2014-15 General Adirondack Flames Discussion Thread - Page 20 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Henry Fool · 10-27-2014, 03:51 PM

I don't think Ma Granlund's skating is an issue defensively but I admit that I hoped to see an improvement in that over the summer. I'd say his defensive positioning in excellent, far better than I expected based on what I saw of him in Europe.

Mikael Granlund used to be the poorer skater of the two which you wouldn't notice now watching him skate with Parise in Minnesota. A bit disappointing if Markus can't reach similar level of game speed (if not overall agility) given that he should have access to exact same training and knowledge - but I'm not entirely sure he's that much behind.

Offensive upside is an open question. Unclear what sort of profile he'll have in the NHL. Maybe it'll be his shot, or maybe overall game like Backlund.

Pierre "Monster" McGuire · 10-27-2014, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herashak

How good is granlunds two way game? Is he more of a top 6 only prospect?

He's a stud defensively. He's quite possibly the best PKer on the team. Perhaps it's a toss up between him and Reinhart. He's not afraid to throw his body in front of shots and he's no wuss when someone starts pushing him around. He'll push back.

There is zero concern about his two-way game.

Caged Great · 10-27-2014, 06:18 PM

The best comparable for Granlund is Toronto's version of Niklas Hagman. Solid at both ends of the ice with a good shot. Granlund has a lot more offensive talent though. Granlund will be in Calgary soon enough. He's almost ready. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Ferland get called up on a permanent basis in a few months, especially if some forwards are dealt.

Vulcan · 10-27-2014, 08:24 PM

The only thing I see comparable of the two (Granlund and Hagman) is that they both come from Finland.

Ashasx · 10-27-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The only thing I see comparable of the two (Granlund and Hagman) is that they both come from Finland.

Similar size, both have good hands, not the best skaters.

It's not a bad comparison. I think Granlund is quite a bit more positionally aware, however.

Caged Great · 10-27-2014, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Similar size, both have good hands, not the best skaters.

It's not a bad comparison. I think Granlund is quite a bit more positionally aware, however.

Stylistically on the ice, I agree that they do not look like the same player. The part that I am drawing comparisons between them is that they have a lot of tools in their games that are very similar.

Both have great shots, and are reasonably good overall offensively and both are good defensively (Hagman was a top pker for Toronto), they both aren't overly fast but are not slow either. Just really smart, solid two way middle of the lineup guys.

Granlund IMO has better tools at both ends of the ice and I think he could even become a 60 point guy in the NHL. I view Hagman as his low end actually (20 goal 40 point two way guy). He'll be a great player for us moving forward.

Henry Fool · 10-27-2014, 10:58 PM

Hagman is very much a solo hustle, tunnel vision, stickhandle yourself to a shooting position type. Not a passer by any stretch. That's not Markus at all. Granlund has a more balanced offensive game and is much more aware of his teammates and capable of finding them.

Similar size and "good hands" are shallow similarities when the brains are so different. Comparisons based on nationality are tempting but it's the wrong starting place. Filppula is the only Finnish NHL player that I can think of that could even start a conversation and even he might not be close enough to provide any insight.

Henry Fool · 10-27-2014, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Stylistically on the ice, I agree that they do not look like the same player. The part that I am drawing comparisons between them is that they have a lot of tools in their games that are very similar.

Both have great shots, and are reasonably good overall offensively and both are good defensively (Hagman was a top pker for Toronto), they both aren't overly fast but are not slow either. Just really smart, solid two way middle of the lineup guys.

Granlund IMO has better tools at both ends of the ice and I think he could even become a 60 point guy in the NHL. I view Hagman as his low end actually (20 goal 40 point two way guy). He'll be a great player for us moving forward.

I don't see Hagman as a smart player in the same way as Granlund and his type. He is more agile one on one and a better stickhandler but his game lacks dimension - Hagman is all energy and puck handling if you think about him in the offensive zone. Markus can make plays, he can wait for one-timers, he doesn't force things; Niklas gets the puck and pushes right towards the net.

Caged Great · 10-27-2014, 11:25 PM

It's hard making comparisons between players because even the best comparable players still have a lot of differences between them (except the Sedins)

TheDebaser · 10-28-2014, 02:52 AM

Best not to get too hung up on comparables.

Johnny Hockey is literally Gretzky though.

sureLoss · 10-28-2014, 01:58 PM

http://poststar.com/blogs/flames/sen...f4c74a1a5.html

Quote:

The Adirondack Flames will be missing Sena Acolatse Wednesday night when they host San Antonio.

Coach Ryan Huska said they are not expecting the defenseman to play, but did not specify how long he will be out. It sounded like Huska is not expecting this to be a long absence.

He called the injury a "lingering lower-body thing."

Acolatse sat out of practice last Monday (Oct. 20) and said he hurt his ankle in a tangle with Zack Stortini in the game against the Phantoms, but Huska said that was not the injury he's dealing with now.

thymebalm · 10-28-2014, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://poststar.com/blogs/flames/sen...f4c74a1a5.html

No better time to get Corey Potter, I guess.

Since1984 · 10-28-2014, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

I don't see Hagman as a smart player in the same way as Granlund and his type. He is more agile one on one and a better stickhandler but his game lacks dimension - Hagman is all energy and puck handling if you think about him in the offensive zone. Markus can make plays, he can wait for one-timers, he doesn't force things; Niklas gets the puck and pushes right towards the net.

Maybe granlund is more of a Mikko Koivu type player?

sureLoss · 10-29-2014, 03:58 PM

Flames have recalled Granlund, presumably for at least the 6 weeks it takes for Stajan to recover from his knee injury (assuming he doesn't give them a reason to send him back down).

Adirondack is running low on forwards... 12 healthy after Granlund was called up.... may see a PTO signing of an ECHLer soon.

thymebalm · 10-29-2014, 04:31 PM

Or Setogouchi...

Drury18 · 10-29-2014, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Or Setogouchi...

I'd rather see them convince Corey Locke to come back from Germany first.

thymebalm · 10-29-2014, 04:35 PM

I want Ben Street back or Corey Locke. But more than both I wish we still had Carter Bancks and Brett Oslon. Character players.

sureLoss · 10-30-2014, 04:15 PM

Flames have recalled Ferland.

With Markstrom hot, and two of their offensive threats in Calgary, Flames have a tough weekend ahead of them.

Drury18 · 10-30-2014, 06:04 PM

Thankfully after the Nov 1st game, they don't play again until the 7th so there is time to sign some PTO's or make some moves or do something to help bolster our forwards.

However, the loss of Ferland and Granlund will be significant. Hopefully Hanowski, Knight and Reinhart can continue their offensive ways and carry the team for a bit.

sureLoss · 10-31-2014, 08:46 AM

Diana C. Nearhos @dianacnearhos
By my count, the Flames only have 11 eligible forwards (Gillies suspended, Poirier rehab).

Diana C. Nearhos @dianacnearhos
There is not currently another forward signed to the organization. If they want to get someone from Colorado, they need to sign him.

guessing there will be a PTO signing today or the Flames will go with 7 D tomorrow