Small forward development (and Emilio Pettersen’s future)

67 games into the current @Calgary Flames season, one fact is indisputably true: the Flames’ smallish forwards are among the most skilled and most important players. The challenge for the club is that developing that type of player takes care, precision and time.

Right now, the Flames roster boasts four skilled forwards who are less than six feet in height: @Johnny Gaudreau (5’9″), @Dillon Dube (5’11”), @Andrew Mangiapane (5’10”) and @Derek Ryan (5’10”). All but Gaudreau required seasoning in the American Hockey League before stepping onto NHL ice – and Gaudreau is basically a hockey unicorn.

If you look at the Flames’ prospect list, one thing jumps out: aside from Glenn Gawdin and Dustin Wolf, pretty much all of the most exciting Flames prospects are forwards that come in under six feet in height:

The key to the pipeline is Stockton, where prospective Flames get a chance to get puck touches and try to translate what made them effective juniors or college players into fully-fledged strong pros. Dube and Mangiapane both became top-flight AHLers in Stockton despite their stature, with the Heat’s ability to give them dedicated ice time and a chance to get puck touches every game huge in their development.

More recently, Phillips and Philp have become part of the offensive engine in Stockton. Zavgorodniy’s entry level deal begins next season and he seems like a lock to join the Heat. Given his strong AHL performance, odds are Phillips will push for NHL duty as he enters the final year of his ELC. That probably gives Stockton three smallish offensive forwards for 2020-21, which seems like the right number.

That brings us to Pettersen. He’s finishing up a superb sophomore season with the Pioneers. He’s currently tied for 32nd in the entire NCAA in scoring, and he’s fifth among under-20 players. Given his impressive performances, it seems natural to wonder if the Flames will press him to go pro after this season. The big question guiding that decision-making: what’s best for Pettersen’s development?

In Stockton in 2020-21 there will likely be Phillps, Philp and Zavgorodniy vying for key offensive development minutes. There may also be any number of Swedish players coming over given that Linus Lindstrom, Filip Sveningsson and others are nearing decision points with the organization. Meanwhile, Pettersen could be returning to the NCAA as a high-scoring forward on a highly-touted team. Heck, he could get Hobey Baker buzz if he continues his progression.

Is Pettersen good enough to go pro? Definitely yes. It would be a challenge for him and he’d grow his game. But given the number of similarly statured offensive-minded forwards tagged for Stockton, staying in Denver for his junior season may be the best way to keep moving his development forward and not risk having him lost in the shuffle in 2020-21.