Which player is going to surprise us out of camp and make the roster?

[FBI]

Probably could go in another thread but who do you think the next Jooris is for us this year (assuming there is one)

What does your gut tell you on who is going to be the big surprise this year?

I'll go Foo and say he makes it on that Versteeg - Bennett - Foo line..

Seems like there are a lot of candidates who could surprise us this year..

[TheScorpion]

Calling it right now: Andrew Mangiapane.

[Vinny01]

Klimchuck

[Finger Cookin]

I'm not sure Foo making the roster would qualify as a surprise. There's certainly room for him on the right side, and by all indications he's going to get a real opportunity.

Wotherspoon has floundered since playing regularly at the end of 13-14. I think he's capable enough of taking the job on the third pair playing alongside Stone. Having said that, him doing so would surprise me, as it seems Kulak has the inside track.

I'm big on Jankowski, but I think the club is in no rush with him. I see him starting the season in Stockton but finishing the season in Calgary.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I'm not sure Foo making the roster would qualify as a surprise. There's certainly room for him on the right side, and by all indications he's going to get a real opportunity.

Wotherspoon has floundered since playing regularly at the end of 13-14. I think he's capable enough of taking the job on the third pair playing alongside Stone. Having said that, him doing so would surprise me, as it seems Kulak has the inside track.

I'm big on Jankowski, but I think the club is in no rush with him. I see him starting the season in Stockton but finishing the season in Calgary.

Yeah I think Janko is going to make it as well but that is not going to be a big surprise for me. Foo making it would be a bigger surprise to me than Janko making it.

Wotherspoon over Kulak would be a little bit of a surprise to me as well.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Neither Jankowski or Foo would be "surprises" in the sense, as they were expected to challenge for spots. Ditto on Kulak and Wotherspoon.

An unexpected player? Maybe Poirier.

[Freddy]

Hathaway sticks with the big club all season and Healey gets into a few games as a call up.

[dammage79]

Kylington and Crammarosa.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Shinkaruk

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Neither Jankowski or Foo would be "surprises" in the sense, as they were expected to challenge for spots. Ditto on Kulak and Wotherspoon.

An unexpected player? Maybe Poirier.

I guess I don't expect anyone out of the blue this season. For sure, guys like Poirier or Klimchuk or Mangiapane or Rittich would be shockers. To me, at least.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Shinkaruk

This would be a huge shock for me.. I guess with the depth we have now, I think Shinkaruk is done. (except for injuries)

Players I think are above Shinkaruk:

Foo
Janko
Hathaway
Hamilton
Poirier (possibly if he's back on track)
possibly even Dube and Mangiapane

[N-E-B]

I'd agree that neither Jankowski or Foo making the team would qualify as a surprise. If I had to guess I would say Kylington. I think him or Andersson could beat out Kulak or Bartkowski for a spot, but I don't think Andersson would be too shocking.

[jayswin]

If we hadn't signed Hamonic I honestly believe Valimaki would have stole a starting spot regardless of what the team says about grooming prospects.

I mean I'm glad we vaulted ourselves into a top 5 defensive core but it still would have been an interesting and exciting battle to watch.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Shinkaruk

He's reportedly getting worked already by newer, younger guys battling for the same spots. I don't see his opportunity coming anymore.

[EVERLAST]

Hoping Poirier....would still be happy if Foo made it.

Really want to see Janko make the jump.

Wondering if at any point we see Parsons....I'm excited about the idea of how awesome this kid will be.

I'd settle for Hathaway making it full time and or seeing Lomberg push for a spot.

I really don't want to see these PTO guys make it . Too much duck and nuck stink on em.

[Badgers Nose]

I'm saying Poirier, in a power of positive thinking kind of way.

He could be another Ferland story, start slow on the bottom line as an agitator and then earn more ice time. He has all the tools, I really hope he figures it out.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Kylington and Crammarosa.

Cramarossa looked surprisingly good at practice today.....

[GranteedEV]

At center, I'd prefer no surprises. Bennett, Jankowski, Monahan, Backlund. Those four should play center.

At wing, I would like it to be Emile Poirier. A few reasons:


- I want the Flames to be among the fastest teams in the league, and Poirier is probably our fastest NHL-ready forward prospect
- More importantly than raw speed is that Poirier is an excellent forechecker. I made an observation last November that Poirier looked dangerous at times and the numbers didn't seem to line up with what I was seeing. He's the kind of guy that could get in on a Doughty or a Keith and still come out with the puck. Part of that is his speed but forechecking is also a skill.
- I am just a nervous person about waivers. I know, the chances he gets claimed are slim, but all it takes is one team to like him and keep an eye on him. Beyond that, he's our former first rounder. Waiving him is usually an admittance of a wasted pick. People talk about not wanting to blow the 2nd spent on Lazar by exposing him, but we spent a better pick on Poirier who is from Lazar's draft class.
- Natural LHS allows a Versteeg-Bennett-Poirier to either load up off-wing snipes or a Poirier-Bennett-Versteeg line to play their "strong" wings for tighter defensive play.
- Maybe I wasn't as high on him as others a couple years back, but I definitely saw flashes of top 6 skill that I'd like to see utilized with some of our top 6 caliber players like Gaudreau, Backlund, or Bennett.

It's up to Poirier but I am rooting for him.

At defense, I'm pulling for Josh Healey. To pull a Treliving phrase, to me he "checks all the boxes". First pass. Skating. Blow-you-up hitting.

I'm rooting against Kylington making the NHL - I'm actually a huge Kylington fan and it would be great if he were ready, but I want to see him throw up a dominant offensive season in the minors, like Jankowski did last year. Kylington was good last year offensively, but there's so much potential that needs to be untapped. I truly think he is our most dynamic prospect and concerns about his high-risk play are overblown. But I also think he's only 20 and a truly high-end year in the A would be a perfect stepping stone into the NHL. I don't see why a Duncan Keith type trajectory for his NHL career would be a bad thing, and he still has two more years of minor league to go if we're measuring by age.

[Timbo]

Poirier is who I hope makes the jump.

[dissentowner]

Nobody. I just don't see the room for any surprise players to make it.