I think this is one of the more extreme views on the subject so far, ironically.
But having a 20 year old 3rd round pick that came the tier II route to NCAA hockey and hasn't been to an NHL training camp even once hobey baker candidate and contender until mid season injury replace a players that are veteran pro hockey players that have been around all season but horribly underperforming with the team still in the race?
I lightly modified your statement with other true facts and it seems much less "nutbar"
Performing is such a subjective word.
If you mean filling the net then yeah they have many underperforming players. It's an offensively challenged team.
But Suniev really isn't in line to replace those bottom 3-5 players because he likely couldn't hold a candle to them in the 200 foot game.
Fans rag on the fourth line all the time but they're actually near the top of the team in what they give up defensively.
Is he ready to take on that role?
To me it's Pospisil, Sharangovich and perhaps Farabee (but he generally plays more of a shutdown role).
Cole O'Hara, Preds 4th round pick, who was UMass leading scorer over Suniev, was signed and sent to the AHL. He won't even get a chance to play in the NHL this season
Same with Dans Locmelis, who was Suniev's linemate. Signed by the Bruins and sent to the AHL.
Suniev gets to be in the NHL now and will likely get 1 or more NHL games, which is more than every recent college player who signed that is not a first round pick. Suniev is not getting some raw deal here
Last edited by Canada 02; 04-03-2025 at 11:44 AM.
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We really shouldn't be using Leonard or Perreault or Snuggerud as comparisons for why Suniev should get a shot........they're just better players. It's not surprising they're getting looks right away.
Suniev is still a great prospect. Just happy he's signed and seeing how he progresses next season. Got a lot of tools to work with.
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Kinda sucks to burn a year of his ELC for 8 games but Conroy said it was important to lock him down.
I've always been concerned with the Flames ability to sign picks that play at US colleges with options of returning for another year in college and having the freedom to sign with any other NHL team as a result, so this is excellent news.
Seravalli mentioned that during the 48 hours after Suniev's season ended, it sounded like Conroy and the Flames were only 50/50 that they'd be able to get him to sign, so it sounds like it was definitely close! Glad they got it done!
I cant quite put my finger on it but this kid is really going to be solid here. He reminds me of a young Iginla. Knows hes just starting on this journey but that theres alot of work ahead.
He has alot of people predicting he will do well and Bob Hartley once said this is how we prove these people are RIGHT about us . They see it and we prove theyre right about us.
