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

[JJ1532]

As long as Setoguchi and Jones are scratches, healthy or not, I'm happy. I would have no problem with Bennett not making the roster, but Jooris and Gaudreau definitely should be starting. The rest, meh, I can live with it.

[BigFlameDog]

Not worried about Ferland, I keep repeating myself but if he stays healthy he is going to be a great addition when he is called up.

More ice time in the AHL is a good thing for him, 4th line minutes don't help him at all.

Correct move on this one.

Sieloff needs time in the A to keep up his progression....so I am ok with these three cuts in case anyone cares lol.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I have a feeling that guys like Granlund and Ferland will have shown they are NHL players by the end of the season.

I know a lot of people want to see guys like Jones and Seto gone in favour for the younger guys seemingly playing better, but it doesn't all just happen at once. If the kids are showing through their call ups and extended stays are consitent NHL-calibre performers, they will find a way to move out the vets not pulling their wait.

I agree MattyC. I think we are all anxious to see these young guys make their mark on this club, but I think some patience will need to be in order. I think it's going to take until Trade Deadline this year until we see all of this "shake out".

By that time, the team will have evaluated and figured out what the plan will be with some of the veterans who simply aren't panning out or pulling weight (potentially Jones & Seto). Veterans who might not be back next year (e.g. Glencross) may have been traded, and some of the young guys who are oh so close will have gotten a little more seasoning in the AHL.

Looking at this roster post trade deadline will likely be closer to what I think we are all hoping for. It's going to be tough, but prior to that I think we are going to see a lot of the young guys go up and down as we deal and fill in with injuries, I think it's going to be a season of rotating doors for many of our young folk.

[HUSKER4FLAMES]

With 4 injured forwards and 2 injured d the only cut is one goalie. Unless or until they get guys healthy. Reality is that the ones cut know they are very close and injuries will be a big factor

[flambers]

Originally Posted by HUSKER4FLAMES

With 4 injured forwards and 2 injured d the only cut is one goalie. Unless or until they get guys healthy. Reality is that the ones cut know they are very close and injuries will be a big factor

With the Forwards, I thought most of them are skating with the regular group (except Granlund).

There are quite a few decisions to be made for sure....

18 forwards remaining.

Suspect Granlund will be cut or placed on the IR

Leaving 3 forwards who will need to be cut

[getbak]

Just because I like my lists in alphabetical order...

Forwards (18):

1. Backlund (injured)
2. Baertschi
3. Bennett
4. Bollig
5. Bouma
6. Byron
7. Colborne
8. Gaudreau
9. Glencross
10. Granlund (injured)
11. Hudler
12. Jones (injured)
13. Jooris
14. McGrattan
15. Monahan
16. Raymond (injured)
17. Setoguchi
18. Stajan

Defence (9):

1. Brodie
2. Diaz (try-out)
3. Engelland
4. Giordano
5. Potter (injured)
6. Russell
7. Smid
8. Wideman
9. Wotherspoon (injured)

Goalies (3)

1. Hiller
2. Ortio
3. Ramo

So, except for Ortio, the Flames have a healthy 23-man roster. When Ortio gets sent down, the goalies will be set. Assuming Diaz gets signed, the d-men look to be set. Wotherspoon and Potter are the most likely to get sent down when they are healthy.

All of the injured forwards except for Granlund are skating with the main group today, so they all might be ready to go for Wednesday. Bennett is likely only here until Backlund is healthy, then he'll be sent back to Kingston. Granlund likely goes down when he's ready to return.

That leaves Gaudreau, Baertschi, Jooris, and Setoguchi as the possible cuts when Raymond and Jones are healthy. If everyone is healthy for the home opener, my guess is that Sven and Setoguchi go down and Johnny and Jooris stay.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by getbak

That leaves Gaudreau, Baertschi, Jooris, and Setoguchi as the possible cuts when Raymond and Jones are healthy. If everyone is healthy for the home opener, my guess is that Sven and Setoguchi go down and Johnny and Jooris stay.

Problem is, I doubt the Flames can place Backlund, Raymond or Jones on the IR list, therefore they will take a spot on the opening day roster (i.e. 14 forwards, 7 dman and 2 Goalies).

I agree, Bennett and Granlund are likely to be cut. Leaving 2 more forwards that will need to be cut.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by getbak

Just because I like my lists in alphabetical order...


Forwards (18):

1. Backlund (injured)
2. Baertschi
3. Bennett
4. Bollig
5. Bouma
6. Byron
7. Colborne
8. Gaudreau
9. Glencross
10. Granlund (injured)
11. Hudler
12. Jones (injured)
13. Jooris
14. McGrattan
15. Monahan
16. Raymond (injured)
17. Setoguchi
18. Stajan

Defence (9):

1. Brodie
2. Diaz (try-out)
3. Engelland
4. Giordano
5. Potter (injured)
6. Russell
7. Smid
8. Wideman
9. Wotherspoon (injured)

Goalies (3)

1. Hiller
2. Ortio
3. Ramo

So, except for Ortio, the Flames have a healthy 23-man roster. When Ortio gets sent down, the goalies will be set. Assuming Diaz gets signed, the d-men look to be set. Wotherspoon and Potter are the most likely to get sent down when they are healthy.

All of the injured forwards except for Granlund are skating with the main group today, so they all might be ready to go for Wednesday. Bennett is likely only here until Backlund is healthy, then he'll be sent back to Kingston. Granlund likely goes down when he's ready to return.

That leaves Gaudreau, Baertschi, Jooris, and Setoguchi as the possible cuts when Raymond and Jones are healthy. If everyone is healthy for the home opener, my guess is that Sven and Setoguchi go down and Johnny and Jooris stay.

Great post. I love CP

[The Fonz]

So other than Ortio going down, the only cuts we'll see now going forward are when an injured player returns?

Is this correct?

[sa226]

To me its between Gaudreau and Jooris. If what people are saying is true that there is only one spot available. An injured Granlund is the wild card.

While Bennett has been pretty good, its a no brainer to send him back. I just don't understand the value in keeping him around unless its for a taste to see how hard he needs to work.

Baertschi is a different player and person than 2 years ago. He is stronger and looks committed to being a real pro. That is huge. But every time his development is on the upswing he gets injured. He needs to take this new version of himself and master it in the AHL. While he has been good in camp, I still think he is better off in the AHL for now. Hopefully his ego can handle it.

To me its a tie between Jooris and Johnny. The winner should be decided by the needs of the team. What is Jooris? for one he is a badly needed RW, but after that he is a hardworking 2 way guy who can chip in offensively, kill penalties and be relied upon in all situations. A coaches dream.

What is Johnny? He is a small uber dynamic offensive buzzsaw that can change the game is 20 seconds. He did it against Col and last night. All he has shown to me is that he can adjust and adapt to just about anything and do it faster than most other players. The Worlds on big ice but against NHLers? Check....Top prospect tourney? Check...NHL preseason? Check. With that ginormous hockey brain on that little body, the AHL would be ok, but he has shown that the NHL is not above him.

Its a clear tie between these 2. But to me the edge goes to Johnny. The mantra of the organization this year has been "Who is going to score?" "We need more scoring." So, who do you keep? A feel good story, a great 2 way coaches dream, or the personification of dynamic offense (Slight exaggeration)

Johnny all the way.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

So other than Ortio going down, the only cuts we'll see now going forward are when an injured player returns?

Is this correct?

Doubt it, it sounded like some of the injured forwards may play on Saturday.

If they are day to day type of stuff. I bet there will be more cuts with the forwards.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

man i feel bad for ferland a bit. He led pentincton in points, then had some strong games and has the size to be effective based on the preseason games.

not sure what else he could have showed to have made the team. I'm sure they let him know how close he is to being back in Calgary.

I think this has a lot to do with his injury from last year, which was pretty serious. He has looked really good at camp, but has not yet played through a full season in the AHL. My guess is that he will be the first or second call up this year, and I would bet that he ends the season in Calgary.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by sa226

Its a clear tie between these 2.

Too me it is a no brainer, you take Johnny every time. This not your run of the mill prospect, this might be the best prospect skill wise we have ever had. It would be like the Blackhawks having demoted Patrick Kane when he was 21. You have to keep him.

[killer_carlson]

I echo the concerns on Ferland. Not sure what more he could have done to stick around.

[heep223]

I have no doubt that JG will make this team. You simply can't cut him....like Monahan last year. They'll manage his ice time and monitor his conditioning very closely, probably shelter him quite a bit, and he might sit a few times to recover and to learn. But I just don't think you can cut him.

"There's opportunities for young players to earn a spot on this team."
"We need scoring."
"Earned, never given."

What would it say if they cut a dynamic, gifted offensive young player who has earned a spot on the team? Talk about mixed messages.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Too me it is a no brainer, you take Johnny every time. This not your run of the mill prospect, this might be the best prospect skill wise we have ever had. It would be like the Blackhawks having demoted Patrick Kane when he was 21. You have to keep him.

You kind of cherry picked that line out of my post. Performance wise in camp alone, it has been essentially a tie. Both have been very good.

But I completely agree, based on the needs of the team and the types of players and prospects these two guys are, its Johnny 100%

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I echo the concerns on Ferland. Not sure what more he could have done to stick around.

Consistency. He didn't have as much of that trait as everyone else. I think he always needed close to a full season in the AHL this year anyway, much like Sieloff coming off the injury. He's close though.

[mhsyyc]

Isn't it great to be sitting here having a real debate about a real barnburner of a competition for who gets to stay and who gets sent down? A few years ago there weren't these great discussions because there wasn't any competition for positions. It's finally exciting to be thinking about the future of the club because right now it looks much promising than in years past.

My two cents worth: I subscribe to the theory that you never hurt a player but giving him time to develop but you can ruin a player by foisting too much on them too soon. I'd rather see Ferland, Gaudreau and Bennett be the big dogs where they play rather than bottom six guys or healthy scratches here. A little more time, a little more seasoning through a ton of ice time and responsibility will only help them - and us - for years down the road.

[Red Menace]

Gaudreau is already the biggest dog we have.
It will be a shame if Johnny or Sven are demoted.
The team made a mistake by signing so many vets.
Each deal can be rationalized by on its own, but when you add them all up it would have been much more prudent to let our 5-6 top prospects fight it out for 3-4 spots.
We could have always signed the likes of Setoguchi at a later date if things weren't working out.
I think you can do harm to a prospect by continually burying them in the minors, and the Flames have done it for years.
All the talk about a meritocracy will be total BS if those 12 vets on 1 way contracts all make the team on opening day.

[Party Elephant]

Going by our recent prospect rankings, the prospects still in camp are ranked 1,2,3,5 (injured),7 (injured),9, and 35!