[Signing] Flames sign Honzek to 3 year ELC

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I hope they give Honzek 9 games, especially if we end up trading Lindy. Our center core is not strong and our franchise and fan base could use the excitement. Of course, he has to be ready.

he's a left winger

[Monahammer]

I bet they'll try him at Centre.

[gvitaly]

There's no way he makes the team out of camp. He would need to beat out a lot of quality prospects to get a look. We have Pelletier, Ruzicka, and Coronato are fighting for a middle 6 role. Meanwhile, Jones, Pettersen, Schwindt, and Zary are fighting for a bottom 6 role.

Honzek is an ELC slide candidate, so the team would really need to believe he's ready enough to burn a free year of development and team control. The 9 games could happen, if he's a talent on Tkachuk's or even Monahan's level, which is somewhat optimistic if you ask me.

I also doubt he plays center at the NHL of the bat, it would require a center being traded, or Lindholm switching back to RW. If that happens he would need to beat out Dube/Zary(3rd line)/Jones(4th line) as next in line. History agrees as the Flames developed a lot of their Centers on the wing - Lindholm(RW), Bennett(LW/RW), Dube(LW), Ruzicka(LW), and so on. The only exceptions were Jankowski and Monahan in recent history.

[SeanCharles]

I'm fine with him being given a 9 game audition to get the feel for the NHL before heading back down. I'm also fine with him going right back down to the WHL.

There is a risk he plays so well he earns the right to stay after the 9 games which I think is good and bad as you don't want to run into a situation like Sillinger had last year where he made the team in his rookie year and got sent down late in his sophomore year after immense struggles all year long.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I hope they give Honzek 9 games, especially if we end up trading Lindy. Our center core is not strong and our franchise and fan base could use the excitement. Of course, he has to be ready.

I dont really know what I want to happen immediately, I do feel like he needs to get at least a cup of coffee playing...maybe not full NHL level but at least pre-season.

It might be just me but I'm always heavily skeptical of players that have always been the biggest guys at their level of competition, because thats not going to last and big guys can get used to using their size to cheat a little and have to get away from that, because that advantage is going to evaporate.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Give him 9 then send him back. Let him get reps at center.

This kid needs to work on his intensity from game to game. The whl is a a good place for him to develop that. I think he’s a major cog in slovakias plans for the WJC.

I’m really high on this kid. No way he makes the team. He looks too slight yet. He needs to pack on some weight and I think a pro style fitness coach will get him up to 200 in a solid way in no time.

[iamca]

I definitely like this signing and think his ceiling is very high…. I wouldn’t rush him into the NHL.


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[Sandman]

The Giants should be a team on the rise, as the players there are starting to ripen. Good opportunity for Honzek and Lipinski to put up much bigger numbers.

[Moneyhands23]

I'm getting seasons tickets to the royals this year. Gonna love going to the giants games.

I have also discovered that the Canucks farm team has a great barn and is also worth going to.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1694797373028061343

[CroFlames]

Might give Monny a run for his money with that mop.

[edslunch]

After all the talk of rushing Bennett (not that there were other good options) it's foolish to want him to play in the NHL this year. He's no Bennett.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by edslunch

After all the talk of rushing Bennett (not that there were other good options) it's foolish to want him to play in the NHL this year. He's no Bennett.

Your right he is better. really think people are undervaluing how good honzek is going to be

[Groot]

Originally Posted by edslunch

After all the talk of rushing Bennett (not that there were other good options) it's foolish to want him to play in the NHL this year. He's no Bennett.

Just curious, what is the negative to having him play 9 games at most in the NHL this year to give him an idea of what he's working towards and needs to do to be a NHLer? I can't see any negative in giving him a 9 game sample before going back to the WHL, barring injury which would obviously be worst case scenario.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Groot

Just curious, what is the negative to having him play 9 games at most in the NHL this year to give him an idea of what he's working towards and needs to do to be a NHLer? I can't see any negative in giving him a 9 game sample before going back to the WHL, barring injury which would obviously be worst case scenario.

I'd rather see those 9 games at the end of the nhl season

[Samonadreau]

Not too much point giving him NHL games to start the season until we see how camp and preseason goes. If he shines give him a few games, if hes not close to NHL ready theres not much point. Team needs to get rolling out of the gate with their normal reg season roster.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I'd rather see those 9 games at the end of the nhl season

Considering our overall lack of talent, I would much rather see him at the beginning of the season in case he can actually help the team.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I'd rather see those 9 games at the end of the nhl season

Doesn’t he burn a year off his ELC if he plays even one game at the end?

[memphusk]

I think that's the college setup.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think if he is good enough and is not going to hurt the team, give him those 9 games. I think that helps with development seeing firsthand what the NHL is like, and it will encourage him to really prepare himself harder for the season and through the following off-season to make the team. I remember hearing a lot of anecdotes from players who had some games in the regular season and who then got sent back down to junior how grateful they were to be given those games and how much those games made a difference.


If he is not close, however, then I think that giving him 9 games will only hurt the Flames and Honzek himself, as there is nothing worse than a kid being so over his head is simply drowns and loses confidence. I trust the Flames organization to do the right thing.


Conroy has seen it firsthand now. I remember him talking specifically about Baertschi and telling the media that "Maybe Baertschi can be our Jeff Skinner". I guess he saw firsthand the good and the bad for that when it came to Baertschi. I wonder if that changed his mind in any way.