Flames CHL Prospects: 2023-24 season

[boogerz]

What's the deal with Halaburda going undrafted?


Wears an A for the Giants, is point per game in his D+1 season for a relatively offensively-challenged team, and had this glowing draft profile from THW last year as a potential bottom-six NHLer.

[Sandman]

Here's my profile of Halaburda from last year:

-5'11",181lb RW Ty Halaburda is another one of those "not elite in any one thing, but good at everything" types, scoring 21 goals and 37 points in 66 games for the second-worst offensive team in the WHL, the Vancouver Giants. He added 3 points in 7 games for Team Canada in the U-18's. Halaburda's calling card is his speed, being one of Vancouver's fastest players, but he also has an uncommon motor, and a refined off-puck game. Some consider him one of the top penalty-killers in the league, but he is trusted in all situations. Off the puck, he is intense-chasing down puck-carriers, and working to limit time, space, and opportunity for opponents. He will not be outworked, plays physically, and never takes a shift off. Defensively, he is mature and well-rounded, with excellent awareness and anticipation, and he clogs lanes, and blocks shots with aplomb. He's a pest, and causes many turnovers. He is fairly calm and patient when carrying the puck, keeping his head up to scan for options, but his creatvity has not been shown to be high-end- he keeps things simple and workman-like. Halaburda will go to to the greasy areas, and will crash the net looking for opportunities, and he does get pretty good velocity on his shot. I like this kid, and I feel like he's the type to put up much bigger numbers in his D+1 year and beyond. I think he could one day be in an NHL team's bottom-6. 4th-6th round.

[InternationalVillager]

Would be quite the development if Lipinski ends up being the player everyone hoped Honzek would be.

I mean...he is a 4th round pick and those ended up doing OK in the past...

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's my profile of Halaburda from last year:

-5'11",181lb RW Ty Halaburda is another one of those "not elite in any one thing, but good at everything" types, scoring 21 goals and 37 points in 66 games for the second-worst offensive team in the WHL, the Vancouver Giants. He added 3 points in 7 games for Team Canada in the U-18's. Halaburda's calling card is his speed, being one of Vancouver's fastest players, but he also has an uncommon motor, and a refined off-puck game. Some consider him one of the top penalty-killers in the league, but he is trusted in all situations. Off the puck, he is intense-chasing down puck-carriers, and working to limit time, space, and opportunity for opponents. He will not be outworked, plays physically, and never takes a shift off. Defensively, he is mature and well-rounded, with excellent awareness and anticipation, and he clogs lanes, and blocks shots with aplomb. He's a pest, and causes many turnovers. He is fairly calm and patient when carrying the puck, keeping his head up to scan for options, but his creatvity has not been shown to be high-end- he keeps things simple and workman-like. Halaburda will go to to the greasy areas, and will crash the net looking for opportunities, and he does get pretty good velocity on his shot. I like this kid, and I feel like he's the type to put up much bigger numbers in his D+1 year and beyond. I think he could one day be in an NHL team's bottom-6. 4th-6th round.

do we think he goes as an overager this yr and if so, whereabouts?

[Naitix]

Watched the second period the giants game on Sunday. Honzek had a very nice rush where he beat a dman with speed and created a breakaway. His skating is clearly better than last years. A lot of his goals were rebounds in his draft year, I think he will do better at NHL level than the stats show from this year

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by cral12

do we think he goes as an overager this yr and if so, whereabouts?

I doubt he gets picked this year, but he still has a chance at a bottom-6 role in the NHL in the future, IMO.

[Buzzard]

Sandman, or anyone, what was the knock on Lipinski going into the draft last year? Kid has size, scores, shown progression etc. I sure hope he ends up being a steal from last year.

[Sandman]

Here is my profile of Lipinski from 2023, his main detriment was always his skating:

-The Vancouver Giants finished 16 out of 22 teams in the WHL, but their offense was second-last in the league. That might make 6'3",198lb C Jaden Lipinski's offensive output of 51 points in 66 games look a bit more shiny. Lipinski is not fleet-of-foot, with sluggish speed and acceleration, and his agility is not great, but the good news is that he's smart, plays a physical 200-ft game, and perhaps most importantly- he has gained confidence carrying the puck by greatly developing his puck-protection skills. Lipinski will move the puck up ice by shielding the puck with his body, arms, and rear-end, and this skill helps him in all 3 zones, in traffic, and in tight spaces. He doesn't need to just put the puck off the glass, or dump it in- he has confidence in puck possession. He won't be confused with teammate Sam Honzek, but he has a reasonable offensive toolkit, and some IQ and vision in all situations to go along with it. The Giants don't hesitate to use him on both sides of special teams. He has good hands, will go to the net, and not surprisingly, he's a down-low force, and a nightmare along the boards. Some big players don't use their size, but that's not a problem with Lipinski- he throws his weight around, and uses it to win pucks for his team. Defensively, he has the anticipation to know where to position himself to limit time and space for attackers, and has that physicality plus an active stick. If Lipinski can improve his speed, suddenly you have a very good prospect with a shot at bottom-6 duty, and the potential for even more. 4th round.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Sandman

his main detriment was always his skating

So hows that looking this year, has it progressed?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

So hows that looking this year, has it progressed?

I thought it already looked better at Development Camp this year, and he's improved over where he was last year, for sure. Still needs work, but credit to Danielle Fujita- she's worth her weight (and more) in gold, with what she's been able to do with our prospects, in improving their skating. I see kids like Pospisil- who's an excellent skater now, and Zary- who had some issues, and they both owe their speed to her.

I still wouldn't put Lipinski in the same category as Parker Bell when it comes to speed though- Bell can fly when he gets going.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Speaking of Bell, the Americans wrap up their season this weekend. I expect he'll be added to the Wranglers roster, barring any lingering injuries.

He probably could've played for the Wranglers all season had it not been a numbers game.

[Sandman]

Mar.19th:

Brzustewicz gets a goal in a 5-2 loss to Guelph. 65gp/13g/77a/90pts,+32, 22 PIM, tied for 9th in scoring.

[Sandman]

Mar.20th:

Morin gets an assist, and was +1 in a 3-2 SO win over Saint John. 56gp/12g/35a/47pts,-4, 31 PIM, 7th in scoring for D.

[TheIronMaiden]

For those who can't remember, here is how we ranked the prospects last year.

1. Wolf 65.3%
2. Coronato 73.5%
3. Honzek (run off, tied)
3. Pelletier (run off, tied)
5. Zary 50.4%
6. Poirier 49.1%
7. Morin 83.1%
8. Suniev 50.2%
9. Kuznetsov 32.0%
10. Stromgren 41.3%
11. Solovyov 47.7%
12. Sergeev 27.9%
13. Ronni 27.8%
14. Ciona (run off, tied)
14. Schwindt (run off, tied)
16. Kerins 32.1%
17. Klapka 50.0%
18. Bell (run off)
19. Pettersen (run off loser)
20. Lipinski 34.3%
21. Pospisil 38.0%
22. Yegorov 33.6%
23. Jones 32.1%
24. Nikolaev 37.0%
25. Hurtig 30.2%
26. Littler 41.6%
27. Boltmann 62.5%
28. Lyle 55.0%
29. Chechelev 79.0%

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Ronni at 13, Pospisil at 21.......oooooops.

[Muta]

I like how Pospisil out of nowhere this year was just like, 'naw, #### that, I'm a full-time NHL player now.'

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

For those who can't remember, here is how we ranked the prospects last year.

1. Wolf 65.3%
2. Coronato 73.5%
3. Honzek (run off, tied)
3. Pelletier (run off, tied)
5. Zary 50.4%
6. Poirier 49.1%
7. Morin 83.1%
8. Suniev 50.2%
9. Kuznetsov 32.0%
10. Stromgren 41.3%
11. Solovyov 47.7%
12. Sergeev 27.9%
13. Ronni 27.8%
14. Ciona (run off, tied)
14. Schwindt (run off, tied)
16. Kerins 32.1%
17. Klapka 50.0%
18. Bell (run off)
19. Pettersen (run off loser)
20. Lipinski 34.3%
21. Pospisil 38.0%
22. Yegorov 33.6%
23. Jones 32.1%
24. Nikolaev 37.0%
25. Hurtig 30.2%
26. Littler 41.6%
27. Boltmann 62.5%
28. Lyle 55.0%
29. Chechelev 79.0%

Re-rank the top 10...

1. Zary
2. Wolf
3. Coronato
4. Pelletier
5. Pospisil
6. Honzek
7. Brzustewicz
8. Suniev
9. Poirier
10. Morin


HM Lipinski, Stromgren, Bell, Grushnikov

That is my take based on almost no viewings of many of these players but extreme following of calgarypuck contributors.

Sucks that 3 of these guys started the year with long term injuries...

[Sandman]

Mar.22nd:

Vancouver loses to Kelowna, 6-2. Lipinski had no points, and was -4. 66gp/23g/42a/65pts,-3, 55 PIM.

Honzek had no points, and was -2. 32gp/10g/20a/30pts,+2, 14 PIM.

Tri-City beats Portland, 4-3 in OT. Bell gets 3 assists (including the lone assist on the game-winner), and was +1. 57gp/33g/30a/63pts,-17, 34 PIM.

Brzustewicz has no points, and was -1 in a 2-1 OT loss to Oshawa. 10th in scoring, with 66gp/13g/77a/90pts,+31 (17th overall), 22 PIM.

Morin gets an assist, but was -4 in a 7-4 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. Tied for 6th in D scoring, with 57gp/12g/36a/48pts,-8, 31 PIM.

[Sandman]

Mar.23rd:

Bell was first star, with an assist, and was -1. 58gp/33g/31a/64pts,-18, 34 PIM.

Kelowna beats Vancouver, 5-2. Lipinski gets a goal, but was -4. 67gp/24g/42a/66pts,-7, 55 PIM.

1 assist, and -2 for Honzek. 33gp/10g/21a/31pts,even, 14 PIM.

Brzustewicz gets 2a in a 4-3 OT loss to Erie. 10th in scoring, with 67gp/13g/79a/92pts,+31, 24 PIM.

Morin has an assist, and was -1 in a 7-5 win over Acadie-Bathurst. 58gp/12g/37a/49pts,-9, 31 PIM, 5th in D scoring.

[Sandman]

Mar.24th:

The CHL Regular Season is Over.

Bell says goodbye to his Junior career, with 0 points and -2 in a 4-2 loss to Everett. 59gp/33g/31a/64pts,-20, 38 PIM.

Vancouver Giants will face the Everett Silvertips in Round#1.

Kitchener will face Erie.

Moncton plays Chicoutimi.