Breaking down the Flames’ training camp roster
By Ari Yanover
6 years agoTraining camp is upon us. We’re not at NHL hockey yet – we still have a few days to go before preseason games, really – but it’s getting closer.
Sixty-eight players will be taking part in Flames camp; between now and Oct. 3 – the day before the season starts – 45 will be cut, leaving the Flames with their 23-man roster. The players have been divided into three groups – groups which may give us some insight as to who may be playing with who when the puck drops for real.
This piece is inspired by the comments section on our initial training camp piece, where a handful of you – starting with user JMK – started speculating on what these training camp teams might mean for the opening day lineup.
For reference, here’s a handy breakdown of who is playing in which group:
Team A
- NHLers: Mike Smith, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Mikael Backlund, Michael Frolik, Matthew Tkachuk
- Tweeners: Matt Bartkowski, Luke Gazdic, Garnet Hathaway, Marek Hrivik
- Prospects, close (potential call-up this season): Morgan Klimchuk, Emile Poirier, Daniel Pribyl
- Prospects, longer term (likely no NHL this season): Tyler Parsons, Nick Schneider, Adam Ollas Mattsson, Hunter Smith
- Tryouts: Dylan Olsen, Colby Robak, Cliff Watson, Joel Lowry, Rod Pelley, Mark Rassell
What most stands out here is the group of NHLers present: the presumed starting goalie, the presumed top defensive pairing, and the presumed elite shutdown line. This would seem to hint that Tkachuk will indeed be staying with Backlund and Frolik to start the season, even though there could be potential for him to help another line. But why mess with what works?
The rest of the group isn’t quite as inspiring. While Klimchuk, Poirier, and Pribyl could all be capable of big AHL seasons, it’s difficult to see any of them claiming a roster spot out of camp. The tweeners are a little more interesting, as Bartkowski should be in a good position to make the roster out of camp, while Hathaway and Hrivik could both be candidates to take regular fourth line and press box duties.
Nick Schneider is easily the least impressive of the three goalies, and this could point towards him being an earlier cut.
Team B
- NHLers: Eddie Lack, T.J. Brodie, Travis Hamonic, Troy Brouwer, Micheal Ferland, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan
- Tweeners: Freddie Hamilton
- Prospects, close: Jon Gillies, Tyler Wotherspoon, Oliver Kylington, Mark Jankowski, Andrew Mangiapane
- Prospects, longer term: Josh Healey, Austin Carroll, Dillon Dube, Matthew Phillips
- Tryouts: Kayle Doetzel, Daniel Maggio, Joseph Cramarossa, Tanner Glass, Sam Dove-McFalls, Ben Hawerchuk
The Brodie – Hamonic pairing appears to be coming to fruition, which is nice to see, considering many have been pegging it as the Flames’ second pairing ever since Hamonic was acquired at the draft back in late June. Meanwhile, it appears Ferland should be getting a chance to start the season on the top line, while Brouwer appears somewhat stranded among this group.
But then there’s Jankowski, possibly the likeliest forward to make the roster out of camp. Perhaps we can expect a Mangiapane – Jankowski – Brouwer line to start training camp.
Wotherspoon may make the Flames out of camp, but it’s a little difficult to see who he might be paired with here. He and Healey are lefties, while Doetzel and Maggio are righties; as Doetzel already has an AHL contract with the Heat, Wotherspoon – Doetzel seems a fair bet to start.
Team C
- NHLers: Michael Stone, Sam Bennett, Curtis Lazar, Matt Stajan, Kris Versteeg
- Tweeners: none
- Prospects, close: David Rittich, Rasmus Andersson, Brett Kulak, Spencer Foo, Hunter Shinkaruk
- Prospects, longer term: Mason McDonald, Juuso Valimaki, Zach Fischer, Ryan Lomberg, Brett Pollock, Adam Ruzicka
- Tryouts: Tyson Helgesen, Sam Ruopp, Oleg Yevenko, Brett Findlay, Glenn Gawdin, Brad Morrison
The NHL contingent in Team C is light, but it does have Bennett and Versteeg sticking together. One of the key stories of the offseason, however, has been about finding a third linemate for the pair, and that may be where Lazar – or perhaps even Foo – come in. It’s difficult to see where Stajan fits in, but he could end up with Lazar or Foo on his wing, too.
Stone is the only surefire NHL defenceman present in his group, but Kulak has been his projected partner pretty much since he was re-signed, so this seems to be a positive sign in that direction.
Otherwise, there’s not quite as much to see here. We’ll probably get treated to more rounds of the Valimaki – Andersson pairing, which is great because they very well may be a defensive pairing in the NHL in a few years, but probably not this season. (Although it’s worth noting that if Valimaki gets nine or so games in he’d probably be playing alongside Stone, who’s present in this group, so that may be a thing to watch for.)
There’s always the hope that Shinkaruk bounces back in a big way this training camp and makes a case alongside Lazar and Foo as well, but that’s about it.
Roster projection
| Gaudreau | Monahan | Ferland |
| Tkachuk | Backlund | Frolik |
| Versteeg | Bennett | Lazar/Foo?/Shinkaruk? |
| Stajan | Jankowski? | Brouwer |
| Hrivik? | Hamilton? | Hathaway? |
| Giordano | Hamilton |
| Brodie | Hamonic |
| Kulak? | Stone |
| Bartkowski?/Wotherspoon? |
| Smith |
| Lack |
There was a name missing among this list: the Flames’ 2017 sixth round pick, D’Artagnan Joly. Joly didn’t participate in the Penticton tournament due to an injury, which explains his absence from main camp as well. He has been returned to Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
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