Will Granlund make the Flames this year?

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I kinda hope he doesn't make it...........not because I don't like him, but rather because I'd like to see him go to Abby and play a ton of minutes. Don't want him to make the big team and play fewer minutes on the 3rd or 4th line. He needs to play a lot, and I don't think that will happen in Calgary.

It is nice to see him play so well the past few days. Gotta be great for his confidence, and for the team's confidence in him. He's definitely in the mix.

[expatflame]

Bold prediction- He not only makes the roster but has a spot on the 2nd line all season and puts up 50 points. Meanwhile, Monahan is up and down all year. Book it!

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by fotze

Well the second part of that prediction isn't possible.

That's what makes it such a bold prediction.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

That's what makes it such a bold prediction.

We're gettin' CRAZY in here!

[Canada 02]

back during the World Juniors, Weisbrod compared Granlund's skills to Gaudreau; obviously the Flames think very highly of him

[bigbadboss101]

IF Burke likes a big team then I can see couple players moved to get some size, and allow some smaller youngster to step in as well.

[ricardodw]

All of the sudden playing against teams that have 2-3 player that might be in the NHL over the next year or 2 Granlund has shown that he belongs in the NHL?

If he dominates this tournament he earns some ice time in the real exhibition games. If he is dominant in the exhibition games (like Shremp was) then it is 50-50 whether he plays more than a few games in the NHL.

did he do anywhere close enough to force his way ahead of Rienhart and Baertschi?

Guys like Baertschi and Schieffle are being used sparingly as they don't have a lot to prove at this level.

The Jets kept Schieffle off the PP and had him PK the whole game against SJ for example.

For most of the other guys.... Granlund included, these games are far more important in getting their foot in the door to make their next step to the NHL.

Someone like Monahan/McKnight would really have to stink the joint out not to get significant ice time in the next level --- the NHL exhibition games.

[robbie111]

Okay how about another crazy thought. If Granlund continues his great play with the big club in the exhibition season, make Granlund the #2 center behind Backlund and let Stajan be the #3 center. Granlund and Backlund get proper development time which benefits both and the flames get a higher draft pick next year. Both things help the rebuild.

[djsFlames]

Man..the argument that a player shouldn't be on the big club strictly because they wouldn't get enough minutes is a load of crap. What player steps in as a rookie and instantly gets top minutes? None, unless he's a top (1-2) pick of the franchise-caliber. It just doesn't happen. Every. Single. Forward has to go through recieving sheltered minutes on the big club, to first adjust, and then have to earn their way to more ice time. It's such a common argument here, yet it's a ridiculous one without any substance (unless the prospect at hand is truly in need of another year of junior/AHL)

Backlund went through it, as a depth center when he broke in. Sven had to go through it last season playing on the 3rd and 4th lines. Monahan will this or next season whenever he starts, same with Gaudreau, etc, etc, etc...

The Oilers are the only team recently to have thrown in highly touted prospects instantly and hand them those sorts of minutes, and look where they're at. Any other players have had to earn it with their teams first, by showing they can keep up and then excel at that level. I know people hate to see our young guys get buried in the lineup, but it's a necessity in their path of development to adjust to the big game with those reduced minutes, against depth opposition initially.

So if a player, whether it's Granlund, Monahan, Knight etc. is ready, looks ready. And you're going to argue against them graduating because they'll recieve less, and less important minutes, well then that's just air-headed, because they're going to have to go through that in order to learn how hockey at the NHL level works, and how to adjust their game accordingly in order to then become that top 6 minute player. Sure, they can go back down, and play top minutes in a junior league, but they'll Still have to come back up after that, and go through that year of sheltered minutes as a rookie before they're given/earned the role that you want to see them in. There's no way around it.

But in junior they're learning nothing about NHL hockey, I can guarantee you that.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^^ Agreed. And demonstrating flashes and looking ready in a few pre season games is one thing, bringing it every night over the grind of an 82 game season against the best in the world is an entirely different animal. The consistency in the face of that challenge is a huge step.

[Henry Fool]

My favorite gamer moment so far was Granlund not snapping his head back even a little when he got high-sticked in the face in the last game.

They said that the management has been talking about him in the media, and I think he's shown a good level of focus with the extra attention on him - playing his game without ruining things by trying to do too much on the ice.

As for the results on the ice, they've been pretty much what you'd expect. I hope he adds to the competition in the main camp and forces other players to elevate their games even more.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by expatflame

Bold prediction- He not only makes the roster but has a spot on the 2nd line all season and puts up 50 points. Meanwhile, Monahan is up and down all year. Book it!

Monahan can't be up and down all year. He's on the Flames or he's headed back to junior and unavailable until his junior season is over, except for emergency callup, which is extremely unlikely.

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

My favorite gamer moment so far was Granlund not snapping his head back even a little when he got high-sticked in the face in the last game.

They said that the management has been talking about him in the media, and I think he's shown a good level of focus with the extra attention on him - playing his game without ruining things by trying to do too much on the ice.

As for the results on the ice, they've been pretty much what you'd expect. I hope he adds to the competition in the main camp and forces other players to elevate their games even more.

I completely agree! I hope he continues his performance in camp and forces management to make a tough decision. These tough decisions will make the team better and show the other prospects, that if they work their asses off, there is room on the Flames for them. Can't wait for main camp. When do vets report?

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

^^ Agreed. And demonstrating flashes and looking ready in a few pre season games is one thing, bringing it every night over the grind of an 82 game season against the best in the world is an entirely different animal. The consistency in the face of that challenge is a huge step.

Kind of how I feel about Joni Ortio; In the past there has been talk about his consistency issues but Ortio mentioned in an interview recently that his time in Helsinki helped him address his consistency. It would be nice if we could give him enough NHL games to see what he is capable of. It would be even better if we could get Kipper to mentor this guy since they seem to have pretty close styles. Kipper would easily be able to help him make adjustments in his play, but also help him with consistency in an 80 game grind. If there is one thing Kipper has that a lot of goalies don't have is the ability to bring it every night while playing a ton of games.

[dissentowner]

Good interview with him and Ortio on the Flames website. Granlund looks like the joker kind of.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Well, this tournament has helped his chances. If he can continue this level play in main camp against tougher competition and in the preseason games, he has an outside chance. He's doing his best to make the decision hard on management.

[SuperMatt18]

Him and Ferland were really impressive.

Really excited about Ferland again. In great shape, down over 20 lbs from last years camp, and his size and skill combo are hard to match.

Think they make steal some spots in camp.

[dying4acup]

The thing is that guys like kanzig and ferland are worst case NHL versions of wade belak. Granlund, like Backlund, needs to be able to put up points in the NHL. I think he gets 15-20 NHL games, but he spends most of the year in the A. That's the right step for him, provided he's agreeable.

I think he will agree to play in the AHL, because, as sibling rivalry goes, he wants to be as good as, or better, than his brother. And I bet he wants to play with him 1 day in the best league in the world.

[robbie111]

Granlund and Ferland sure have built up some chemistry over the past 5 days including the U of C game. Might be interesting to keep them together in the Flames exhibition games and see how they do against NHL'ers.

[Gary83]

Crazy to think Feaster turned a late, late problem in Erixon into:

Horak
Wotherspoon
Granlund

Still unproven, but definitely has the makings to be a good trade for him.

[Oil Stain]

He might get some coffee this season.

I don't think he makes it as a full time NHLer in his career however. I don't think he has enough scoring for the top six and his size and defensive abilities aren't suited for the bottom six.

Bartschi, Gaudreau, and Wotherspoon have a better chance at NHL careers from that draft IMO.