Prospect Check-In: The Forwards

9 years ago

It’s another practice day for your local sports team, so let’s take this brief recess to talk about prospects. Calgary has a lot of prospects, so I decided to split up this check-in into two parts: forwards today, and defensemen and goalies tomorrow.

I excluded Marcus Granlund – since he’s spent so much time in the NHL and outside of his face-offs, I’d wager they see him as an NHLer at this point – and anybody on an AHL contract. Also, since Devin Setoguchi and Brian McGrattan aren’t prospects, they are also not included.

KENNY AGOSTINO (LEFT WING, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: technically in the second year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Agostino may be a little bit lost in the shuffle in Adirondack this year. With so many players rotating in and out of the top nine, and the team’s injuries, he may be forgotten about a bit. He has 12 points in 32 games – a fairly respectable total for a depth player who’s a first-year pro.
Outlook: I’d wager Agostino gets retained, as good depth is hard to find and there’s likely some offensive upside there. I’m just not sure he’s an NHL player, particularly as an asset acquired by a prior regime in an organization that has quietly accumulated forward depth in the recent past.

BILL ARNOLD (CENTER, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames; injured
Contract Status: technically in the second year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Bill Arnold, before his injury, had quietly carved out a pretty strong year. With Markus Granlund in the NHL, he was the Baby Flames’ number-one center and drew the plum assignment of centering Sven Baertschi and Emile Poirier. As he did with Boston College, Arnold’s two-way prowess, face-off wins and shot-blocking (and hitting) opened up the ice for his skilled teammates. Hopefully he’s not out for very long, because he was on the road to an NHL call-up.
Outlook: good. Arnold’s a right-handed center who is probably projected to be a third or fourth-line center at the NHL level. He could stand to continue to work on his skating and size, but he’s exceeded expectations for a first-year pro thus far. He’s a lock to be re-upped after this season.

SVEN BAERTSCHI (LEFT WING, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: in the final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Baertschi is still super-young and has flashes of offensive brilliance. He seemed to struggle a bit with the defensive responsibilities of Bob Hartley’s system. He’s a very good skater and has the ability to be a top-six NHL player in the near-future, but right now there aren’t a lot of spots open for him outside of being a third-line winger, which might not be the right fit for him right now.
Outlook: I still think Baertschi has a future with this organization, though I also think they’d trade him if the situation allowed for it (e.g., they got an offer for a good defensive prospect). The Flames have a lot of skilled centers in their system, but outside of Gaudreau (and maybe Emile Poirier), Baertschi is arguably the best winger in the system and it’d be foolish to cut bait entirely with him, particularly when he’s so young.

SAM BENNETT (CENTER, 18)

Currently: non-roster injured list, Calgary Flames
Contract Status: unless he plays 10 NHL games this season, his three-year entry-level deal slides a year (until the end of 2017-18, when he’d become a restricted free agent)
Bennett was good enough to make the Calgary Flames roster with a shoulder that was in bad, bad shape. What is he right now? Well, he’s most likely still an elite-level major-junior player. What is he in the NHL? We’re not sure, but we might find out in a few weeks (or months).
Outlook: the highest-drafted Flames pick in history, Bennett has a lot of strong tools and now has a healthy shoulder. When he does end up turning pro, expectations will be sky-high.

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AUSTIN CARROLL (RIGHT WING, 20)

Currently: Victoria Royals (over-age player)
Contract Status: unsigned. The Flames have until June 1 to sign him, I believe, or else he becomes a free agent.
Carroll is playing well for Dave Lowry’s Royals, leading the team in scoring. He’s 7th in the entire WHL in points. This is impressive and he’s using his size and tenacity well to get into the scoring areas. But he’s also older than most other players in the league, so while he’s doing well, you’d be worried if he wasn’t.
Outlook: I’d be shocked if the Flames didn’t sign him. He’s definitely got the size to be a capable AHLer, at least.

MATTHEW DEBLOUW (CENTER, 21)

Currently: Michigan State Spartans (junior year)
Contract Status: unsigned. The Flames have until August 15 of whenever he decides to leave school (likely following the 2015-16 season) to sign him.
Deblouw was bad last year, to the point where he barely got into Michigan State’s line-up. This season, he’s seemingly returned to the form he had in freshman year. He’s not a top-flight college player, but he’s a decent two-way option for the Spartans.
Outlook: I’d be shocked if he gets signed. Granted, he’s a seventh-round pick, so it’s not like the investment is all that high. He’s another Aaron Marvin or C.J. Severyn.

TURNER ELSON (LEFT WING, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Elson’s first year of his ELC was spent in the WHL. His second year was mostly spent in the ECHL. So he’s progressed to being an AHLer, albeit a role and depth player. That’s good. His offensive production isn’t anything to write home about, but at least he’s showing some progression and momentum.
Outlook: with all the guys becoming RFAs this season, I think Elson may be one of the guys that isn’t retained. He was signed under Feaster, at the behest of Brent Sutter, and outside of his hustle and speed, there’s not a heck of a lot to his game at the pro level. He works incredibly hard, but it’s difficult to see him progressing much further.

MICHAEL FERLAND (LEFT WING, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Like Elson, Ferland is near the end of his ELC. He split his first year between the AHL, ECHL and two WHL teams. He lost a gigantic portion of his second year due to a freak knee injury. However, he’s been very strong this year. He had a cup of coffee in the NHL and did everything but score a goal – and he came damn close – and he showed he can contribute on the team’s fourth line if given the opportunity.
Outlook: Ferland is a lock to be re-upped and I wouldn’t be shocked if he was in the NHL to open next season, if not earlier.

BEN HANOWSKI (RIGHT WING, 24)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Hanowski had a brief NHL appearance last year, but he’s spent the entirety of the season to-date in the AHL. That’s more because players have leap-frogged him than him struggling. To the contrary, Hanowski’s offensive output has been improved from last season and he’s progressing a bit. That said, he’s got NHL size and a physical edge to his game, but one could argue that teammate Michael Ferland is better at both, and he’s definitely a better skater. It’s not that Hanowski’s not a good player, but rather that he’s redundant in the Flames system right now.
Outlook: I figure Hanowski gets a new deal, because he provides valuable depth for the Flames organization and is a rare natural right winger. That said, he’s also an asset brought in by the previous regime and there’s a lot of players who are ahead of him in the call-up pecking order, so I’m not sure how much of a future he has in the organization.

TIM HARRISON (RIGHT WING, 21)

Currently: Colgate Raiders (sophomore year)
Contract Status: unsigned. Presuming he does all four years in college, the Flames have until August 15, 2017 to sign him.
Harrison is a late-round pick and has limited offensive upside, but he’s physically big and he hustles. He’s an energy guy for the Raiders and if he goes pro, he’ll project as an energy guy as well.
Outlook: It’s a bit early to guess, but I’d imagine he gets signed as a depth player for the AHL club barring a massive regression in terms of his tempo of play.

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MARK JANKOWSKI (CENTER, 20)

Currently: Providence College Friars (junior year)
Contract Status: unsigned. The Flames have until August 15 of whenever he decides to leave school (likely following the 2015-16 season) to sign him
Jankowski is tall and has filled out physically in recent seasons. I’ve been told he doesn’t play a physical game, instead relying on his size and wingspan to keep the puck protected – similar to Joe Colborne. He’s emerged as one of the most reliable face-off men in the NCAA, but still isn’t quite an elite offensive player in that league. He’s still got things to work on, so I’d expect him to head back for a senior year.
Outlook: iffy. I like Jankowski and figure he gets a contract, but at the same time, he hasn’t quite progressed (offensive production-wise) in a manner you’d hope a first round pick would. That’s not to say he’s not a decent prospect, he’s just a project that needs a lot of work right now.

MORGAN KLIMCHUK (LEFT WING, 19)

Currently: Brandon Wheat Kings
Contract Status: unless he plays 10 NHL games this season, his three-year entry-level deal slides a year (until the end of 2017-18)
Klimchuk nursed an injury through the back half of training camp and didn’t begin the WHL’s regular season until a few weeks in, but he’s continued to play a solid 200-foot game and chip in offensively. He’s middle of the pack in Wheat Kings team scoring (taking into account his Regina time), but near the top in points per game.
Outlook: I think of Klimchuk as a better version of Max Reinhart. He’s slightly bigger and slightly better in the offensive zone, and I think that combination bodes well for him. He may never be a huge offensive contributor because of his moderate size, but he’s got the mind and the mobility to be a solid penalty-killer and strategic asset going forward.

EMILE POIRIER (RIGHT WING, 20)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: in the first year of a three-year entry-level deal
Poirier started late due to rehabbing his shoulder injury from late last season, but he’s arguably as impressive now as he was in his late-season AHL stint a year ago. He’s fast. He’s got a nose for the net and a surprising physical edge. He’s got good hands. You could argue that Poirier is a strong offensive player who is perhaps a slight notch below “elite”, but I’m still not convinced of what he isn’t until I see him have a stint in the NHL to get his feet wet. Right now, at least, he’s a very good AHLer – and an All-Star.
Outlook: very good. Poirier might be the organization’s best pure offensive talent, and he’s shown more success as a first-year pro than the majority of Calgary’s drafted players have in the past. It’s just a question of what he can do in the NHL. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t NHL-bound next season.

MAX REINHART (CENTER/WING, 22)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: In the final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
I’m of two minds about Reinhart. He’s an incredibly smart player and good at reading coverage and knowing where to be. Unfortunately, his execution hasn’t been there yet at the NHL level, despite several call-ups. Reinhart is a useful player for many organizations, but what’s his niche? And how long will it take him to find it?
Outlook: unclear. If you had asked me prior to Corban Knight’s trade which prospect I thought would be traded first, I would’ve said Reinhart. I think he’s skilled, but the team has more players with more obvious slotting internally than Reinhart does, and moving him for an asset (particularly a defenseman) may become tempting. If he’s still in the organization after the trade deadline, I’d expect him to be re-upped.

DREW SHORE (CENTER, 23)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: in the final year of his entry-level deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1.
Shore hasn’t played a game with the Baby Flames yet, but he’s already their leading scorer (and an All-Star). He adds a lot to the Baby Flames: size, speed and a nice touch around the net. Granted, he’s not reputed as an amazing face-off guy and his two-way game tilts a bit more towards the offensive than defensive zone, suggesting that he may end up as a winger ultimately – particularly given Calgary’s center depth at the NHL level. But considering the Flames flipped one of their surplus centers for him, he’s a very savvy pick-up.
Outlook: pretty strong. Treliving sought him out and he provides the team with a skilled young player that they can evaluate, develop and utilize going forward.

HUNTER SMITH (RIGHT WING, 19)

Currently: Oshawa Generals
Contract Status: unsigned. The Flames have until June 1, 2016 to sign him or else they lose his rights.
Smith has had a pretty solid season. He’s eighth in scoring for the Generals, behind a bunch of really good junior players. Right now, he’s merely “pretty good” at the junior level and lacks elite level offensive skill.
Outlook: Smith has a lot of attributes (notably size) that scouts like. His skating isn’t amazing, though. I’d wager he’s a sure thing to get an NHL deal nonetheless. He’ll be 20 when the 2015-16 season begins, so the real interesting thing will be to see if he goes back to the OHL as an over-ager or turns pro after this season. He’s definitely got pro size.

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BRYCE VAN BRABANT (LEFT WING, 23)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: in the first year of a two-year entry-level deal
Van Brabant’s production – 12 points in 35 games – hasn’t been fantastic, but by all accounts he’s fitting in fairly well with the Baby Flames’ system. He’s not an elite-level talent in any way, though he’s got good size, and his skating has a lot of room for improvement. Right now he’s a role guy in the AHL.
Outlook: Van Brabant is a first-year pro, so he gets the benefit of the doubt right now. None of what he’s done stats-wise suggests he’ll be an impact player at the NHL level, though.

DAVID WOLF (LEFT WING, 25)

Currently: Adirondack Flames
Contract Status: in the first year of a two-year entry-level deal
Wolf is basically a German version of Michael Ferland. He’s got size and grit and plays a physical game. He had success in Europe and the hope is he can acclimate himself to North American ice and become an option for the big club. He’s reportedly progressed nicely after a shaky first few weeks, but he’ll likely need to show some consistency before the NHL comes a-callin’.
Outlook: So far, so good for Wolf. He’s a project, for sure, but he’s showing progress.

Prospect Check-In: The Forwards

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