Will Hunter Shinkuruk make the flames next year?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Bezer

It is pretty early but I voted yes because I think there is more than a 50 percent chance that he will be on the second line as a left wing.

This was my reasoning as well. At the end of the day it's just a guess, but from everything I've heard about him, to everything I've seen in his limited NHL time, he's too good for the AHL now. There were some big Utica followers who were absolutely stunned that Shinkaruk was traded after the great year he was having.

There are 2-3 top-6 winger spots up for grabs (depending if you consider Frolik a 2nd liner) and I don't see who is going to fill them. The Flames aren't in a position to sign another big free agent this off-season. They might draft 1 top-6 NHL ready winger if lucky.

For those saying he won't make the opening roster, I'm curious who you think will better fit those roles?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by DJones

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hunter

Seems like to small of a line for me.

Gaudreau - Monahan - UFA/Finn
Bennett - Backlund - Hunter

That seems more realistic.

Either way, it all depends on how much dead weight we can get rid of in the summer. I would love if him and someone else can push everyone down the line up. Think people are saying he's green just because we haven't seen him develop. Two years in the AHL is lots.

Both seem unrealistic as Shinkaruk is a LW and we've seen no indication of him swapping to the right side yet. If anybody wants to pencil him in it should be on LW

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by DJones

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hunter

Seems like to small of a line for me.

Gaudreau - Monahan - UFA/Finn
Bennett - Backlund - Hunter

That seems more realistic.

Either way, it all depends on how much dead weight we can get rid of in the summer. I would love if him and someone else can push everyone down the line up. Think people are saying he's green just because we haven't seen him develop. Two years in the AHL is lots.

Bennett is not going to be playing with wing, unless this team gets Auston Matthews. He definitely isn't playing second fiddle to Backlund. Shinkaruk will play the left side or won't play in the NHL. You can't force players into roles that don't fit their games. I could see Shinkaruk on the left side with Bennett and Poirier. Fast and pesky. They might get physically dominated some games, but they would be fun as hell to watch. That would leave the Backlund / Frolik duo together on the third line together as well.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by DJones

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hunter

Seems like to small of a line for me.

Gaudreau - Monahan - UFA/Finn
Bennett - Backlund - Hunter

That seems more realistic.

Either way, it all depends on how much dead weight we can get rid of in the summer. I would love if him and someone else can push everyone down the line up. Think people are saying he's green just because we haven't seen him develop. Two years in the AHL is lots.

Hunter is a LWer. Has he played as a RWer for any sort of stretch in the AHL the past two seasons?

[Imported_Aussie]

If Shinkaruk makes the team out of camp it would be riding shotgun to Bennett on a more sheltered line. He isn't ready to play on the top line, and that would mean playing his off wing as well, nor is he suited IMO to playing with Backlund on what would be the shutdown unit.
I think it is more likely he is a late cut and first callup, barring a great camp. That being said, if I compare him to Granlund, in terms of flexibility and upside, the Flames win that deal hands down, and Shinkaruk may even be the better fit on our NHL roster right now, though I do think he is nearly, but not quite there.

Poirier may have a better chance because he plays on the RW (as a left shooting RW) and can add more size/physicality. He checks more boxes on the "what are the flames missing" list, and could play on many lines. I feel Hunter needs to be on a scoring line to be effective.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by albertgq

2 gp = 1g + 1a = 2 pts
82 gp = 41g + 41a = 82 pts

Science!