Summer Prospect Ranking Poll Round 26

[kyuss275]

Went with Ferland.

Roy could be a choice, but i thought to myself why would he be infront of Rafikov?

Rafikov while a stay at home D-man can also skate and has a good first pass. He was also pretty good for Russia in the under 18's.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

However, I can't look past Nemisz any longer. He is very close to being NHL ready if he can take that one more (admittedly very big) step.

He's 23 and has regressed at the AHL level over his 3 seasons there.

Can't see this kid ever playing a season in the NHL, and I think it's likely he'll never play another game.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Voted Ferland. Ortio, Jooris and Nemisz are all around this range for me.

[JiriHrdina]

Ferland but the Russian dman could be a steal if he ever comes over

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Ferland, but after him there isn't a whole lot to get excited about.

[kehatch]

Most prospect rankings have Ferland in the top 20. Many in the top 15. It is about time he makes the list.

If he ever puts it together he will be the kind of depth player that wins you cups. Think Stempniak with a huge mean streak and the ability to back it up.

[cral12]

As mentioned, I went with Eric Roy, but Ferland deserving at this point.

Have to be honest though: I don't really get the Stempniak comparison though, kehatch.

[Cheerio]

Can someone explain why Ramo was randomly removed yet?

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Can someone explain why Ramo was randomly removed yet?

Because he 27 and has played in a significant number of NHL games. It was determined by everyone that he's more of a reclamation project than a prospect.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

He's 23 and has regressed at the AHL level over his 3 seasons there.

Can't see this kid ever playing a season in the NHL, and I think it's likely he'll never play another game.

He might be done BUT..

In the summer of 2005 Glencross was the same age as Nemisz is this summer.

He had 2 more AHL seasons... 2 games with the Ducks and 7 games with Columbus in 2006-7.

He was not a full time NHLer until 2007-8 at age 26.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

He's 23 and has regressed at the AHL level over his 3 seasons there.

Can't see this kid ever playing a season in the NHL, and I think it's likely he'll never play another game.

I don't think Nemisz has at all. His 2nd year in the AHL was clearly an improvement over his rookie season and this past year was a combination of injuries and hard luck.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

He might be done BUT..

In the summer of 2005 Glencross was the same age as Nemisz is this summer.

He had 2 more AHL seasons... 2 games with the Ducks and 7 games with Columbus in 2006-7.

He was not a full time NHLer until 2007-8 at age 26.

Stop comparing to Glencross. His path to the NHL and the success he's had once getting there is as far from typical as one can get.

Tim Thomas didn't play in the NHL until he was 31. Does this mean we may have let go of a future Vezina winner in Curtis McElhinney since he is only 29? He's got a lot more NHL GP than Thomas did at the same age.

[#-3]

I don't get the hate on for Neimsz. He is running out of time, but he has a legit shot of NHL playing time this season. If he doesn't grab it then I could see him dropping off the list completely, but let him fail before you say that he has failed.

Ever other player on the list would have to have a good season this year to get to where Neimsz already is.
(Billins and Jooris may be exceptions, but I have not seen them play, so I don't know).

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by #-3

I don't get the hate on for Neimsz. He is running out of time, but he has a legit shot of NHL playing time this season. If he doesn't grab it then I could see him dropping off the list completely, but let him fail before you say that he has failed.

Ever other player on the list would have to have a good season this year to get to where Neimsz already is.
(Billins and Jooris may be exceptions, but I have not seen them play, so I don't know).

Good post.

And Billins is already an AHL all-star defenseman.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Most prospect rankings have Ferland in the top 20. Many in the top 15. It is about time he makes the list.

If he ever puts it together he will be the kind of depth player that wins you cups. Think Stempniak with a huge mean streak and the ability to back it up.

Same could be said about any of our prospects, including Nemisz. I went with Nemisz as so far he's had a better pro career than Ferland. Others such as Roy deserve consideration but they are just too far away from legitimately being Flames players that I went with experience and chance to make the Flames. Nemisz could make a push at this training camp, success for Ferland will be taking a regular spot with the Heat.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

He's 23 and has regressed at the AHL level over his 3 seasons there.

Can't see this kid ever playing a season in the NHL, and I think it's likely he'll never play another game.

I do not see it as a stretch to see him make the NHL. He has already had two call ups and had he avoided the injury bug I bet he would have been called up again late last season.

He also has the advantage of playing RW, where the Flames are lacking depth. It will give him a helping hand to get himself back on track. He might not follow the Glencross path to the NHL but there is a door open for him to succeed.

[David Struch]

Any consideration for last seasons call-ups Paul Byron & Ben Street.. they've pretty much played about the same number of pro games as Chris Breen & Greg Nemisz with Byron also being the same age as Billions & Breen and Street being the same age as Berra.

Other prospect call-ups from last season include; Baertschi, Horak, Reinhart, Hanowski & Cundari with Bouma, Nemisz & Byron (Sabres) being re-called the previous two years.

[chris_yk]

Went with Deblouw, pretty solid numbers in his freshman year with Michigan State for a 7th round pick. It'll be interesting to see how he follows it up this year.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Same could be said about any of our prospects, including Nemisz. I went with Nemisz as so far he's had a better pro career than Ferland. Others such as Roy deserve consideration but they are just too far away from legitimately being Flames players that I went with experience and chance to make the Flames. Nemisz could make a push at this training camp, success for Ferland will be taking a regular spot with the Heat.

Not really. Very few prospects have the combination of tools that Ferland brings to the table.

As for Nemisz, he has three pro seasons under his belt, none of them productive. He was drafted in 2008 with Mitch Wahl (a guy comfortable labeled as a non prospect). The cat is out of the bag on how his game will transition to pro (hint - not very well). Not really sure how you can say he has had a better pro career then Ferland (who has played a total of 10 games). Nemisz pro career has been pretty dreadful. Ferland's hasn't even started yet.

I am fine giving Nemisz one more chance at the AHL level. But this is his last chance as a Flame and I am very doubtful he has NHL upside.

Originally Posted by #-3

I don't get the hate on for Neimsz. He is running out of time, but he has a legit shot of NHL playing time this season. If he doesn't grab it then I could see him dropping off the list completely, but let him fail before you say that he has failed.

Ever other player on the list would have to have a good season this year to get to where Neimsz already is.
(Billins and Jooris may be exceptions, but I have not seen them play, so I don't know).

No, most of the prospects on the list would have to have a dreadful season to be where Nemisz is. You expect a prospect to progress. If they regress it is a really bad sign. Nemisz failed to progress in his second pro season and he regressed in his third. He was really bad last season and he was one of the few prospects not called up to get a few NHL games in at the end of the season. The coaches reports on him were far from flattering. This is his last chance and he either needs to stick in the NHL or knock it out of the park in the AHL. The odds are long on either.

[kehatch]

On another note the list really depreciates after Ferland goes. Ortio is the only guy left as a notable prospect (IMO) and that is just barely.

Though Harrison, Rafikov, Roy, and Deblouw are all intriguing if they manage to work their way onto the radar this season. You could probably include Gordon and Gilmour on that list. Elson, Jooris, and Billens might be replacement level NHL players if a call up is needed.

Nemisz and Howse have one last chance at redemption, but the odds are pretty long. The Flames are probably just waiting for Eddy and Martin to play their contracts out. Pretty safe to label those two with NP.