimistic.

lol it’s the AHL, not the NHL playoffs. Matthew Phillips dominated that league.

[BigThief]

Yeah, I cannot deal with a Lanny wall of text lol it's exhausting. Why you ten words when 125 will do. No one was even arguing against moving to a different program during the transfer portal if he wanted. Teams ride hot goalies in any tournament, even the NHL like the Blues. People are getting excited about a prospect having an insanely intriguing post draft season and popping in to "recognize" which conference he plays in, as if none of us do, is just dumb.

National rankings voted on by media? Lanny says no
National titles meaning you're the best team? Lanny says no

I'm not holding either of those as some sacred cow but it's a good program and has been for a few years now. But if he wants to step into a new program a new challenge that's great too. Guys come from smaller less powerhouse programs all the time.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

lol it’s the AHL, not the NHL playoffs. Matthew Phillips dominated that league.

Honestly he's not even that small.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

lol it’s the AHL, not the NHL playoffs. Matthew Phillips dominated that league.

After Basha's struggles in the AHL this season I would be surprised if the Flames want him turning pro. What if he struggles? Sending him to the ECHL isn't ideal. Though if the Flames do think he's ready then I support the move. Like others have said, him moving to a better conference seems like the best option. Then hopefully playing the WJC.

[Reggie Dunlop]

He decided (of his own accord) to level up to college. So he's a confident, ambitious young man.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Fire

After Basha's struggles in the AHL this season I would be surprised if the Flames want him turning pro. What if he struggles? Sending him to the ECHL isn't ideal. Though if the Flames do think he's ready then I support the move. Like others have said, him moving to a better conference seems like the best option. Then hopefully playing the WJC.

NCAA has more " adults" than the WHL. Basha also played with McKenna and a bunch of other guys so wasn't the focus of attention. I'd assume it's an easier jump from college vs WHL. You are playing 20+ year olds in NCAA and 18 year olds in junior.

[Zevo]

If the goal is for Wyttenbach to get stronger and build strength then he'll probably stay in college as I believe Quinnipiac has a top notch strength program and playing less games plays into that.

If the goal is to up the competition and play more games then the Flames will probably want him in the AHL.

I think it all boils down to what the Flames believe is better for his development and I have a lot of trust in the current Flames management.

[TheScorpion]

I'm kinda of two minds about Wyttenbach ... if it were that easy to dominate at a Quinnipiac-level program, more players would do it. As it stands, what we're seeing is far beyond what anybody else has achieved in a long, long time. So that's one thing. And it's not like he's come out of nowhere to do this ... he was one of the best producers in the USHL in his draft year.

But I'm also very much in alignment with Lanny in that I wish he'd get more reps against teams like Michigan, Minnesota, and BC instead of the Clarksons and St. Lawrences of the world. I doubt he transfers, because he's been having a ton of success and it's not like he's playing at Niagara or RPI, but all we can really hope for until he turns pro is that he just keeps dominating like this.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Fire

After Basha's struggles in the AHL this season I would be surprised if the Flames want him turning pro. What if he struggles? Sending him to the ECHL isn't ideal. Though if the Flames do think he's ready then I support the move. Like others have said, him moving to a better conference seems like the best option. Then hopefully playing the WJC.

Flames had Gridin and Parekh in the AHL this season, both 19. I'm not advocating for Wyttenbach either way but there's success stories as much as there's struggles.

Michael Ferland couldn't cut it in the AHL or ECHL as a 20 year old and went back to the WHL.

[Calgary Highlander]

Colin Graf hasn’t had any issues translating his stellar production at Quinnipiac to solid numbers in the NHL.

Different type of player, but Wyttenbach is also dominating as an 18 year old whereas Graf broke out as a 19 year old.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

Colin Graf hasn’t had any issues translating his stellar production at Quinnipiac to solid numbers in the NHL.

Different type of player, but Wyttenbach is also dominating as an 18 year old whereas Graf broke out as a 19 year old.

It helps that Graf plays with Celebrini.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

It helps that Graf plays with Celebrini.

He kinda earned that spot.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Fire

After Basha's struggles in the AHL this season I would be surprised if the Flames want him turning pro. What if he struggles? Sending him to the ECHL isn't ideal. Though if the Flames do think he's ready then I support the move. Like others have said, him moving to a better conference seems like the best option. Then hopefully playing the WJC.

If he was middle of the pack in the NCAA then by all means, let him cook.

But he's leading the league against older and bigger men. If any one would be ready in that situation it would be a kid who is that dominant.