Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd4

[Calgary4LIfe]

Tough one again for me. Have 4 guys essentially tied, and just picking Poirier. Why? Because he is the new Gary Roberts. He fights, he agitates, he scores - and he does them at at a pretty high level. He has way above average NHL speed already, he has a nose for the net, he is a legitimate threat on a PK (he had more PK goals than PP goals last season).

Klimchuk, Jankowski and Granlund are really tied with him in my eyes.

[Poe969]

well that's the same as saying if they respected Granlund's play more, he would have been a first rounder. He's taking some big steps but I don't see Granlund as more than a third line player for us. I see Porier being a top line player or at least a second line/PP guy in the future.

[Poe969]

I honestly don't know why there is so much love for Janko. I don't know what he's done to earn it at this point, not to say that I think he's bad or anything just that I haven't heard much about him doing anything. Can someone shed some light on this for me please

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Before all is said and done, it appears I'm going to pick Granlund four straight times.

Granlund over Poirier for me.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by jg13

Really surprised by how much of a landslide this is.. i'm not convinced Poirier is the #4 prospect in the system after just 5 games in the AHL.

Voted Granlund.

Gaudreau and Bennett, the top 2, haven't seen any AHL. And Johnny's one NHL game puts him on par or below most other prospects.

Prospects are going to be ranked on their perceived future value, and not necessarily their experience to date.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by timbit

Maybe I missed something. Who is concerned with his skating?

It is elite.

They were worried about his skating style in his draft year, and I've read things since that listed a concern of how long a guy can skate inefficiently in the NHL without wearing himself out.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I honestly don't know why there is so much love for Janko. I don't know what he's done to earn it at this point, not to say that I think he's bad or anything just that I haven't heard much about him doing anything. Can someone shed some light on this for me please

There are zero votes for him.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by MattyC

There are zero votes for him.

I know there are zero votes but he's been mentioned as one of the next few to be voted in. I don't think anyone thinks he's a one of our top 5 but I don't see what he's done to warrant being ahead of most guys we have. Essentially, I'm asking if anyone can tell me what Janko has been up to and what he's done, how he's developed and what you think of him in total and why.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They were worried about his skating style in his draft year, and I've read things since that listed a concern of how long a guy can skate inefficiently in the NHL without wearing himself out.

His style is different but, as far as I have seen, very efficient.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I'm still not sure why Granlund ranks much (if any) higher than Reinhart. They are within a year of each other in age, had similar offensive production in Abby last season (in fact Reinart was slightly more productive) and Reinhart has a far more robust and well rounded game. What am I not seeing in Granlund that everyone else is?

He's younger. Proved more in his first AHL year. Has a higher natural skill level. More lethal goal scorer.

I think most are projecting Reinhart as a bottom two line player in the NHL although he could surprise. Whereas Granlund looks like a decent bet to be a top two line player.

[Joe Nieuwendyk]

Originally Posted by fotze

Its really quite obvious that a large portion of the the voters are not looking at this with a critical eye that I am. I think the best voting technique is to wait for me to vote then vote for the player I have voted for. It will just allow the poll to have a more solid foundation.

How will we ever learn if you keep giving us the right answers?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I know there are zero votes but he's been mentioned as one of the next few to be voted in. I don't think anyone thinks he's a one of our top 5 but I don't see what he's done to warrant being ahead of most guys we have. Essentially, I'm asking if anyone can tell me what Janko has been up to and what he's done, how he's developed and what you think of him in total and why.

Maybe nobody is talking about him yet really because they aren't picking him yet? I myself like Jankowski, but until I start picking him, I don't really think there is much reason to. Wouldn't make much sense to me to start 'campaigning' for him while picking someone else.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I know there are zero votes but he's been mentioned as one of the next few to be voted in. I don't think anyone thinks he's a one of our top 5 but I don't see what he's done to warrant being ahead of most guys we have. Essentially, I'm asking if anyone can tell me what Janko has been up to and what he's done, how he's developed and what you think of him in total and why.

Personally not all that well-versed in Janko. He apparently showed good progression from the year before, but he's not setting the world on fire ala Gaudreau. Really seems to be taking more of a traditional college trajectory, which I think usually shows weakness early on (lack of playing time in favour of seniors, teenagers playing against men, etc..) but then relatively rapid progression in the last year or so (like Hayes). I think he'll probably play all four years.

But again, this about where people think they will be, not where they are currently (although that does factor in). Most people will admit Janko has high skill, and a lot of room to grow. But he came from a lower league and thus needs more time to adjust. He gets great defensive coaching from Providence, which is a bonus. If he can put it all together he could be very good. He's probably in the top ten just based on that. But a lot of uncertainty.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They were worried about his skating style in his draft year, and I've read things since that listed a concern of how long a guy can skate inefficiently in the NHL without wearing himself out.

He's that fast and has inefficient skating? Perhaps this word does not mean what I think it means..

[mile]

Originally Posted by timbit

Maybe I missed something. Who is concerned with his skating?

It is elite.

Poirier has described his own skating style as "not pretty", and his skating stride has been described as awkward and choppy by some scouting websites (one being Last Word's scouting report). I've also heard someone say that while he has great straight line speed, he could work on his turns when he has to go from one end of the ice to another.

It seems to work for him though. He is a powerful skater, and he has scored goals driving wide to the net with speed like Nichushkin.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Had to switch it up and pick a defenseman: Wotherspoon.

I watched him carefully last year, and for such a young defenseman he looked very far ahead of the curve in terms of hockey sense. Good size, good skating, smart puck distribution, takes care of his own zone effortlessly. I think in a year or so he's one of our 2nd pairing guys, and could possibly be part of a top pairing…like Brodie-Wotherspoon.

I think he forces a veteran out of a job this year. Not sure I could say the same for Granlund, Poirier, Klimchuk etc.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think it means where he has to put in a lot of work to get to that speed. Its like Scott Niedermayer could be on the ice for 4 minutes and not be out of breathe.

Like all things in hockey it gets exaggerated when watching kids do it. There are very fast kids that make you exhausted just looking at them skate and then there are effortless ones.

Don't see it fotze. He gets to top speed with very little effort.


http://video.flames.nhl.com/videocen...sole?id=261549

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Granlund was drafted 2 years before Porier so unfair to label Porier the worse prospect due to less pro games. He had a huge year in the Q, he represents a massive need in terms of being a big, fast, scoring winger. Troy Ward called him a future 30 goal scorer in the NHL.

He is the better prospect in my opinion

I'm not even so much impressed by his last season in Juniour as I am by his outstanding upward trajectory. He rocketed up the prospect rankings in his draft year from a late second round possibility to a top-20 pick, and then followed it up with a 30% improvement in his pts/game scoring average. He is accelerating in the right direction, and looking damn good in the process.

[EastCoastFlamesFan]

Emile all the way on this one. Love the total package that he brings. Was really disappointed he missed the Development camp this year. Can anyone recall how he did last year? I seem to remember the feedback here was pretty good on him. Hopefully (albeit he isn't rushed) he can suit up for training camp. Is he still ahead of schedule? I'm not sure there has been an update sine it was reported in development camp that he was ahead of schedule.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I honestly don't know why there is so much love for Janko. I don't know what he's done to earn it at this point, not to say that I think he's bad or anything just that I haven't heard much about him doing anything. Can someone shed some light on this for me please

Jankowski is a perfect contrast to Baertschi. He was drafted as a big skilled pivot with a lack of experience and exposure to systems. This was identified as the biggest flaw in his game and what could hold him back. He went to a defense-first systems-heavy program, so he could get the exposure he needs. He has been a coach's dream to work with and embraced whatever role he has given to him. He has been a go-to guy in every situation this past season and Providence's best all around player by a substantial margin. He's just done everything the team has hoped he would do to become the player they want. He hasn't struggled with anything, playing the context of Friars. People need to stop worrying about this kid. He's ahead of the curve at this point.