When it came to actually selecting players in the 2018 NHL draft, the Flames had to wait until the fourth round: longer than they’ve ever waited before. When they finally did step up to the podium at 105th overall, they made a curious first choice: a 6’2, 173 lb. left-shooting Slovakian centre scoring at a decent clip in the USHL, all while putting up 253 penalty minutes in just a single season, by the name of Martin Pospisil.
It’s always tough to start from the fourth round, and seriously, that penalty minute count would raise eyebrows in any league. But there’s clearly hockey-playing ability there; you don’t end up tied for second in team scoring by accident. And so, our top 20 list kicks off with Pospisil: a player who may have more to show beyond that first impression.
How did we get here?
From Zvolen, Slovakia, Pospisil has played primarily in Europe: his hometown team is HKM Zvolen, and from 2014-2017, he was playing primarily in Austrian minor leagues. As a 16-year-old, he started the 2015-16 season in the RBHRC U18 league, scoring 21 points in 21 games; he also played 17 games in the U20 league, scoring just four points. However, in the playoffs, he did score five points in four games: a leader in scoring.
In 2016-17, he was back in the U18 league; during that time, he upped his totals to 31 points in 18 games. He also scored three points in three playoff games.
Pospisil also represented Slovakia at the U18 World Juniors during the 2016-17 season, playing four games, but failing to score a single point. (Fellow Slovakian Flames prospect Adam Ruzicka was also on that team; he scored five points in five games.)
This brings us to the 2017-18 season: Pospisil’s draft year. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Pospisil joined the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, the team Kristian Pospisil had played for in 2016-17 (he spent most of his 2017-18 season playing for the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears). There, Martin Pospisil scored eight goals and 37 points over 49 games, good to tie for second in team scoring as the Musketeers finished seventh in the Western Conference, failing to make the USHL playoffs.
Stats, numbers, and everything therein
Pospisil also kind of did that thing where he took 253 penalty minutes in 2017-18, the most in the USHL by far: second place was 176.
Games played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIMs |
49 | 8 | 29 | 37 | 253 |
The thing is, those penalty minutes aren’t exactly a new trend for Pospisil. While playing in the U18 league in Austria, he registered 83 penalty minutes in 2015-16 – the most out of everyone – and 59 in the 2016-17 season – again, the most out of the entire league. While not numbers as extreme as the 253 he picked up in his first season in North America, it’s still a notable trend: Pospisil can score, but he may be more prominent inside the box.
His .76 points per game in 2017-18 was tied for 56th in the USHL; this is compared to his 1.00 in 2015-16 – tied for 10th in RBHRC U18 – and his growth to 1.72 in 2016-17 – second in that league. So there’s clearly something there, penalty totals be damned, but just how much scoring talent he can continue to push is the question, particularly as he climbs league ladders and continues to play against more difficult competition.
For a deeper dive into Pospisil’s numbers, revisit Christian Tiberi’s writeup on him here.
Those in the know
Ray Edwards, the Flames’ director of development, lends us his assessment on Pospisil, and what the Flames see in him:
It was sort of the tale of two seasons. … I think what he realized was there’s parts of the games and areas of managing the game that he had to manage his emotions a little bit better. The first half of the year he was a guy that stuck up for teammates, wanted to establish he had a presence, and I think what he realized was that gave him some room in the second half and the areas of his game from a skill perspective started coming out, he gained more confidence, realized he could produce. So I think it was a combination of adding that element to his game and being able to produce the full package.
On the horizon
Pospisil has one year of North American hockey under his belt. No matter who you are, that’s not a lot – and especially not when you’re a teenager who has moved halfway around the world to pursue a career path that’s incredibly difficult to break into.
The main message here is that Pospisil may have more to show as he returns to the Musketeers for his second season in the USHL in 2018-19. He’s familiar with the smaller ice surface now, and has a chance to build on that second half of his season: one in which that ability to score, one that’s been prevalent since his days in the Austrian U18 system, has been prominently featured.
Yes, penalties seem to have long been a part of his game, but that can’t continue if he wants to progress in the sport. The good news for Pospisil is that not only did he seem to turn a corner in the second half of this past season, but that he should also have increased guidance to help steer him in the right direction. Wanting to stick up for your teammates is excellent; being able to utilize that blossoming scoring talent to help the team win games is even better. It’ll be interesting to see how his second season on North American ice goes.
So how about that Pospisil, hey Walt?
Not sure why we picked him with our highest pick?
Seems like he would have been around in later rounds.
The point is that all other organizations had the pleasure of having to worry about first, second and third round picks.
All our scouts had to get right was to get this 4th round pick right.
No reason we shouldn’t have picked the best player still available…
WW
WW thinks Pospisil is excellent replacement for Backs just to save a few dollars…
Not sure I understand Tuulola not making the Top #20. He had 16 goals playing against men in the Finnish elite league last year.
Saw him play with Everett Silvertips quite a few times, has size but did not stand out.
Can you imagine what his PPG would be if he wasn’t sitting in the sin bin so much!
I wish we had points/60 data on him. That number could be through the roof when you subtract the 253 pims.
So this kid and I’m sure likely the next 4/5 of these guys are likely 4 years away from even getting a sniff at the NHL.
Ferland 2.0?
Your analysis is as bad as your name
Justeen
Jockstrap I put a question mark behind it because I wanted to see what people thought. I have never seen the kid play. Can’t help but think your another keyboard warrior who gets offended far to easily.
Not saying the guy has no future. Maybe he will pan out just that the comparison is a little lofty. I’m entitled to my opinion and to speak it.
Ferland was much more of a skilled player from the start. He put up fantastic scoring numbers in the WHL not just penalty minutes. I think Pospisal is a long way off being compared to Ferland. Maybe he’ll develop into that but I’m not holding my breath.
Not in his draft year, though. Ferland had just 28 points for the Wheat Kings in 2009/2010.
Hopefully he’ll learn to harness the rage and become a Ferland type player. Would love to see it.
Jobu is hoping for McGrattan 2.0
WW…
What would Backs need to do this season in order for you to admit you’re wrong?
Win the Selke?
He might… he’s been close before. Thirty one other teams would have made the same bet as the Flames did on him.
Hey Thunder, does Monahan score 40 this season?
If he’s moved to the wing..
@JoelOttosJock
#slotgoals
You speak blasphemy.
Waive his no-trade…..
WW
Off topic but just moved to Victoria from Calgary. I have only seen one Canucks T shirt on a kid but it still made me break out in hives. I have not looked online or with my cable provider yet but looking for a hopefully inexpensive and convenient way to get Flames games out here without purchasing the entirety of the NHL games. Pipe dream?
1) I just moved away from Victoria a couple years ago, after living there for most of my life. Most people are Canucks fans, but just like my current city (Vancouver), their representation is few and far between these days because they suck. If they get good again, you’ll hear about it, don’t worry.
2) I use reddit, they have blogs that link free sites. Get pop-up protection. The only reason I can see paying for games now is for PVR (definitely an advantage).
Try Reddit NHL streams.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLStreams/
They are free, however make sure you install a pop up blocker on your computer, laptop.
And after you installed that pop up blocker with your hammer, did your laptop end up secured to a part of your body?
Cheers
I think Darcy’s is a Flames bar in Vic no?
What Flame currently has the worst contract?
Based on:
-$
-Term/age
-Performance
WW
WW can I ask for the sake of the collective sanity of the rest of the FN community that you get off your Backlund rant? You’re entitled to your opinion and we’ve heard you. Can you please move on? Thanks.
Jobu Seconds…
So everyone is encouraged to dump on Brouwer, but Backlund is off limits……
Got it…..
WW
Jobu is not a fan of the constant Brouwer-bashing either. Regardless your comment had nothing to do with the article, nor anyone elses comment about Backlund. As such, it comes off as purely pushing your anti-Backlund agenda.
I’m not bashing your comment either Jobu, I still think you’re really cool!
The two aren’t comparable. You have to acknowledge Backlund’s defensive contributions being #4 in Selke voting a couple years ago. Shutting down the McDavid’s, Kopitar’s and Getzlaf’s of the league is worth almost as much if not as much as putting up Monny-esque points (and Backlund is no offensive slouch either). For a decade Backlund’s contributions were under-appreciated by this fanbase, the Flames organization and the league as a whole all the while being on a great contract. Pat Steinberg consistently rated him as one of the best contracts on the team for years. Now he gets paid exactly what he’s worth and it’s a terrible contract? His offensive contributions even match those signed to similar cap hits around the league. Teams need sold 2nd line defensive centers. Glad we’ve got ours!
It’s not bashing per se, more the fact that we’re paying a dude way too much for what he does. He was hired for and paid to do a certain role and he didn’t. Hence, Bryout talk all the time.
Backs has only improved and delivered while with us. Besides, if you don’t retain Backes who do you retain? We have to show loyalty to our good players that have been developed from within. That’s just being a sensible organization.
What kind of message would it have sent to the team and even the league if we had nickel-and-dimed him or let him walk over a mill or a year?
How about … the community is largely in agreement on Brouwer. You stand largely alone on Backlund. I think what you’ve heard from the rest of us is that we’re not in agreement with respect to Backlund. When you drop something like you did today it feels a lot like you don’t hear us (or maybe more like a sharp stick in the eye).
“the community is largely in agreement on Brouwer”
The community was also in agreement that McDavid would win the Calder…..That GG would be a good coach…..that our scouts knew better than WW that McDonald was a better pick than Demko…..
WW don’t follow the “community”…..
WW
It’s the dog days of summer.
I don’t mind WW speaking his mind, it gives us something to discuss other than our prospects.
It’s not as if Pospisil is going to generate a lot of talk, besides his penalty minutes.
I personally don’t mind if you bash on a player if you have a sound argument. The thing is to this day I still havent seen a single point from you supporting why Backlund is a “plug” thats not +/- .
And when someone counters your point by basically disproving it or showing that it’s irrelevant, you just disappear and wait a couple days before coming back with the same points. It makes you look like an outrageously biased Jehovah’s witness going door to door bashing Backlund.
This is a community if we dont like your comments you get 30 or 40 trashes. That’s how it works. You will keep saying it until one year it may be true and then proclaim your intelligence, meanwhile you’ve been wrong for several seasons already.
yep i do find a good % r one side with players here… i got attack for weeks just talking about how we should trade Dougie Hamilton …
Then shocker he did get trade and then the same people Tar and Feather him on the way out for Reading books/Museum
… ps one more core player will be trade away by this year trade deadline just a heads up,
Since you seem to be in the business of prophecy, who’s it gonna be oh wise one?
Cfan in Van:
The answer is Brodie
1. Everyone agrees re. Brouwer 2. See Jobu’s reply 3. See freetheflames’s reply
Have patience….Backlund will be a Flame for the balance of his contract and Brouwer at least one more season before buyout…..
Under Brad Treliving the good contracts out weigh the bad. He has signed our top guys to some very good deals for good term and way lower dollars than what Chiarelli would have signed these guys too. I have a gut feeling we all might look at Brouwer and Backlund, Stone, Brodie and others under a different coach
differently that is
Top 5 in order:
-Backlund
-Brouwer
-Stone
-Gio
-Neal
WW
WW: depends on what you put your priority on. We all know you hate Backs but he is an effective player in the correct role. Brouwer on the other hand is not an effective player. After last year based upon your criteria you would also need to include Frolik. Here’s the thing if you put any of these guys on the trade market today you would offers for all of them expect Brouwer; hence Brouwer is the worse contract.
Brouwer vs Backlund don’t forget $ and term remaining;
Brouwer $9 mil
Backlund $32 mil
Frolik is worth a mention in the top 5…
WW
wtf??? Thats like saying Backlund $32 mil is a steal of a contract compared to McDavid $100 mil contract….
-Brouwer
-ninety miles of crap
-Neal
-Stone
-Ryan
-thirty miles of desert
-Backlund
-Giordano
-Frolik
In order. I don’t understand how anyone could possibly make the argument that Backlund’s contract is worse than Neal’s.
Oh my Walt, I’m SOOO tired of your broken record!
Worst FN contracts:
1 – WW
2 – oiler trolls
3 – Carl in his various forms
I didn’t make the list!!!
Yay!!!!
See “Oiler trolls”…..
WW
I do. One of them has a Walter White avatar and he keeps sh!ttin’ on my Flames.
Brouwer
Stone
Frolik
Gio
Brouwer
Stone
Neal (if I had to bet – he could pan out for the first couple years)
Ryan (Like the player, not the term)
Gio (not really a bad contract, but the riskiest of the rest given his age. I still think he’ll be a positive contributor for the length of the contract, but maybe his production won’t match the cap hit at the end).
Hope Pospisil pans out but like so many before him, he likely won’t.
Neil was a minus player in both Nashville and Vegas. 2 teams that won a lot. He has also played a lot of hockey the past 2 years going to the finals, so a playoff hangover could be a problem. It is a not an insignificant risk that his contract becomes an anchor sooner than later.
I’d put Neal on the 3rd line because of this. Less ice time so maybe he’ll last longer and it’d make line matching for the other coach a nightmare.
Tuulola and Schneider are going to be pleasant surprises for the Flames in the coming years. These kids are true gamers and will exceed all expectations……
a bit more content…Nick Schneider was an emergency call up for the Stockton Heat at the age of 18. He stood on his head and nearly carried the Heat into the playoffs…Tuuola’s skill set is off the map…..both obviously need more development. Cheering for these kids…..
huh? Schneider posted an .876 save percentage and went 4-5 with Stockton that year. He has been a below .890 goalie for most of his junior career.
Check your sources…he was outstanding during the call up….Stocton Finest pls confirm….
These rankings really have little to no value. With the changing of a coach or GM, or style of play of team or even to league all can change. Also, a lot of this is in the eye of the beholder.
It’s Interesting to track and follow prospects as they develop through the system. I like doing this every summer
So do I. I just dont put much into what individuals say. I myself look for different things in players than others would.
And most of the kids in the top 20 will never crack the Flames as regular players. It’s all just filler till camps open.
Hey Steve, what do you think is going to happen with Bennett?
Fourth rounder is a roll of the dice, you may lucky. BT put himself and the Flames in that position with questionable moves, 2018 draft was a right off.
If we add this guy to the roster it will make Bennett look like an angel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQRCwhUsV5k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLQB79McEHY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMx4FqCLgh4
He seems extremely “chippy”. If he’s playing at 6’2″/6’3″, 210 lbs… He’d have to put on a lot of muscle and mass to get there…
Interesting player.
He be top 3 on the NHL Most suspended list if he thinks he can pull off this kind of stuff in the bigs.