Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd7

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Anyways, this is just degenerating into a war of words with no point other than you're cantankerous.

Such innocence.

[TheDebaser]

Please ignore each other.

[MJK]

Ortio is so underrated!

[Calgary4LIfe]

This is getting harder, not easier.

For me, this is between Wotherspoon, Jankowski and Reinhart.

Wotherspoon just keeps exceeding all expectations. I think he will end up being a 'core' player down the line, but as a second pairing defender. Seems like a player you will be able to throw out in any situation, and will make good decisions with the puck and with his own positioning.

Reinhart also just keeps breaking whatever ceiling you place on him. He is just so mart out there in every zone. Teams win with guys like Reinhart, IMO. Still has to get stronger and hopefully a little bit faster (he is not slow at all, but hopefully he gets a bit faster. With his IQ he would be a forechecking nightmare to go up against). I could see him legitimately become a 2nd line center, but thanks with the depth on the Flames, he may even have to shift over to the wing.

Jankowski - I decided to go with Jankowski. He was picked so high because of his ceiling. In Providence, he is becoming a well-rounded player. What does this mean?

Well, to me, Jankowski could be another Nieuwendyk with his ceiling, or even another Joel Otto 'lite'. Now, he will never have Otto's nastiness. He will probably end up having Otto's size, and is gaining Otto's defensive acumen and faceoff ability. To me, he is quickly becoming less likely to bust (which was the fears of most that didn't like Jankowski). He may never realize his full potential - Nieuwendyk is NOT a level that is easily attainable. Otto isn't either, and I will not say "at least he will be another Joel Otto". I think the Flames don't win the cup without Otto, along with Gilmour and Nieuwendyk.

What I am saying is that having a 6'4" center with his IQ and skating ability will help the Flames be harder to match up against, and he may be the guy tasked with defending against other big centers in a shut-down role (which he seems to be doing now in Providence!).

Is he developing? Well, stat lines show nothing. Please don't compare prospects on different teams in different roles trying to show that Jankowski is not developing. Kevin Hayes developed on an offensive juggernaut in BC. Same goes for Knight. Same goes for a LOT of other NCAA players. Jankowski was much younger and much more 'raw'. Instead of debating and finding comparisons and arguing non-stop about how these comparisons fit, just take a moment and step back and see where Jankowski is.

Leamen (who is considered one of the best coaches and program builders in the NCAA) throws Jankowski out at the last moments of a game to either preserve their one goal lead, or try and tie the game up. You don't throw out someone in those situations you don't trust time and again.

Jankowski's 'floor' was 'bust'. I think his floor is quickly rising. Aside from needing time to grow physically, his biggest flaws were defensive acumen and systems play. He is getting that in spades now, and is already a guy that the coach relies on. If that isn't development, then I have no idea what development is. Stat lines are only useful to a point - and though Jankowski's offensive stats has been a little underwhelming, there has been improvement every year. Given the circumstances of the overall picture of him as a prospect.

To me, if he can step in and become a very good defensive player (which he is at Providence), and can win faceoffs (which he is at Providence) and can skate and help shut down opposing teams (which he is at Providence), then he will be a huge piece for the Flames. Watch him play, and he has moments where he absolutely dazzles you with his vision and his skill level. The ceiling is still there, and the floor is quickly rising too!

Jankowski by a hair between Wotherspoon and Reinhart for me. How close they are to the NHL is irrelevant to me - I pick according to how valuable they will be to the team long-term - and having a 6'4" center that skates very well and has his IQ, vision, hands, faceoff ability and defensive acumen (if he keeps gaining as he has so far done) will make him an extremely valuable piece for the Flames moving forward.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Bingo

In my mind the guy that will end up being the most underrated prospect when this is all done will be Agostino.

Speed, smart, mature ... a shoot first player that can play anywhere in the lineup, and I bet he goes 12 or worse.

Really agree, glad you brought it up.

He really impressed me last year. Very pleasantly surprised with his ability, but most importantly, his play style. Under the radar.

[gargamel]

I went with Gillies because I really think he'll be a legit #1 goalie in the not-too-distant future, but Smith got some consideration as well. It's surprising to me that not a single person thinks any of our 2014 draft picks other than Bennett are among our top 7 prospects.

[N26]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I went with Gillies because I really think he'll be a legit #1 goalie in the not-too-distant future, but Smith got some consideration as well. It's surprising to me that not a single person thinks any of our 2014 draft picks other than Bennett are among our top 7 prospects.

That speaks to the depth of our prospect pool now and the fact that people are seeing that an 18 year old with one good year still has a lot to prove. When compared to 22 year olds who have several years of advancement and physical growth behind them.

I personally have Bennett 5th on my list because I want at least one more year of exceptional results (stats and other factors) before I annoint him #1. I do expect him to get there but it's not today. Jankowski is 14th on my list. Which is better than last year. With him I remain hopeful but unconvinced as yet.

Of the rest of the 2014 picks I think McDonald could crack the top 20 (I have him at 19) but the others need to prove themselves more to climb over the Culkins, Wolfs, Kulaks and Hanowskis.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I went with Gillies because I really think he'll be a legit #1 goalie in the not-too-distant future, but Smith got some consideration as well. It's surprising to me that not a single person thinks any of our 2014 draft picks other than Bennett are among our top 7 prospects.

This is a depth issue. We are likely to see three or as many as four players from last year's top-ten fall out of it this year, and not because they have stalled or slowed in their trajectory. Outside of Bennett, all of this year's first rounders are lesser known commodities who are much further back in their own development. All of them hold mitigating factors or circumstances that essentially kept them out of the first round of the draft. It should really come as no surprise then to expect that none of them will—at this stage—probably only factor into the top 15, but mostly because the Flames have not had this deep of a prospect pool for well more than a couple of decades.

[Party Elephant]

I went with Ortio. Not gonna write an essay on why, but I think he has to be our top goaltending prospect at this point after showing what he can do in the AHL and his brief NHL stint. Gillies and McDonald have yet to play a pro game and you never really know how a young goaltender's development will go. Ortio is way ahead of both of them in that respect.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Looks like I'll be voting Ortio for a while.

I don't know about that. I am selecting Ortio with my next pick, and haven't yet cast a vote his way. There are likely lots of other posters who, like me, will vote for Ortio next, who have not yet voted for him.

[Money Baer]

Going with Wotherspoon.

The guy isn't flashy, but he's reliable and consistent. Should make a solid 3/4D in the future!

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

I went with Ortio. Not gonna write an essay on why, but I think he has to be our top goaltending prospect at this point after showing what he can do in the AHL and his brief NHL stint. Gillies and McDonald have yet to play a pro game and you never really know how a young goaltender's development will go. Ortio is way ahead of both of them in that respect.

I had Gillies at the top of the list last year, and voted for him in the second round. Ortio impressed the hell out of me with his season, and has probably passed him in my mind. It's a great sign for the Flames to have two such promising goaltending prospects in the system; both of whom look like they could potentially be starters. Perhaps the best thing about the current situation is that both are probably about two–three years away. Gillies is a few years younger, but I think his adjustment to the pro game is likely also to happen a little faster.

[Textcritic]

It's really interesting to see the margins of victory in each round so far compared to last year. In last year's poll, Monanan won with less than 50% of the vote, and then Gillies (round 4 = 45%), Wotherspoon (round 6 = 35%), Sieloff (round 7 = 38%), and Knight (round 8 = 39%) all also fell under 50%. This year, after six rounds, Klimchuk is so far the only player to garner less than 50% of the vote in round 6, with 45.5%.

I'm not sure what it means at this point, but it is interesting to me that even though the pool looks much deeper this year than last year, the results for each player are also consistently stronger. To me, that says a lot about how strong the Flames' pool is right now.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It's really interesting to see the margins of victory in each round so far compared to last year. In last year's poll, Monanan won with less than 50% of the vote, and then Gillies (round 4 = 45%), Wotherspoon (round 6 = 35%), Sieloff (round 7 = 38%), and Knight (round 8 = 39%) all also fell under 50%. This year, after six rounds, Klimchuk is so far the only player to garner less than 50% of the vote in round 6, with 45.5%.

I'm not sure what it means at this point

Feaster had overhauled our prospect pool pretty thoroughly. It's been more calm for the last year. That gives more time to form opinions on players. Possibly there's more consensus on the criteria too, since last year was the first time we did this.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Itse

Feaster had overhauled our prospect pool pretty thoroughly. It's been more calm for the last year. That gives more time to form opinions on players. Possibly there's more consensus on the criteria too, since last year was the first time we did this.

Also I think Flames fans in general are spending more time watching, reading about, and discussing prospects than ever before. I know personally I used to have a peripheral knowledge of our prospects, but now I actively seek out video and do as much reading as possible on all the guys who make up at least the top 15 to 20.

This is probably leading to greater consensus as we are all watching and reading the same things.

[Bingo]

Sorry I brought up the walk away from Jankowski options guys! That sent this thing down the rabbit hole pretty quickly!

Round 8 coming up!

Had a request to add last year's results to the cover so I'll do that too.