A brief history of camp try-outs
By Ryan Pike
6 years agoOne of the most exciting times of the year is the opening of training camp. Not only is it the first chance to see players hit the ice in many, many months, but it’s also an opportunity to see which players who aren’t property of the Calgary Flames have been invited to camp. Considering that Mark Giordano began his pro hockey life as an unsigned prospect, there’s a huge opportunity to potentially find valuable assets as try-out players.
As we approach camps opening, here’s a brief look back at the prospects that have been invited to Flames training camps – both prospect and main camp – since Brad Treliving started as general manager in 2014.
2014
Invited to prospect camp (8): G Matthew Mancina, D Jason Fram, D Curtis Gedig, D Carl Neill, F Brendan Bell, F Garnet Hathaway, F Brandon Magee, F Carl Neill, F Pavlo Padakin
Invited to main camp (7): G Doug Carr, D Sheldon Brookbank, D Raphael Diaz, D Dustin Stevenson, D Nolan Yonkman, F Trevor Gillies, F Mathieu Tousignant
What happened? Hathaway already had an AHL contract and eventually turned that into an NHL deal after a strong 2014-15 season in the minors. Diaz was signed before the regular season opened and had a pretty solid year for the Flames.
Where are they now?
- Flames organization: Hathaway
- Playing pro somewhere: Gedig (Norway), Padakin (KHL), Carr (AHL), Diaz (Switzerland), Stevenson (AHL), Yonkman (Finland), Gillies (ECHL), Tousignant (Sweden)
- Playing somewhere: Mancina (University of PEI), Fram (University of Alberta), Magee (University of Alberta), Neill (Concordia)
- Retired: Bell, Brookbank
2015
Invited to prospect camp (11): G Nick Schneider, D Jason Bell, D Jason Fram, D Eric Roy, F Tyson Baillie, F Taylor Burke, F Ryan Lomberg, F Mason Marchment, F Louick Marcotte, F Julien Proulx, F Tomas Soustal
Invited to main camp (6): G Kent Simpson, D Dustin Stevenson, D Aaron Johnson, D Douglas Murray, D Ryan Wilson, F Mitchell Heard
What happened? Lomberg was already on an AHL deal and ended up invited to 2016 camp, getting an NHL contract after the 2016-17 season. Schneider got an NHL deal during training camp after being kept around due to some injuries to established goalies. Simpson, Stevenson, Johnson and Heard were all on AHL contracts for 2015-16.
Where are they now?
- Flames organization: Schneider, Lomberg
- Playing junior: Bell, Soustal
- Playing pro somewhere: Roy (ECHL), Marchment (AHL), Marcotte (ECHL), Proulx (semi-pro), Simpson (AHL), Stevenson (AHL), Johnson (Germany), Wilson (Switzerland), Heard (AHL)
- Playing somewhere: Fram (University of Alberta), Baillie (University of Alberta), Burke (St. Mary’s)
- Retired: Murray
2016
Invited to prospect camp (7): D Roman Dyukov, F Mikkel Aagaard, F Brayden Burke, F Justin Doucet, F Dennis Kravchenko, F Ryan Lomberg (again), F Mathieu Sevigny
Invited to main camp (11): D Aaron Hyman, D Colby Robak, D Nicklas Grossmann, D Mikhail Grigoriev, F Mike Angelidis, F Lauri Korpikoski, F Luke Adam, F Jamie Devane, F Matt Bailey, F Matt Frattin, F Chris Higgins
What happened? Lomberg was on another AHL deal and was signed to an NHL contract the following April. Korpikoski was signed by Dallas mid-camp. Grossmann was signed by Calgary for salary cap reasons, then had his contract terminated when he was assigned to the AHL and refused to report (and went to Sweden). Aagaard, Robak, Angelidis, Devane, Bailey and Frattin all had AHL contracts for 2016-17.
Where are they now?
- Flames organization: Lomberg
- Playing junior: Burke, Doucet, Sevigny, Hyman
- Playing pro somewhere: Dyukov (KHL), Aagaard (AHL), Kravchenko (ECHL), Robak (AHL), Grossmann (Sweden), Grigoriev (KHL), Angelidis (Italy), Korpikoski (UFA), Adam (Germany), Devane (AHL), Bailey (Sweden), Frattin (KHL)
- Retired: Higgins
Conclusions
Generally, prospect camp bodies are brought in to make sure the numbers work for camp. Generally, players on AHL contracts provide the same function for main camp. It’s rare, albeit not impossible, for players on try-outs to land deals.
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