MatthewFlames
Registered User
Overall – the Flames are obviously in a transition that is one hundred percent financially motivated. The Flames have realized that they will never be able to both compete and build prospect depth if every year they’re forced to sell off players or trade players simply because of salary concerns. So the goal is to spend a couple of years building the bank back up. That will probably mean higher draft picks that otherwise ordered which will help the ‘rebuild.’
The Flames have had a few failings in the draft pick department , with injuries to 1st round picks and prospects not developing to the elite level. While an inordinate amount of late and mid round picks are exceeding expectations, the firsts have all come at the middle of the 1st round, never top ten, and those picks, Skinner , Setoguchi and Berglund aside, haven’t yet made an impact on the HFNHL and most won’t.
Most forwards are able to play multiple positions – but here is how I see them.
CENTRE
PRO: RJ Umberger, Patrick Berglund, Artem Anisimov, Andrew Dejardins, Joe Colborne, Ben Street
PROSPECTS: Austin Watson, Jimmy Vesey.
Berglund and Anisimov have both developed into solid young NHL’ers who improved their overall play last season. Neither seems to have hit their peak as far as points production and hopefully they have more to come. Both have shown sparks, now they just need consistency. Umberger adds to the pool of 2nd line C. The Flames really need an elite big time C who can power the top line, but Austin Watson probably projects to be yet another 2nd line type. Flames may have to do it by committee until they can draft one. Obviously finding an elite C is difficult.
WINGS
PRO: Jeff Skinner, Troy Brouwer, Devin Setoguchi, Trevor Lewis, Colin McDonald
PROSPECTS: Zach Kassian, Alex Killorn, Anders Lee, Matt Frattin, Josh Leivo, Stanislav Galiev, Brad Ross, Josh Anderson, Taylor Leier.
Jeff Skinner is the only one with the makings of a 1st line winger in this group. Setoguchi, like Anisimov and Berglund, has come into his own as a well-rounded NHL’er but still doesn’t flash the cash on the scoreboard on a consistent enough basis. He’s capable of 30 goals but will he get the chance? Brouwer had a great season and is a capable 2nd liner but he’s probably on the old side for being here when the Flames finally challenge again. McDonald had a break through season and Lewis is a solid 3rd liner.
Killorn will join the top 6 in Calgary after a great season and perhaps Kassian to make up numbers. Still have great hope for Kassian, he’s young and will take time like most power forwards. Anders Lee, Matt Frattin and Josh Leivo provide possible 2nd line wingers in the future, while Ross and Anderson will be dependable 3rd/4th liners. Galiev and Leier offer outside chances of developing to be good enough to play on the 2nd line.
The Flames will look to add a 3rd/4th line veteran or two in free agency.
DEFENSE
PRO: Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Andrej Sekera, Jamie McBain, Mark Borowieki, Derek Smith.
PROSPECTS: Ryan Murphy, Mattias Ekholm, Adam Clendening, Patrick Wierioch, Dmitri Orlov, Martin Gernat, John Klingberg, Martin Maracin.
The Flames may still move Dion Phanuef this off-season if the right deal comes along, but they’ve just signed him to his final RFA contract. Gardiner is the highlight of this group – his play against Boston in the playoffs offers real hope. Sekera has settled into a solid 4/5 guy who will probably offer many cost effective seasons to come. McBain is a solid Dman, 5/6 guy who might become a journeyman if one or two of Carolinas outstanding young prospects make the breakthrough. At the top of that list is Ryan Murphy. Clendening was an AHL rookie and All Star and with Ekholm offers the two prospects most likely to break through next season and join Pat Wierioch in the NHL. Orlov returned from injury and offers yet more offensive upside.
GOAL
PRO: James Reimer, Ray Emery, Anton Khudobin
PROSPECTS: Oscar Dansk, Laurent Broissoit, Sam Brittain, Alex Stalock, Martin Oullette
There is probably some remaining doubt about Reimer as a goaltender capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs but the Flames are optimistic, especially if he can remain healthy. And honestly, the Leafs NEED to do something about that D in front of him. Emery was a nice surprise but will most likely be moved unless the Flames can sign him under 2.5 million. Khudobin was very effective as Rasks back-up and will hopefully get an extension there. Reimer just signed a 4 year deal with the Flames.
The prospect front is very bright – Dansk had a rough season but the talent is evident despite the poor team in front of him. Broissoit had a wonderful season and some eye catching numbers despite the fact that Edmonton fell in the WHL finals. Two NCAA goalies have put up great seasons, Brittain and Oullette, and they look like good NHL prospects. Stalock is still stuck in a log-jam in San Jose but has returned from his injury and remains an NHL prospect.
WRAP UP
Lots of problems up front in the scoring department and this next season will be telling for Flames draft picks like Skinner, Setoguchi, Berglund and Anisimov. They need to reach the next level or it will be a very long rebuild for the Flames.
The Flames are content with their talent levels on D and the prospects coming through are the strongest part of the organization. There are lots of options and progress has been good over the past season.
At G, the Flames still need Reimer to take the steps to the next level, Khudobin is probably a life time backup and though I like the talent level in the prospects its’ really a roll of the dice.
With a top 5 pick this season, 4 picks in the top 53, and 4 more in the top 60 next season, the prospect cupboard should rebound.
The Flames have had a few failings in the draft pick department , with injuries to 1st round picks and prospects not developing to the elite level. While an inordinate amount of late and mid round picks are exceeding expectations, the firsts have all come at the middle of the 1st round, never top ten, and those picks, Skinner , Setoguchi and Berglund aside, haven’t yet made an impact on the HFNHL and most won’t.
Most forwards are able to play multiple positions – but here is how I see them.
CENTRE
PRO: RJ Umberger, Patrick Berglund, Artem Anisimov, Andrew Dejardins, Joe Colborne, Ben Street
PROSPECTS: Austin Watson, Jimmy Vesey.
Berglund and Anisimov have both developed into solid young NHL’ers who improved their overall play last season. Neither seems to have hit their peak as far as points production and hopefully they have more to come. Both have shown sparks, now they just need consistency. Umberger adds to the pool of 2nd line C. The Flames really need an elite big time C who can power the top line, but Austin Watson probably projects to be yet another 2nd line type. Flames may have to do it by committee until they can draft one. Obviously finding an elite C is difficult.
WINGS
PRO: Jeff Skinner, Troy Brouwer, Devin Setoguchi, Trevor Lewis, Colin McDonald
PROSPECTS: Zach Kassian, Alex Killorn, Anders Lee, Matt Frattin, Josh Leivo, Stanislav Galiev, Brad Ross, Josh Anderson, Taylor Leier.
Jeff Skinner is the only one with the makings of a 1st line winger in this group. Setoguchi, like Anisimov and Berglund, has come into his own as a well-rounded NHL’er but still doesn’t flash the cash on the scoreboard on a consistent enough basis. He’s capable of 30 goals but will he get the chance? Brouwer had a great season and is a capable 2nd liner but he’s probably on the old side for being here when the Flames finally challenge again. McDonald had a break through season and Lewis is a solid 3rd liner.
Killorn will join the top 6 in Calgary after a great season and perhaps Kassian to make up numbers. Still have great hope for Kassian, he’s young and will take time like most power forwards. Anders Lee, Matt Frattin and Josh Leivo provide possible 2nd line wingers in the future, while Ross and Anderson will be dependable 3rd/4th liners. Galiev and Leier offer outside chances of developing to be good enough to play on the 2nd line.
The Flames will look to add a 3rd/4th line veteran or two in free agency.
DEFENSE
PRO: Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Andrej Sekera, Jamie McBain, Mark Borowieki, Derek Smith.
PROSPECTS: Ryan Murphy, Mattias Ekholm, Adam Clendening, Patrick Wierioch, Dmitri Orlov, Martin Gernat, John Klingberg, Martin Maracin.
The Flames may still move Dion Phanuef this off-season if the right deal comes along, but they’ve just signed him to his final RFA contract. Gardiner is the highlight of this group – his play against Boston in the playoffs offers real hope. Sekera has settled into a solid 4/5 guy who will probably offer many cost effective seasons to come. McBain is a solid Dman, 5/6 guy who might become a journeyman if one or two of Carolinas outstanding young prospects make the breakthrough. At the top of that list is Ryan Murphy. Clendening was an AHL rookie and All Star and with Ekholm offers the two prospects most likely to break through next season and join Pat Wierioch in the NHL. Orlov returned from injury and offers yet more offensive upside.
GOAL
PRO: James Reimer, Ray Emery, Anton Khudobin
PROSPECTS: Oscar Dansk, Laurent Broissoit, Sam Brittain, Alex Stalock, Martin Oullette
There is probably some remaining doubt about Reimer as a goaltender capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs but the Flames are optimistic, especially if he can remain healthy. And honestly, the Leafs NEED to do something about that D in front of him. Emery was a nice surprise but will most likely be moved unless the Flames can sign him under 2.5 million. Khudobin was very effective as Rasks back-up and will hopefully get an extension there. Reimer just signed a 4 year deal with the Flames.
The prospect front is very bright – Dansk had a rough season but the talent is evident despite the poor team in front of him. Broissoit had a wonderful season and some eye catching numbers despite the fact that Edmonton fell in the WHL finals. Two NCAA goalies have put up great seasons, Brittain and Oullette, and they look like good NHL prospects. Stalock is still stuck in a log-jam in San Jose but has returned from his injury and remains an NHL prospect.
WRAP UP
Lots of problems up front in the scoring department and this next season will be telling for Flames draft picks like Skinner, Setoguchi, Berglund and Anisimov. They need to reach the next level or it will be a very long rebuild for the Flames.
The Flames are content with their talent levels on D and the prospects coming through are the strongest part of the organization. There are lots of options and progress has been good over the past season.
At G, the Flames still need Reimer to take the steps to the next level, Khudobin is probably a life time backup and though I like the talent level in the prospects its’ really a roll of the dice.
With a top 5 pick this season, 4 picks in the top 53, and 4 more in the top 60 next season, the prospect cupboard should rebound.
