MatthewFlames
Registered User
Not much change at the top for the Flames. It's been an encouraging 2018/19 for Flamettes prospects with several stand-out players at the WJC and growth and development everywhere.
Missing from this past summers list is Filip Hronek (traded).
1. (1) Andrei Svechnikov – RW – Carolina Hurricanes – Drafted 2nd overall, 2018
He's had a really nice start to his NHL career. He started the season playing very tentatively but his confidence has grown and he's improved his two way play. Brind'Amour has sheltered him, and continues to do that, but I think it will help his development in the long run.
2. (2) Ryan Poehling – C – St. Cloud State – Drafted 20th overall, 2017
Poehling continues to be a much different player than most imagined when he was drafted. Showed his competitive fire, skill, and goalscoring. Has the ability to completely take over games. He was named tournament MVP despite playing half the tournament out of position on the wing.
3. (3) Alexander Alexeyev – D – Red Deer Rebels – Drafted 34th overall, 2018
Alexeyev has been dynamite in the WHL this season, averaging more than a point a game, and was fantastic at the WJC. Showed a little bit of everything but the most noticeable thing is the maturity in his game.
4. (6) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – G – Sudbury Wolves – Drafted 51st overall, 2017
Luukkonen carried his stellar OHL performances into the World Juniors, helping Finland win a gold medal. He's got just about everything you want in a modern NHL goaltender and he has the potential to be the first real starting NHL goaltender that the Flames have drafted.
5. (12) Aarne Talvitie – F – Penn State – Drafted 198th overall, 2017
The captain of the gold medal Finnish squad at the World Juniors does it all. He's a warrior who continued to play in the gold medal game despite a major knee injury that's ended his season. He can score, can dish, plays as well away from the puck as with it. Was a PPG player as a freshman in the NCAA's before the WJC.
6. (5) Dominik Simon – F – Pittsburgh Penguins – Drafted 65th overall, in 2016
Simon is a valuable player for the Penguins. He's found himself up and down the line-up, playing with Sid or Geno, or on a checking line. There has been continued development and he'll get close to 40 points this year and there is space for growth.
7. (13) Daniil Tarasov – G – Tolpar Ufa – Drafted 150th overall, 2017
While he was outshone at the WJC and ended up as the back-up, he's still having an impressive season. In the second tier of Russian hockey, he has a .926 SV% and a 1.71 GAA. It's unlikely he'll be in North America any time soon but the Flames optimism about his potential has grown.
8. (8) AJ Greer – F – Colorado Eagles - Drafted 79th overall, 2015
Greer is finally getting what his career needed - some time to develop in a scoring role at the AHL level. He's close to a PPG player getting important minutes - so while it may seem his career has stalled at the NHL level, this will help him be more than a 10 minute 4th liner when he's finally ready for more NHL action.
9. (Returnee) Brandon Hagel - F - Red Deer - Drafted 90th Overall, 2016
I've always loved Hagel and I was super surprised when the team that drafted him in the NHL (Sabres) didn't sign him. He went through the draft again in 2018 without getting picked up and he had no FA offers over the summer. I chalked it up to typically over-valuing my own prospects. Cue his break-out. He's 5th in scoring in the WHL and was signed to an ELC by the Chicago Blackhawks.
10. (10) Mikhail Maltsev – C – SKA St. Petersburg – Drafted 77th overall, 2016
Maltsev continues his development in the VHL with the occasional call-up to the KHL. Still unsure about what offensive upside he holds but he still seems to get a lot of praise whenever mentioned in articles. Fingers crossed.
11. (17) Jake McGrew – F – Spokane Chiefs – Drafted 197th overall, 2017
McGrew must have been disappointed to not get an invite onto the American WJC but that aside he's having a great season. He's developing as a real scoring threat and signed his ELC with the San Jose Sharks.
12. (14) Danila Zhuravlyov – D – Irbis Kazan – Drafted 147th overall, 2018
Zhuravlyov didn't come over to the CHL but is instead playing against men in Russia's VHL. Was a bronze medal winner with the Russian squad at the WJC.
13. (19) Cameron Hughes – F – Providence Bruins – Drafted 159th overall, 2015
Hughes has impressed in his rookie pro season. He's taken ice-time away from former first rounders like Trent Federic and Zack Senyshyn and has 24 points, including 10 goals.
14. (Returnee) Nikita Pavlychev - F - Penn State - Drafted 98th Overall, 2015
A 6'7" centre who has taken time to grow into his body. There are not many players that big who have an NHL shot and can dangle but Pavlychev is one of them. The Penguins prospect has really blossomed this season as a two-way center, playing again opponents top lines and shutting them down, while scoring at a PPG pace.
15. (Returnee) Ryan Bednard - G - Bowling Green State - Drafted 189th Overall, 2015
Bednard continues to get better and better. The junior 6'5" goaltender has some of the best numbers in the NCAA - in a thin pipeline in Florida, he is the one bright spark.
16. (16) Connor Bunnaman - F - Lehigh Valley Phantoms - Drafted 83rd overall, 2016
Of the glut of first year pro's out of junior from the '15 and '16 drafts, Bunnaman is the only one who's prospered on the ice. The two-way player has shown a goal-scoring touch and if he can improve his skating he could make a useful bottom 6 forward at the NHL level.
17. (12) Oscar Dansk – G – Chicago Wolves – Acquired in trade for Nicholas Backstrom
Dansk Dansk Party continues his pro career in the AHL. Hasn't elevated his game and is still competing for the starting job. It's been a real up and down season.
18. (11) Filip Pyrochta – D – Milwaukee Admirals – Drafted 167th overall, 2018
The super smooth skating defenseman with some offensive upside has seen limited ice-time in his first pro season.
19. (18) Callum Booth – G – Florida Everblades – Acquired in trade for Zack Kassian
Booth continues his development splitting time between the East Coast and the AHL. He's the 5th goalie in the top 20 for the Flames.
20. (20) Nick Wolff – D – Univ of Minnesota-Duluth – Drafted 186th overall, 2014
Patience continues to be the name of the game. Can't wait to see where he signs at the end of his senior season. Has everything you want in a bottom pairing NHL guy, size, grit, skating and a good first pass, with high hockey IQ.
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