2013/14 General Heat Discussion Thread

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Same as every year, let's put all Heat discussion in this thread.

It's going to be a very very different looking Heat team this season. Walter's gone, Kolanos' gone, Taylor's gone, Irving's gone, Ruegsegger's gone, Sylvester's gone. All of the more tenured Heat players are departing. It's probably best for the team. Towards the end of last season the Heat stagnated. Their scoring dried up and there was no one to lift them out of their funk. A change in leadership was needed and now it's happening.

I really really look forward to this year. Abbotsford hasn't seen a team projected to be this young in its five year history. It'll be interesting to see which young players emerge in the prospect pool.

Training camp will tell the coaches a lot about who works well together and who is developing chemistry so lines can be put together. Very roughly, here's what we should expect:

Byron - Street - Nemisz
Granlund - Reinhart - Hanowski
Laing (?) - B. Jones - Ferland
Bancks - Jooris - Elson

Extras/Utah: Howse, Eddy

Cundari - Breen
Wotherspoon - Billins
Ramage - MacKenzie

Extras/Utah: Culkin, Martin

Berra
Ortio
Brossoit

That's my extremely rough guess. There will be veterans and unsigned players who will almost definitely join the team. But for a mid-August estimate, that's what it looks like right now. Lots of grit, little skill.

[BloodFetish]

Not sure about Granlund playing for the Heat. Doesn't he have an 'out' clause where if he doesn't make the Flames he can go back to Finland for the year? Maybe he'd choose not to exercise it?

[sureLoss]

There is a chance that Sieloff joins the Heat because he was drafted out of the USHL the under 20 year old CHL rule doesn't apply to him. I guess it would depend on if the Flames felt he was ready to make the jump to pro and how much ice time they think he will get with the Heat.

Really interested to see who they bring in as a veteran/mentor for the Heat. Lots of decent NHLers out there without a contract and perhaps will have to settle for an AHL only contract to start the season. Although I suppose Laing would be decent too.

[The Eliminator]

There are only 5 right shots on this projected team right now with Nemisz, Jooris, Ramage, B.Jones and Eddy. The last two might be on Calgary or ECHL.

They didn't retain a lot of RHS: Kolanos, Aliu, Olson, Ruegsegger, Carson, Callahan, Lamb, Estoclet, Tuzzolino, Testwuide

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Sylvester's gone.

just saw that he signed in Austria. There'll be a lot of former Abbotsford players in Austria this year ... Sylvester, Wahl, Keith, Lundmark, Latendresse, Lammers. Greentree was here last year too, but he signed in Switzerland now.

[bubbsy]

The heat will be fun to follow this year with so many actual flames prospects that should be playing.

[Zulu29]

Sorry, but what ended up happening with Irving? Did Feaster decide to let him walk?

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Sorry, but what ended up happening with Irving? Did Feaster decide to let him walk?

Yes

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Sorry, but what ended up happening with Irving? Did Feaster decide to let him walk?

Yeah, it was time to let him go.

Between MacDonald, Ramo, Berra, Ortio and Brossoit, the Heat should have some pretty decent goaltending. I hope anyways.

Obviously Taylor has been the wall for a couple of seasons, but it was time to move on. Bring in some new blood.

[thymebalm]

It's too bad we couldn't hang on to Brett Olsen and Dan Sylvester. They had some good potential.

[sureLoss]

So looks like Bancks and Begin fill out the last few spots on the the Heat roster

[Alberta_Beef]

Interesting that Bancks signs a 1 year AHL deal rather than agree to a 2way deal with the Flames.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Interesting that Bancks signs a 1 year AHL deal rather than agree to a 2way deal with the Flames.

Yep, I can't really figure that one out. I was thinking that maybe they both want the option to part ways at the end of the season but they could do that on a two way as well. Head scratcher.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yep, I can't really figure that one out. I was thinking that maybe they both want the option to part ways at the end of the season but they could do that on a two way as well. Head scratcher.

As a fan of Bancks I would say there is a 1% chance he gets anymore than 2-3 games in the NHL and that would be as a reward for hardwork at the AHL level if he did.

This likely gives him a lot more flexibility going forward and more money as his AHL deal is likely more than he would have got on a two way deal. Flames save by not having the contract on the books unless they want it and he gets some extra bucks that ends up as peanuts for the Flames.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yep, I can't really figure that one out. I was thinking that maybe they both want the option to part ways at the end of the season but they could do that on a two way as well. Head scratcher.

I wouldn't be shocked if it was

*Nudge nudge* we will give you more money at the AHL level if you sign an AHL deal,

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I'm pretty excited to have Begin on the Heat. It's pretty cool how he's gone full circle in the Flames organization. Drafted, AHL, NHL, AHL, retirement. He'll also be one of the best leaders in the league. I think the young guys would go through a wall for him.

[Alberta_Beef]

Well Begin should be the captain IMO

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Well Begin should be the captain IMO

I think so too. With Bancks, Breen and Nemisz as the rotating assistants.

[Freeway]

Gonna be a YOUNG group in Abby next year: Steve Begin, Blair Jones and Derek Smith could conceivably be the only AHL veterans (320+ pro games) they have down there, period.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Gonna be a YOUNG group in Abby next year: Steve Begin, Blair Jones and Derek Smith could conceivably be the only AHL veterans (320+ pro games) they have down there, period.

As opposed to Piskula, Laing, McCarthy, Kolanos, Walter, Callahan at the beginning of last season.