[GDT] Flames Rookies vs Canucks Rookies, 8:30 MST

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I've been very impressed with Ramage between the rookie camp and this tourney so far. I guess Freeway was really on to something here. I personally didn't have much exposure to him until now, but I like what I've seen so far.

Like I said in yesterday's thread, I did not expect him to show the offensive side of his game that we've seen in these two games. I thought he was more of a defensive d-man.

He's going to be one of the leaders this year in Abbotsford, and could certainly get in the picture for the Flames too.

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

Marleau is fast though, while Monahan has pretty average speed (and by average I mean average, not as a euphemism for slow). But he's looked slow so far in this tournament, and has been playing poorly overall...Maybe something to do with the weight he put on this summer, or an injury, or maybe he's sick? I don't know.

When you put on weight as fast as he has, I think it takes some time to get your explosiveness, balance, and speed back.

[MisterJoji]

The battle for the goaltending spots is going to be mighty competitive this fall. Ramo likely starting for the Flames with MacDonald backing up. Leaving Ortio, Brossoit and Berra fighting it out to see who gets sent to Alaska.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by T@T

His style is soooo like Kippers, very athletic. I'm pleasantly surprised.

I was casually watching and he constantly made me think that it was Kiprusoff in net. I think it's the way that he gets back to a standing position, his entire playing style is exactly the same.

[StrykerSteve]

Granlund leading the tourney in scoring, reminds me of his play in last year's World Juniors.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Really? They almost scored on Ortio's best save of the night. They were both pretty solid, especially Horvat. Oh, and Shinkaruk had a couple of temper tantrums.

Horvat didn't make a play all night except for screening on the PP and Shinkaruk made one nice pass. otherwise they both were invisible.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by T@T

His style is soooo like Kippers, very athletic. I'm pleasantly surprised.

From being ranked at the 30th best (or 11 worst) prospect on the CP poll to being the next Kipper! Got to love what a game can do.

Kidding aside his style has been compared to Kipper's since before we drafted him. Plus he is a smaller Finnish goalie.

Really good to see him get himself back on many fan's radar. Great performance tonight.

[fanman]

Wow, a bit surprised to see Ramage as one the leading scorers so far in the tournament. I've been very impressed with his overall play so far.

[StrykerSteve]

I truly dislike Rob Kerr's commentary. I'm sure he's a great guy, but he's awful to listen to.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

The battle for the goaltending spots is going to be mighty competitive this fall. Ramo likely starting for the Flames with MacDonald backing up. Leaving Ortio, Brossoit and Berra fighting it out to see who gets sent to Alaska.

If Ramo and Ortio show they can get job done, we could possibly trade MacDonald to a team having issues in net. I would love to see if Ortio can come in and be our Kipper2. Wonder if Kipper would be interested in coaching, or mentoring? I am sure he would have a lot to offer to help our goalies bring it to next level.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

If Ramo and Ortio show they can get job done, we could possibly trade MacDonald to a team having issues in net. I would love to see if Ortio can come in and be our Kipper2. Wonder if Kipper would be interested in coaching, or mentoring? I am sure he would have a lot to offer to help our goalies bring it to next level.

Didn't you hear? Kipper smokes. We don't want him anywhere near our goaltending prospects.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

My player evaluations from the 2nd game.

I used the same methods as last night. Focusing on one player per line and pairing each period, but noting when someone else makes a noteworthy play:


FORWARDS:

Reinhart - Flames' best skater of the night. Looked consistently good in all aspects of the game.

Jooris - One of the better players on the ice. Not as dominant as last night, and slowed down as the night went on.

Penner - who?

Ferland - Strong, fast, and smart. A guy that I had written off, but is showing a resurgence.

Monahan - Skating still looks pretty poor. Very solid defensively, which is exactly how he was billed. Despite flashes of good play, he hasn't "looked" great for the most part, but you can't argue with his consistent production.

Smoskowitz - Scored. Didn't look out of place. Can't ask any more from a guy on a try out.

Hanowski - Well-rounded, but just not fast enough.

Granlund - Excellent skating, sound decision making, good puck skills, and a solid accurate shot. If I had to pick one kid from this team to play in the big show this season, it would have to be Granlund right now.

Poirier - Had a much better 2nd game. Good at being where he needs to be, but was most noticeable to me for his speed, which is already NHL calibre.

Elson - Hard worker, but just did not get the job done tonight.

Knight - Not good enough to walk into an opening day roster. Notably lacking straight line speed, especially with guys like Horak and Granlund to compete against. Is looking more and more like an Abbostford player.

Baertschi - Was benched for a good chunk of the game, but came back with a burr under his saddle when he did get ice time. Maybe he's saving himself for camp?



DEFENCE:

Kanzig - He might be the steadiest defenceman on this team, and that just makes no sense to me. How did this kid only get 7 points last year? HOW??

Culkin - Didn't stand out much this game, in pleasant contrast to last week.

Davies - Looked pretty weak, to be honest. Lots of bad plays, and a few good ones, but I noticed him far more than I wanted to.

Wotherspoon - After a sketchy first period, he came out in a big way. Amazing on the PP. I'm very happy with how he's done so far.

Roy - Great work on the PP. Largely invisible defensively. Pretty much exactly what you want to see.

Ramage - Carried through with his excellent play from yesterday, and established himself as a force in this tourney. Other candidate for best Flame defenceman.

Sieloff - Can't even be sure I saw him after the 1st period. I'm not sure if that's because he settled down, or if he was sat for most of the game.

Ortio - Wow. Just wow. He obviously didn't like how his last experience on North American ice went, so he made sure that now North American ice is going to walking bow-legged for a week.

[868904]

Horvat is a player. I don't know how much he's going to produce offensively, but I think he'll have a similar all around impact for the Canucks as a Mike Richards or Gabriel Landeskog. I'm not really that impressed with Shinkaruk.

Poster who commented on Monahan's speed and perhaps the added muscle has slowed him might be on to something. He does look slower out there than at development camp. Overall, what I like about him is his ability to finish.

Granlund continues to surprise. I didn't think much of the kid but the more I watch him, the more I'm impressed. His hockey sense is really good and he's very cerebral out there. He does look a notch above the other players in this tourney. I hope he doesn't pack his bags for Finland if he doesn't make the big team, cause I think he could play with the Flames this year, but might need a little seasoning in Abbotsford.

Ramage was very impressive. It wasn't just the points that he's putting up or the much talked about leadership, it's his ability to skate the puck out of danger. At this tourney, he's able to control the game when he's on the ice.

Ferland has been my favourite prospect for years, but was extremely dissapointing last year. This year, he looks like a player again. I thought he and Horvat were the two best players at protecting the puck and possession. I love the way he fights too, he has that fighter's poise, which allows him to stand in tight and wait for the money shot. I was almost scared for the Canuck guy.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Sieloff - Can't even be sure I saw him after the 1st period. I'm not sure if that's because he settled down, or if he was sat for most of the game.

You didn't see him during the first either. He had the night off.

[Caged Great]

Slower than average players have to be really really good if they want to be in the NHL for more than a cup of coffee. Granlund seems like he might qualify in that group of players. I knew he was a good offensive player, but I wasn't sure if he would be good enough to compensate for his lack of speed, but he really is ripping it up both in the development camp and thus far in this tourney.

I'm hoping that he does good enough to earn a spot in the NHL this year.

[stemit14]

Great job by the flames prospects. Very impressed by lots of them. I like what I see from poirier, Monahan, ramage, ortio, granlund, and ferland

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by getbak

You didn't see him during the first either. He had the night off.

That makes sense then. I had him on my watch list for the 2nd period, but he never took a shift after that. I thought I'd heard his name in the 1st, but must've been mistaken.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by 868904

Horvat is a player. I don't know how much he's going to produce offensively, but I think he'll have a similar all around impact for the Canucks as a Mike Richards or Gabriel Landeskog. I'm not really that impressed with Shinkaruk.

Horvat is going to play, for sure, but he is nowhere near where Richards or Landeskog were offensively at the same age.

[dying4acup]

Final score? Scorers? Box score?

[Loyal and True]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Final score? Scorers? Box score?

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=63786

try this link

at the bottom (midway down actually) you can look up lots of stats and box scores for the tournament