The Kids: Expectations vs. Reality

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You use one appeal to authority to back your opinion, and you grab the outlier.

Here's another that is very recent:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...adline/page/24

they have the Flames 8th, and that doesn't include Monahan.

Hockey 's Future (widely regarded as Flame haters) had them 13th before the season and before the emergence of Granlund, Ortio and Reinhart. It is safe to say the Flames will climb in the ranks when updated.

These are ALL just opinions. But you pull out the most negative in an attempt to show that you are the voice of reason.

The prospect pool still has a ways to go, but it has improved immensely in the last 3 years and only a hater would rank them 23rd at this point.

Why does everyone try and make this personal. I noted that different prospect sites have us ranked as high as 8.

We are starting from close to scratch. We have some holes that still need filling. That isn't a criticism of the prospects we have.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I am not trying hard to rain on anyone's parade. But the post is to match fans expectations with the current set of prospects.

When people like me suggested we mange expectations RE Baertschi we were sneered at. When we suggested a reality check RE Nemisz we weren't real fans.

Gaudreau has a LONG way to go to prove he can be an NHL player let alone a Kane level player. Monahan isn't Toews yet.

The point is simple. We have done a GREAT job in improving the prospect pool. We have players to be excited about. I am on board. But my expectation (RE the purpose of the post) is we are at the start of a rebuild and have a long ways to go.

Originally Posted by kehatch

Why does everyone try and make this personal. I noted that different prospect sites have us ranked as high as 8.

We are starting from close to scratch. We have some holes that still need filling. That isn't a criticism of the prospects we have.

I wasn't making anything personal. You criticized the fan base as being too optimistic. I simply replied to your post with the same type of example to demonstrate that maybe your view was too pessimistic.

[JiriHrdina]

I think the THN ranking is not a prospect ranking but rather a mathematical rating of hiw each organization has done relative to their recent draft positions. I could be wrong but I thought that's what it was

[dissentowner]

Who cares what THN thinks, they get everything wrong every year.

[TherapyforGlencross]

I guess to a certain degree it has changed my expectations, but I try not to get into that. The Flames have a ton of potential in the forward ranks, such as Jankowski, Gaudreau, Baertschi, Klimchuk, Poirer, Granlund, and others. However, let's take a step back and realize that some of these players won't actually succeed in the NHL; it's inevitable really. Who knows if Jankowski will actually amount to anything, if Gaudreau can make it due to his size, or if Monahan has the offense to centre the 1st line. I would be extrememly happy if 2/6 guys become top six forwards. If more than 2/6 actually become bonafide forwards, it's more than likely that they will get traded for another need; whether that be defense, goaltender, or a different forward position.