Calgarypuck Prospect Ranking 2019 - Round 14

[TheScorpion]

Man, Ruzicka and Gillies are getting the votes here? Two of my least favourite prospects in the system. I guess Ruzicka has slightly more upside but neither of them will ever sniff NHL competence, IMO.

I went with Glenn Gawdin.

[1qqaaz]

Artem Zagidulin has great stats, even by VHL and KHL standards. Appears to be very consistent in professional leagues.

I'm curious as to why the Gillies voters are putting him ahead of Zagidulin. Is it because Gillies was great in the NCAA and World Juniors? Or is it just because Gillies has played in North America and is older?

If it's a run-off, I'll vote for Ruzicka, His progression since being drafted is a bit questionable, but there's some upside.

[N-E-B]

I’m between Tuulola and Ruzicka. Went Tuulola.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Artem Zagidulin has great stats, even by VHL and KHL standards. Appears to be very consistent in professional leagues.

I'm curious as to why the Gillies voters are putting him ahead of Zagidulin. Is it because Gillies was great in the NCAA and World Juniors? Or is it just because Gillies has played in North America and is older?
.

More sentimental than anything for me. As a goalie drafted and developed by the Flames, I want to see him finally succeed. Maybe that's more hope than sentiment.....

[bax]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man, Ruzicka and Gillies are getting the votes here? Two of my least favourite prospects in the system. I guess Ruzicka has slightly more upside but neither of them will ever sniff NHL competence, IMO.

I went with Glenn Gawdin.

Goalie's are a crapshoot- one bad season won't scare people away that like Gillie's size and athleticism. A lot of times goalies just need to figure it out mentally before everything clicks for them.

I can't possibly understand how you can be so definitive on a guy that is 6'4 and just put up 51 points in 38 games in the OHL. Cory Stillman think that Ruzicka could see NHL action as early as this season. I don't think that's the case, but I'm really struggling to see how you came to the conclusion to write him off already.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ruzicka outscored Gawdin in Stockton this year. Might take him a bit to figure out the pro game, but after that there is tons of potential.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by bax

I wouldn't be surprised if Ruzicka outscored Gawdin in Stockton this year. Might take him a bit to figure out the pro game, but after that there is tons of potential.

I'd be surprised. From my viewings, Ruzicka is big but slow, has poor defensive instincts, and floats. His overager OHL numbers were very unimpressive.

I'll take the established pro in Gawdin over the unconvincing OHL guy 10 times out of 10. Gawdin put up 0.6 P/GP in his first-year pro season last year at age 21. How is that not more impressive or indicative of impressive potential? That's more than what Phillips did.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'd be surprised. From my viewings, Ruzicka is big but slow, has poor defensive instincts, and floats. His overager OHL numbers were very unimpressive.

Ruzicka was not an overaged player in 2018-2019. Turned 20 in May, could still play as an overaged player this coming season.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Ruzicka purely because he has the most NHL capable talent left on this list. I have serious concerns that he will never figure out the work ethic part, but if he ever does, he's an NHLer at some level.

I don't see any other bonafide NHL talents on the list at this point.

Lerby was about half a point a game as a defenseman in the SHL as a 21 year old.

Zagidulin and Wolf are both goaltenders who hVe yet to falter.

Tuulola has some NHL caliber skill and only needs to work on skating.

Foo wasn't bad at all during his NHL stint a couple years ago. Looked like a competent bottom sixer. His decision to sign in the KHL doesn't change that.

Philp was the MVP of Usports as a sophomore (and as a junior)

Nodler and Feuk, while only recent draft picks, were clearly guys the Flames were high on.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Rando

Ruzicka was not an overaged player in 2018-2019. Turned 20 in May, could still play as an overaged player this coming season.

Oh you're right. Misread his birthday.

Still, even as a 19-yo, the lack of progression from age-18 to age-19 is very disconcerting.

Age-18: 1.14 P/GP
Age-19: 1.20 P/GP

[neo45]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'd be surprised. From my viewings, Ruzicka is big but slow, has poor defensive instincts, and floats. His overager OHL numbers were very unimpressive.

I'll take the established pro in Gawdin over the unconvincing OHL guy 10 times out of 10. Gawdin put up 0.6 P/GP in his first-year pro season last year at age 21. How is that not more impressive or indicative of impressive potential? That's more than what Phillips did.

Gawdin is more than two years older than Ruzicka with worse NHLe this season

To me that would indicate higher potential. For his age Gawdin’s AHL production seems pretty middling. If Ruzicka isn’t there in 2 years that wouldn’t be very promising

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'd be surprised. From my viewings, Ruzicka is big but slow, has poor defensive instincts, and floats. His overager OHL numbers were very unimpressive.

I'll take the established pro in Gawdin over the unconvincing OHL guy 10 times out of 10. Gawdin put up 0.6 P/GP in his first-year pro season last year at age 21. How is that not more impressive or indicative of impressive potential? That's more than what Phillips did.

You can't just look at flashy stats. You need to look at the whole tool box and judge whether they have the ability to keep progressing. Sometimes a bigger player can't thrive in junior. When you are a man playing with kids, there is a tendency to hold back. Look at a guy like Lucic as an example. Chara is another. He looked pretty oafy in junior, probably because he didn't want to kill anyone.

Going by Stillman's assessment, it sounds like Ruzicka needs that next level to develop further. The fact the Flames signed him relatively quickly speaks volumes as well.

[bax]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Oh you're right. Misread his birthday.

Still, even as a 19-yo, the lack of progression from age-18 to age-19 is very disconcerting.

Age-18: 1.14 P/GP
Age-19: 1.20 P/GP

Other posters have already defended Ruzicka against your claims so I won't go into all of it, but also consider that once he was traded and got on with a new coaching staff his P/GP jumped to 1.34.

For comparison Gawdin was at 1.13 P/GP during his 19 year old season in the WHL. I'm not sure how you can conclude that Ruzicka's number's were unimpressive. If anything he continued to dial it up as the games got more important.

He needs to work on his consistency, but under the right development program he can find it. Gawdin is 2 years older than Ruzicka- he is more of a finished product and should be more impressive today. I think Ruzicka definitely has a higher ceiling between the two.

Even then you are still welcome to like Gawdin more. I just can't understand why you would write Ruzicka off completely already. The guy just turned 20.

[TheScorpion]

I appreciate the additional perspectives on Ruzicka. He'll be interesting to follow. I'm still just not sold on his work ethic, his speed, and his defensive play.

[bax]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I appreciate the additional perspectives on Ruzicka. He'll be interesting to follow. I'm still just not sold on his work ethic, his speed, and his defensive play.

Our AHL development has seem to come a long way over the past few years so lets hope that trend continues!

[agulati]

I missed a few of the days for voting for prospects. I went with Gillies this round. I still think he has the potential to be an NHL goalie.

[N26]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

I still see Jeremy McKenna listed? He isn’t flames property why is he there?

I think we decided at the beginning of the polls that he is defacto Flames property as that is the way it is trending and decided to include him. Even though he could be lost.

I think technically Ollas Mattsson wasn't fully Flames property last year but we included him.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

I still see Jeremy McKenna listed? He isn’t flames property why is he there?

What’s weirder than having him on the list is united’s posts suggesting he should be one of the top few options right now.

[jlh2640]

cmon Gillies

[ForeverFlameFan]

Gillies for me. Still is a top 15 prospect.

[Jacks]

Wasn't going to vote in the later rounds but had to break the tie.