Some people talk about Gaudreau's defensive game not being up to snuff. Personally I think it is excellent from limited viewing. Never the less if he makes the team which left winger does he displace? As in how did the spot become open and who filled it before?
Mike Cammalleri. Small guy, terrible plus minus, did not play much defense. I like Mike, Mike is a sniper. Terrible passer and bad at defense. Yet can shoot the puck with the best in the league!
I firmly believe Gaudreau's defensive game will be a non issue. Linemates will be though. Needs to play with talent, as long as he stays on the top two lines he will be fine. If his linemates are Mcgratten and Bollig I will go nuts lol! That's not to say I have an issue with them occasionally playing together, to send a message to the other team.
Johnny is gonna get pushed around a lot this year, yet he is gonna make a lot of good players look foolish too.
I am hoping for Sven, I've lost faith though. I know its not fair. Hey I don't like Backlund either lol, don't hate him though! People say he had a break out year last year, yes he was better, I still expect more from him. Yet for a change I can say he has earned this chance. If he sucks this year he is gone as far as I am concerned. Granlund Reinhardt Knight Arnold all are knocking on the door.
Guys I would like to see impress me on D? Sieloff, Kulak, and Kanzig. All 3 bring something different. Probably all best to be in the AHL. Left off Wotherspoon cause to me he at worst is a bottom pairing Dman already in the NHL. He only plays in the NHL if he is taking a regular shift otherwise its pointless.
Seems like Gaudreau is the hot pick, but I'm not sold. Yes, the kid has excelled at every level he's played, BUT he's going from playing 30-40 games in NCAA to 82 games in the NHL. All of the college players that were playing in Abbotsford last years started stumbling around the 30-40 game level and I think that reason alone will keep Gaudreau with the Baby flames.
I assume this poll is for who we think is most likely to make the team out of camp, not who we think will make the jump during the season?
For that reason, I voted Baertschi and Reinhart as the forwards and Wotherspoon as the defenceman. I do believe that Gaudreau and Granlund will have both also permanently graduated by the end of the season.
__________________
Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
I find it odd that Wotherspoon is the top rookie pick to make the team at only 21 years old and yet is ranked as only our 7th best prospect. Defencemen just get no respect.
I find it odd that Wotherspoon is the top rookie pick to make the team at only 21 years old and yet is ranked as only our 7th best prospect. Defencemen just get no respect.
I think it's more ceiling in that ranking. The Defense core is weak in the bottom making Wortherspoon available to make the team, but yes, the fans want the goals.
Seems like Gaudreau is the hot pick, but I'm not sold. Yes, the kid has excelled at every level he's played, BUT he's going from playing 30-40 games in NCAA to 82 games in the NHL. All of the college players that were playing in Abbotsford last years started stumbling around the 30-40 game level and I think that reason alone will keep Gaudreau with the Baby flames.
My picks are:
Baertschi
Wolf
Wotherspoon
That's all well and good and I understand the concern... but how do you keep him off the Flames if he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 preseason games. You don't have a ton of choice but to keep him up.
How do you tell the kid in training camp, "Johnny, it doesn't matter how good you play. We don't think you can play a full NHL season so you get to play in Adirondack this year."
Not only that... during the summer development camp he was the best player in terms of endurance.
__________________
Huge thanks to Dion for the signature!
Last edited by Nehkara; 07-31-2014 at 04:48 AM.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Nehkara For This Useful Post:
That's all well and good and I understand the concern... but how do you keep him off the Flames if he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 preseason games. You don't have a ton of choice but to keep him up.
How do you tell the kid in training camp, "Johnny, it doesn't matter how good you play. We don't think you can play a full NHL season so you get to play in Adirondack this year."
Plus, with Gaudreau, he can make the team out of camp, and if he does start to struggle in the middle of the season and lose some confidence, they can send him down to Adirondack at that point.
He's not an 18 or 19 year-old junior player. There's no 9-game contract burn issue or a concern that if you send him down, you can't recall him. He could go back and forth between the NHL and AHL a half dozen times and it wouldn't make a difference.
With Bennett, they need to consider those other factors. With Gaudreau, they don't.
__________________
Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
There are certainly wild cards. What if Wolf skates well in training camp and shows decent hands all while running over Canucks and Oilers? What if Bennett comes into camp at 195 lbs. and lights it up with Johnny while antagonizing opposition players?
I voted for only Baertschi. I think Gaudreau and Wotherspoon will spend the majority of the season in the AHL and fully expect Bennett to go back to Kingston. I think we will pick up a defenseman and a forward either via trade or waivers.
That's all well and good and I understand the concern... but how do you keep him off the Flames if he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 preseason games. You don't have a ton of choice but to keep him up.
How do you tell the kid in training camp, "Johnny, it doesn't matter how good you play. We don't think you can play a full NHL season so you get to play in Adirondack this year."
Not only that... during the summer development camp he was the best player in terms of endurance.
If he has a great camp, obviously the Flames would be thrilled....
As Burke commented about Sven (i.e. game consists of three zones).... the same thing will go for all young players.
Flames are full aware that Johnny has the offensive talent, they are going to be watching the other side of the game IMO.
Kind of curious as to what some posters believe Gaudreau will get better at, playing in the AHL, as opposed to starting with Calgary?
It's not like Calgary doesn't have a dearth of creative scoring veteran wingers.
Kind of curious as to what some posters believe Gaudreau will get better at, playing in the AHL, as opposed to starting with Calgary?
It's not like Calgary doesn't have a dearth of creative scoring veteran wingers.
The speed and skill in the AHL is better than that of the NCAA and the NHL is better than that in the AHL. It is simply a stepping stone to allow his adjustment to be smoother. There is no reason to throw him to the wolves and play him in the NHL immediately, the risk of rushing him is too significant. Let's let him develop properly.
I'll jump in..why not..Gives MMF a chance to rip me. I think Sam Bennett makes it. Yes I know he is young. But my friends, (2 NHL Scouts, 1 NHL Coach and a NHL GM) tell me he is undaunted. Fearless, and wont quit. These guys know what they speak. I will abide by them.
The recipe is certainly there to make the club.
Bottom 5 team
Top 4 pick
CS top ranked forward
Stats on the # that make it each year
His tenacity
The really good news from a Flames standpoint is that they have other options coming in at the same time so there isn't that pressure to make it. They don't have their season ticket sales linked to proving the future is bright by pushing kids into spots regardless of how ready they are.
With Gaudreau, Grandlund, Reinhart, Baertschi, Klimchuk, Poirier (hopefully) at camp, they don't need Bennett to be the show.
Good situation.
The Following User Says Thank You to Bingo For This Useful Post:
The speed and skill in the AHL is better than that of the NCAA and the NHL is better than that in the AHL. It is simply a stepping stone to allow his adjustment to be smoother. There is no reason to throw him to the wolves and play him in the NHL immediately, the risk of rushing him is too significant. Let's let him develop properly.
I'm not sure the AHL holds significant advantages for Johnny in terms of development.
What it all really comes down to, is that I would be surprised to see Johnny disappoint in training camp and preseason. As a logical extension of that, it would be hard to justify sending him down if he is lighting up the NHL preseason.
As getback pointed out, you can easily send him down to Adirondack during the season if he looks like he needs some time on the farm.
__________________
Huge thanks to Dion for the signature!
I'll jump in..why not..Gives MMF a chance to rip me. I think Sam Bennett makes it. Yes I know he is young. But my friends, (2 NHL Scouts, 1 NHL Coach and a NHL GM) tell me he is undaunted. Fearless, and wont quit. These guys know what they speak. I will abide by them.
These could be the exact reasons a 178 pound kid might find better development in the OHL.
If he has a great camp, obviously the Flames would be thrilled....
As Burke commented about Sven (i.e. game consists of three zones).... the same thing will go for all young players.
Flames are full aware that Johnny has the offensive talent, they are going to be watching the other side of the game IMO.
Did you watch Johnny play against the Canucks? From what I saw, his two way game is not just acceptable, but actually very good when you consider his size and playing style.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
Before you call me a pessimist or a downer, the Flames made me this way. Blame them.
I find it odd that Wotherspoon is the top rookie pick to make the team at only 21 years old and yet is ranked as only our 7th best prospect. Defencemen just get no respect.
He is the top ranked defense project, and the formula stated to pick two forwards and one defense.
(and yeah, forwards are usually the sexier pick)
