Prediction 14/15: Who makes the jump?

[djsFlames]

http://fans.flames.nhl.com/community...ump-this-year/

With the conversation going on in the Flames community, I figured we should do the same.

This isn't a prediction of the starting lineup, just a prediction of who of our handful of prospects that will be knocking on the door this fall will make the team out of camp. And by make the team, I don't mean just 9 games. Who graduates this year?

Looking at the lineup, barring any moves between now and camp there appears to be one spot open on the forward ranks without displacing any veteran players. Provided there are injuries and/or a vet under performs, chances are that a second spot could become available for a young player going into the season.

On the defence ranks, things are pretty well stacked as well, meaning the top 6 are occupied with vets, but the team will move into the season carrying an extra skater at least.

So, given the hypothetical situation where you have 2 forward prospects and 1 defence prospect that can make the team, who are your choices?

pick 2:
Gaudreau
Wolf
Baertschi
Granlund
Bennett
Poirier
Reinhart
Ferland
Knight
Arnold

pick 1:
Wotherspoon
Sieloff
Cundari
Kulak
Ramage
Kanzig

[jg13]

pick 2:
Gaudreau
Wolf
Baertschi
Granlund
Bennett
Poirier
Reinhart
Ferland
Knight

pick 1:
Wotherspoon
Sieloff
Cundari
Kulak
Ramage
Kanzig

[ForeverFlameFan]

Baertschi
Gaudreau

Wotherspoon

[topfiverecords]

Baertschi
Granlund

Wotherspoon

[codynw]

Gaudreau, Reinhart and Wotherspoon.

[dammage79]

Pick 2:
Gaudreau
Granlund

Thus begins the G era.

Pick 1:
Ramage
Why over Wotherspoon? I get the feeling the playoffs in the ECHL kicked him into gear. That and being the RH D man the Flames are seeking adds to the pick from left field I just made.

I've had high hopes for Ramage for a long time. I'm hoping he impresses at camp and steals a spot.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Imo, Granlund could use another year in the AHL. Had a tremendous rookie season, guarantee he can replicate that if not a better season.

[J epworth]

Baertschi
Reinhart

Cundari

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Imo, Granlund could use another year in the AHL. Had a tremendous rookie season, guarantee he can replicate that if not a better season.

Yea Granlund isn't quite ready IMO. Not sure why so many people think he's there, he had some flashes of greatness, but I thought he looked small and weak for the most part in his NHL callup. Another year in the AHL would be great for him.

[Caged Great]

For me, Baertschi + Reinhart and Sieloff. I wouldn't be shocked if Knight made the team instead of one of the two forwards.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Pick 2:
Gaudreau
Granlund

Thus begins the G era.

Pick 1:
Ramage
Why over Wotherspoon? I get the feeling the playoffs in the ECHL kicked him into gear. That and being the RH D man the Flames are seeking adds to the pick from left field I just made.

I've had high hopes for Ramage for a long time. I'm hoping he impresses at camp and steals a spot.

Interesting choice with Ramage. If Wotherspoon doesn't graduate, he might be my choice as well. Just given his leadership qualities and strong all around game, I think he's really flown under the radar with fans. I do think it's Wotherspoon's spot to lose though.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

For me, Baertschi + Reinhart and Sieloff. I wouldn't be shocked if Knight made the team instead of one of the two forwards.

Sieloff just missed pretty much an entire year of playing hockey, I highly doubt he'll make the team right out of camp.

[Otto-matic]

pick 2:
Gaudreau
Wolf
Baertschi
Granlund
Bennett
Poirier
Reinhart
Ferland
Knight
Arnold

pick 1:
Wotherspoon
Sieloff
Cundari
Kulak
Ramage
Kanzig

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by codynw

Sieloff just missed pretty much an entire year of playing hockey, I highly doubt he'll make the team right out of camp.

Bouma missed most of 2013 (3 GP) and played all of last season up in Calgary. I know it's not the same situation as Bouma played in the NHL a couple times prior. Sieloff though looked the most NHL ready of the defensemen at the camp earlier this month. I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up being ready in Sept.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Reinhart, Granlund and Wotherspoon.

[Hot_Flatus]

Arnold, Baertschi and Wotherspoon seem to be the most obvious choices for me if we're going to base it on the likelihood the players become full time regulars right out of the gate. I consider Rhienhart a Flame already so he isn't on my list.

[djsFlames]

Even though I think Granlund is one of the top 2 NHL ready forwards in the system, I think because he just finished his first pro season, he'll step into the NHL 3-4 months into the season as a regular call up.

Gaudreau and Reinhart are my two that make it out of camp. Reinhart as a winger. Reason I didn't pick a center is because we have 4 good players down the middle that are pretty well already penciled in (Backlund, Monahan, Stajan, Bouma).

My darkhorse pick is Sven. He has the abilities to come in and wow people if he has worked on his game over the offseason and decides to come in focused and with the right attitude. But I'm not betting on that happening.

Wotherspoon makes it on the back end for obvious reasons. He's probably the only NHL ready d-man prospect we have right now.

But I think Poirier (if fully recovered) will really impress though and could get 9 games.

Edit: Forget the 9 games, Poirier can be sent to and from the AHL now as he is pro eligible.

[SvenTastic47]

pick 2:
Gaudreau
Wolf
Baertschi
Granlund
Bennett
Poirier
Reinhart
Ferland
Knight
Arnold

pick 1
Wotherspoon
Sieloff
Cundari
Kulak
Ramage
Kanzig

[shogged]

Gaudreau, Reinhart and sieloff. People are writing sieloff off because he missed a season, but he was one of, if not the top defence men in dev camp. Not bad for a guy who didn't touch the ice last year. it'll be great to see what he does with two and half months more training.

[DoubleF]

I have a feeling we'll see a lot of the kids in the beginning of the year or a few months in. Whether they're there just for exposure or really close to earning a role is beyond me.

I'm not sure if any of the "kids" would get a role straight out of training camp. Even someone like Gaudreau whom I feel is probably ready for the NHL may either be sheltered in, sent down for a month or two, then given full time starting October/November.

So in the end, I have no idea who will be full time. But I believe we may see most of that list in Flames jerseys even if we don't know if it's for 8 games or more

I think Treliving is going to be sly and do a secret round of "cuts" where he watches how the player is adapting to the NHL game and send them down with specific instructions for development. He might even rotate the kids for all I know so kids fight hard in the minors to earn a few games up then to be sent back down with new developmental goals and new training regimen.