Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd5

[kehatch]

Granlund will take this. But I really like Klimchuk's overall game. I think he has more dimension to his game then Granlund. But I have underestimated Granlund every season. I hope he keeps exceeding my expectations.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Gotta go with Klimchuk here, something about him screams future pro. He might not be a high scoring player but all indications we have a Langkow-type who plays the wing (maybe not as productive as Langkow in his prime). Really liked this pick when it was made and like it even more now. I think he's a solid piece that will be able to play up and down the lineup as needed, a perfect complimentary player. Add in he's a local boy and that helps give him an edge over Granlund for me (if it was a tie, but I still favor Klimchuk).

Really liked how Granlund came in and played so well in his first year of NA hockey. My main issue with him is where does he fit down the road? Monhan/Bennett are 1/2 so does he take Backlund's spot or force Backlund to the wing? Size, like it or not, is a factor as well, mainly due to the composition of players already on the roster and those projected to be. Baertschi, Gaudreau, Klimchuk and Backlund are all average sized to undersized. Where does Granlund fit in? Throw players like Byron, Raymond and Hudler into the mix and it becomes even murkier, especially given the type of team management is trying to build.

Personally I think he's trade bait and that's not a bad thing, gotta give quality to get quality. It's also possible he emerges if others fail too, which is why it's so great to have this amazing prospect depth. A great deal will be determined by whether or not Baertschi ever breaks out and if he can effectively move to the wing.

[dissentowner]

I went with Granlund but it is starting to get tough, Klimchuk and Gillies were considered as well for #5.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by cral12

Klimchuk still criminally underrated - he's my pick here.

I would say it doesn't matter who we vote in the 4-7 spots... whoever doesn't get the vote, is getting criminally underrated.

I wanted to vote Klimchuk, but how can you ignore what Granlund did in his 20 yo season in the AHL? What about Reinhart's 300% ppg increase in the AHL for his 21 yo season?

I wanna vote Klimchuk next round, but how can you ignore how well Wotherspoon looked in his brief NHL stint last season?

I could vote Klimchuk, but then I'm underrating other guys.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I would say it doesn't matter who we vote in the 4-7 spots... whoever doesn't get the vote, is getting criminally underrated.

I wanted to vote Klimchuk, but how can you ignore what Granlund did in his 20 yo season in the AHL? What about Reinhart's 300% ppg increase in the AHL for his 21 yo season?

I wanna vote Klimchuk next round, but how can you ignore how well Wotherspoon looked in his brief NHL stint last season?

I could vote Klimchuk, but then I'm underrating other guys.

That's exactly it - we are starting to see very good prospects falling in the rankings for no reason except that there are other good prospects. The next 5-10 (maybe even more) prospects are all going to be 'criminally underrated', and hopefully they will also have upcoming seasons that will make us wonder how we could have ranked 'prospect x' at '9th'..

A deep prospect pool is tough to rank, and everyone essentially becomes criminally underrated because they are not in the 'top 3' or 'top 5' shiny section, but they all have the ability (imo) to perform and get themselves into that section next year.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

Where do you guys think Tim Erixon would go on this list?

The whole refusing to play here thing aside, and assuming is career went the same (I think he would have been allot better off here, and would be a full time NHLer by now). He would be right were Wootherspoon, maybe one or two lower because of frustration he is 2 years older than Wootherspoon.

[Headshot]

I was really struggling between Wotherspoon and Granlund, but ended up choosing Granlund. They both had great seasons, but Granlund really was probobly the Heats best forward. Wotherspoon played great too, but I'm not sure about his offensive upside IMO.

However Wotherspoon gets my next vote.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Speaks to the potential forward depth that a guy selected in the 1st round last year in Klimchuk will go out of the top 5. That's before mentioning our highest drafted prospect ever went 2nd to previous 4th round wunderkind Gaudreau.

Klimchuk could still and IMO will go top 5. I'd expect hell edge out Wotherspoon in round 5.

[The Fonz]

You're lost FDW

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Klimchuk could still and IMO will go top 5. I'd expect hell edge out Wotherspoon in round 5.

This is round 5 and Granlund is well in the lead.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Lol. Quite right

[dying4acup]

I picked Jankowski.

I still think he is potentially the best of the rest. He still has top line upside (while most others are 2nd line upside).

I do agree that the next few picks will likely be guys that are more NHL-ready.

I don't think any of the goalies or defenseman are ready to crack this list just yet. Wotherspoon is the best d, but I'm not sure where to rank him. Thinking around 10. I am flabbergasted as to where to rank the goalies. But I do think Ortio is a tiny bit ahead of Gillies, just in that he had a good NHL showing this season.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Headshot

I was really struggling between Wotherspoon and Granlund, but ended up choosing Granlund. They both had great seasons, but Granlund really was probobly the Heats best forward. Wotherspoon played great too, but I'm not sure about his offensive upside IMO.

However Wotherspoon gets my next vote.

Do you remember his slap pass assist last year. Pretty solid instincts on that one...

[FireGilbert]

I went with Granlund last time so had to vote for him again this round. He dominated the AHL, did not look out of place in the NHL, and his flashes of skill indicate a high potential which puts him ahead of less proven players.

I agree with others saying the next rounds will be much tougher. I'm thinking of going with Wotherspoon, Klimchuk, then Reinhart before picking a goalie or two.

[Tinordi]

Klimchuk, higher ceiling.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Fire

Please stop mentioning HF.

HF: The short bus for Flames fans.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Behind Grandlund and Wotherspoon. Loser.

... behind Kanzig would be my guess.

[c.t.ner]

Had to give some love to Orito. A very strong year in the AHL and really showed glimmers of hope in his stint with the big club. If there's anyone on the list that's being underrated it has to be Ortio.

[BruceCody]

Reinhart, Wotherspoon for 6-7