Training Camp Predictions & Discussion

[indes]

I have a feeling we see some vets in the pressbox, or sent down to make some room for the young guys. As a business the Flames are selling the rebuild now, they can't afford to run all vets after proclaiming as much. I personally will be pissed off if every 1 way contract gets a spot on the team after what management has said.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by indes

I have a feeling we see some vets in the pressbox, or sent down to make some room for the young guys. As a business the Flames are selling the rebuild now, they can't afford to run all vets after proclaiming as much. I personally will be pissed off if every 1 way contract gets a spot on the team after what management has said.

I agree. Preaching a rebuild and then not having our young guys play would be silly. I know they need to earn it but, if two guys are close, go with the kid.

Would be awesome to see Ferland make the team!

[Mattman]

I really think Mcgraten should get a solid spot on the team. His passion and fire last year drove us to a couple wins. He's a good leader to have just wish he was more vocal

[8sPOT]

I know it's not likely but Sieloff is something we are currently missing. That rugged, physical d-man. The bonus is he's a good skater and able to handle and shoot the puck fairly well.

I wonder if the coaching staff would look at the fact that the team doesn't have what Sieloff brings, maybe that gives him a slight advantage? Though I suppose I'm discounting Breen, and the fact he too brings a physical element.

[atb]

Is this going to be our first look at Ramo?

[Five-hole]

People are forgetting when they say "only two spots for forwards" about inevitable injuries. There is almost guaranteed to be at least one more spot on opening night as a result.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

People are forgetting when they say "only two spots for forwards" about inevitable injuries. There is almost guaranteed to be at least one more spot on opening night as a result.

Yup.

I also expect Jackman to sit some, and McGrattan will certainly sit every now and then. He could also dress as an extra forward.

[HUSKER4FLAMES]

No Guesses. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some more grit and energy players push some of the floaters or struggling skill players to change the on ice product for the fans to help them be patient during the lean years.

Doing this allows for rotation among the younger hungry grinders and everyone can say they are playing the kids while giving the younger skill players more time to develop and move out some of the veteran contracts.

The opening night team should look a lot different than the team after the trade deadline and the seasons injuries.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

I agree. Preaching a rebuild and then not having our young guys play would be silly. I know they need to earn it but, if two guys are close, go with the kid.

Would be awesome to see Ferland make the team!

You know what's worse? Preaching doing a rebuild properly then rushing a guy to the NHL for no other reason than he is young. Ferland is the perfect example, sure he looked good in the rookie tournament and against the Dinos. But there is no way a guy that wasn't good enough to hold down an ECHL roster spot last year is good enough to be in the NHL this year.

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

I know it's not likely but Sieloff is something we are currently missing. That rugged, physical d-man. The bonus is he's a good skater and able to handle and shoot the puck fairly well.

I wonder if the coaching staff would look at the fact that the team doesn't have what Sieloff brings, maybe that gives him a slight advantage? Though I suppose I'm discounting Breen, and the fact he too brings a physical element.

Shane O'Brien is actually quite a bit like Sieloff. Breen as you mentioned also fits that description, and while Cundari doesn't have size he loves to hit too.

[flambers]

Ferland will be given a chance like any prospect, but in my view its highly likely he will start the year at Abbotsford.

It will be an interesting camp, as its wide open.... There are no locks.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Locks:
F (10): Cammalleri, Hudler, D. Jones, Stajan, Glencross, Stempniak, Backlund, McGrattan, Jackman, Galiardi
D (6): Wideman, Giordano, Brodie, O'Brien, Butler, Russell

Close:
F (for 4 spots): Baertschi, Knight, Granlund, Ferland, Horak, Reinhart, Bouma
D (for 1 spot): Sieloff, Ramage, Smith, Cundari, Breen
G (for 2 spots): Ramo, MacDonald, Berra

In The Mix:
F: Monahan, Hanowski, B.Jones
D: Wotherspoon
G: Ortio

Longshots:
F: Jooris, Nemisz, Byron, Street, Elson, Eddy
D: Billins, Martin
G: Brossoit

This is pretty much how I see it right now too. I don't really have any predictions to add but I do hope to see the following events play out:

- Ramo & Berra show that they can handle NHL duty and allow the Flames to trade MacDonald (and give the Heat jobs to Ortio and Brossoit).
- Knight, Reinhart and Monahan make enough noise that one or two of them make the team and hopefully force the Stajan trade sooner rather than later. This is more likely to happen at the trade deadline.
- Cundari and Breen make a case to join the big club and force Smith/Butler and SOB out.

Its unlikely, and not a prediction, but I would really like to see some of that take place.

[Bourque's Twin]

I am going to be completely honest and not optimistic about young guys making the team.

Forwards:
Guaranteed (8/12),
Glencross - Cammalleri - Stempniak
Hudler - Backlund - D. Jones
Baertschi - Stajan -


Most likely,
Galiardi - 4th line LW
Jackman - 4th line RW
Horak - Top 9 forward
McGrattan - 13th man on the 4th line

Leaving room for one of these to make it...
Bouma - 4th Line Centre
B. Jones - 4th Line Centre
Reinhart - Most likely in Abby but most likely candidate who could beat out B. Jones or Bouma
Knight - Most likely in Abby
Granlund - Most likely in Abby
Ferland - Most likely in Abby
Monahan - Most likely sent down
The top 6 looks full, making it most likely that a 4th liner (Bouma, B. Jones) makes the 4th line.
However, I could see Monahan getting a few NHL games under his belt while Bouma / B. Jones sits in the press box before Monahan is sent to the OHL.


Defense:
Guaranteed (4/6),
Giordano
Wideman
Brodie
O'Brien

Most likely,
Butler
Russell
Smith - 7th man

Unfortunately, it looks like Butler and Russell will take up the 5/6 spots. But, I think Cundari will make a serious push to make the team and I really hope he beats Butler out.

Other possibilities,
Cundari
Sieloff - Abby
Ramage - Abby
Breen - Abby

[Loyal and True]

Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing how the AHL club will be put together in the best interests of developing these young players to grow into top 6 NHL forwards and top 4 D down the road.

I would love to see the Heat become an elite AHL team, expecting to go deep in playoffs, where the brightest prospects are in all the key roles, and the systems are identical to the NHL club systems. Establish the winning mentality as a professional at the AHL level first.

Let some of our best prospects participate actively in a championship-calibre program for 1 year or 1.5 years before transferring that experience to the NHL level.

Therefore a lot of these guys that could legitimately make the NHL club's bottom 6 or 3rd D pairing should go to Abby, in my opinion.

[zukes]

One thing that seems to be forgotten is that teams can retain salary in trades. If one or more of the young guys really proves they are ready for the NHL, a trade of a higher salried player can be made more palpatable for the receiving team due to the cap space that the Flames have now.

That being said, I don't see many of the youngsters taking a spot on this team.

- Baertschi has to make it.
- I think Horak deserves a shot at full time
- My guess is Monahan will earn a 9 game try-out, but he'd have to light it up to stay, he goes back to the OHL and is traded to the Memorial Cup hosting London Knights right after Christmas
- Seiloff makes it as the lone junior guy, plays the 6/7 spot, injures some Oilers and Canucks (clean hard hits)
- Knight/Bouma/Reinhart/Granlund/Jones are the yo-yo's who are up and down from Abby based on need and their play.

[CaptainCrunch]

A lot of people don't have Horak in the opening day lineup. I'm wondering why

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Locks:
F (10): Cammalleri, Hudler, D. Jones, Stajan, Glencross, Stempniak, Backlund, McGrattan, Jackman, Galiardi
D (6): Wideman, Giordano, Brodie, O'Brien, Butler, Russell

Close:
F (for 4 spots): Baertschi, Knight, Granlund, Ferland, Horak, Reinhart, Bouma
D (for 1 spot): Sieloff, Ramage, Smith, Cundari, Breen
G (for 2 spots): Ramo, MacDonald, Berra

In The Mix:
F: Monahan, Hanowski, B.Jones
D: Wotherspoon
G: Ortio

Longshots:
F: Jooris, Nemisz, Byron, Street, Elson, Eddy
D: Billins, Martin
G: Brossoit

Agree with most of this except for Jackman, Butler, and Russell.

Think those guys are in a battle for spots with the Close guys.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

A lot of people don't have Horak in the opening day lineup. I'm wondering why

my guess is because he isn't good enough.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

The roster is basically already done. The line they play on is the only real mystery here.

Cammalleri
Backlund
Jones
Glencross
Stajan
Stempniak
Hudler
Galiardi
McGrattan
Jackman

Giordano
Wideman
Butler
Russell
Brodie
O'Brien
Smith

This is as good a starting place as any. I think Baertschi, Reinhart, and Knight stick in the NHL for opening night. Baertschi and Knight end up playing significant (50+) games on the big club. Granlund, Horak, and Reinhart play a chunk of games over the season due to injuries, call-ups, what have you.

I think Cundari sticks in the NHL on opening night. Cundari, Russell, and Smith platoon around a lot but still play 50+ games in the NHL. Wotherspoon, Sieloff, and Ramage get play time due to injuries, call-ups, etc.

Goaltenders to open the season in the NHL are Ramo and MacDonald. Ortio supplants MacDonald by All-Star break, Berra also gets called up for a handful of back-up appearances and mop up minutes.

Monahan returns to Ottawa, and the other 1sts from this year also return to junior.

My two cents.

[Stupid]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

A lot of people don't have Horak in the opening day lineup. I'm wondering why

I think you know the answer..
Not flashy, small, takes up a spot they'd like a new(er?) player to take over... I think most people think Horak isn't part of the future...

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

A lot of people don't have Horak in the opening day lineup. I'm wondering why

Yeah, I don't know why either. Very solid two way player that still has untapped offensive skill.