Heat won 2-1 in OT vs the Ontario Reign (who I am just learning of now).
The Stockton Heat got a terrific performance from Joni Ortio and got two goals from Derek Grant, including one in overtime, as the Heat win the tight defensive battle over Ontario.
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Pretty disappointing that Hunter Smith is a 4th line face-puncher
All the guys with reduced roles ATM will have bigger roles if the Flames deal away forwards at the deadline and/or sustain injuries. If Grant and Agostino go up to the big club as an example then everybody moves up the lineup. Klimchuk will see more offensive time, Smith may move up, etc. So you might see progression from some of the so-called "disappointing" guys in the 2nd half of the season as the Heat's lineup may get ravaged by callups/injuries and these guys are trusted with bigger roles.
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Good read. Must say I left disappointed with his assessment of many of our prospects. Is he this tough a grader on all prospects?
I can't comment on the writer but looking at where the Heat are in the standings I would have been suspicious if the reviews had been much more positive. They're not a very good team this year and that's probably reflected in the comments which are based on this year's play.
Part of the reason why stats across the board were down was the same reason why most of the players were mediocre in October in the NHL for Calgary. Playing way too tight because they were afraid of their own goalies. That messes up the timing for everyone, just like it did for the Flames. It's not surprising that once the goaltending situation settled down (Poulin returned) that the goals have been coming consistently. In the two games against Manitoba they only scored 5 goals between them, but should have had more than double that if they didn't run into great goalie performances.
There is quite a bit of talent in Stockton and they are turning it around. Not far out of a playoff spot, only three points now, and have multiple games in hand on everyone they're chasing. If they continue on pace, I wouldn't be shocked if they take a playoff spot by mid February.
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I can't comment on the writer but looking at where the Heat are in the standings I would have been suspicious if the reviews had been much more positive. They're not a very good team this year and that's probably reflected in the comments which are based on this year's play.
There is usually little correlation between quality of prospects and quality of an AHL team.
The best teams are usually loaded with older, career AHLers that can be dominant against 20-22 year old prospects.
The biggest problems the Heat face are:
1) they are made up of mostly prospects, and
2) they haven't had great goaltending
I would rather they focus on developing prospects then focus on having a great AHL team.
Having said that, I am not entirely convinced that they are actually doing a good job developing prospects.
There is usually little correlation between quality of prospects and quality of an AHL team.
The best teams are usually loaded with older, career AHLers that can be dominant against 20-22 year old prospects.
The biggest problems the Heat face are:
1) they are made up of mostly prospects, and
2) they haven't had great goaltending
I would rather they focus on developing prospects then focus on having a great AHL team.
Having said that, I am not entirely convinced that they are actually doing a good job developing prospects.
Fair point, although the Heat have some older prospects that have played a number of years in college.
Your last sentence is the kicker. The young players on the Flames making an impact have not gone through the AHL program except for Brodie. Until that starts to happen there is really no evidence to support that they are doing a good job of development.
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Pretty disappointing that Hunter Smith is a 4th line face-puncher
Smith was always going to be a project. Doubtful he makes the jump but I think the plan was always a long AHL run for him.
I think the hope is that he turns into someone like Dwight King who spent a lot of his first pro year in the ECHL (although he put up points in the AHL when he was up there) - but he spent parts of 4 years in the AHL before hitting the NHL.
Probably more likely if he makes it is a Ryan Reaves type guy who can play a regular 4th line shift without being a John Scott-esque plug on a good team. He spent 3 full years in the minors and some of the 4th in the minors (with some ECHL time) before becoming a full time pro.
Smith was always going to be a project. Doubtful he makes the jump but I think the plan was always a long AHL run for him.
I think the hope is that he turns into someone like Dwight King who spent a lot of his first pro year in the ECHL (although he put up points in the AHL when he was up there) - but he spent parts of 4 years in the AHL before hitting the NHL.
Probably more likely if he makes it is a Ryan Reaves type guy who can play a regular 4th line shift without being a John Scott-esque plug on a good team. He spent 3 full years in the minors and some of the 4th in the minors (with some ECHL time) before becoming a full time pro.
Not someone you should be spending a 2nd round pick on. I think Austin Carroll is a similar project prospect and they got him in the 7th round.
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Not someone you should be spending a 2nd round pick on. I think Austin Carroll is a similar project prospect and they got him in the 7th round.
I am not the biggest Smith "believer" but I've seen him do some things that justify getting drafted, and he was selected almost exactly where he was ranked so he wasn't a reach. He's extremelt strong on his skates in the corners, if we were planning on building the LA Kings we would continie drafting guys of his nature for our bottom wingers because their whole concept is for depth lines to just spend all their icetime with puck possession on the perimeters. Hunter doesn't really fit the concepts we employ right now and his skating isn't yet NHL calibre but if he pans out, bottom 6ers like him are a really high bang for buck.
The fact that Caroll has any NHL upside as a 7th rounder is more of a win than Hunter Smith being a sketchy loss as a 2nd rounder.
