Sunday Open Thread: Prospect Camp Roster Preview!
By Ryan Pike
9 years agoFriends, as the calendar pages fly away and the summer creeps towards its inevitable conclusion, thoughts turn to the fall. And with the fall, the opening of Calgary Flames prospect camp and the return of the Penticton YoungStars Tournament in mid-September.
Looking at the Calgary Flames’ potential roster one thought comes to mind: daaaaaaamn.
This could be a really fun tournament to watch from a Flames perspective, even ignoring the possiblity of someone like Kevin Hayes perhaps joining the organization maybe.
Who’s able to suit up? Tell’em, CBA!
15.3 (a) The duration of Training Camp for all Players who have qualified during the
preceding Regular Season for at least 50 games credit for Pension Plan purposes shall not be
more than 20 days, and shall not be more than 27 days for all other Players.
In other words, don’t expect anybody who’s not on an entry-level deal or anybody who is that played a lot in the NHL last year (Sean Monahan). Everyone else in the entry-level system (or unsigned Canadian junior players) are likely fair game. College players are gonna be in class by then (and therefore ineligible) and European players will already have begun their seasons.
A GUESSWORK ROSTER
Forwards:
- Kenny Agostino – acquired from Pittsburgh for Jarome Iginla
- Bill Arnold – 2010 4th round pick
- Sven Baertschi – 2011 1st round pick
- Sam Bennett – 2014 1st round pick
- Austin Carroll – 2014 7th round pick
- Turner Elson – free agent signing
- Michael Ferland – 2010 5th round pick
- Johnny Gaudreau – 2011 4th round pick; 2014 Hobey Baker winner
- Markus Granlund – 2011 2nd round pick
- Ben Hanowski – acquired from Pittsburgh for Jarome Iginla
- Josh Jooris – free agent signing
- Morgan Klimchuk – 2013 1st round pick
- Corban Knight – acquired from Florida for a pick
- Emile Poirier – 2013 1st round pick (if he’s healthy)
- Max Reinhart – 2010 3rd round pick
- Hunter Smith – 2014 2nd round pick
- Bryce van Brabant – free agent signing
- David Wolf – free agent signing
Defensemen:
- Ryan Culkin – 2012 5th round pick
- Keegan Kanzig – 2013 3rd round pick
- Brett Kulak – 2012 4th round pick
- John Ramage – 2010 4th round pick
- Eric Roy – 2013 5th round pick
- Patrick Sieloff – 2012 2nd round pick
- Tyler Wotherspoon – 2011 2nd round pick (if he’s healthy)
Goaltenders:
- Mason McDonald – 2014 2nd round pick
THOUGHTS
Well, wanna get a sense of how the Flames’ drafting has replenished the prospect cupboards? Here’s three or four years of drafting on display and outside of only having one goaltender on their reserve list suiting up (somebody will probably get a try-out to fill out the team), you have 18 forwards and 7 defensemen. I can see the Flames perhaps exempting some older guys like David Wolf, Turner Elson or John Ramage in the interest of getting some newer faces some reps – Reto Berra didn’t suit up last year and he was on an ELC – but beyond that, it’s a pretty strong group here.
- Guys Who’ve Played European Pro: Markus Granlund, David Wolf
- Guys Who’ve Played In World Juniors: Bill Arnold, Johnny Gaudreau, Markus Granlund, David Wolf, John Ramage, Tyler Wotherspoon
- Guys Who’ve Won NCAA Championships: Bill Arnold, Johnny Gaudreau, Kenny Agostino
- Guys Who’ve Played In Memorial Cups: Michael Ferland, Max Reinhart, Tyler Wotherspoon
A GOOD START?
I’m the resident optimist around these parts, but even the most hardened cynic will have to admit that this group looks wildly, wildly improved from the Young Guns-esque groupings the Flames have trotted out at these events in the past. At worst, they’ve amassed a lot more depth than in recent years.
And depth sometimes leads to internal competition and the movement to the NHL of honest-to-goodness useful professional hockey players.
Who are you most excited to see don skates and represent the Flaming C in September? Do you think the Flames will add to this group in the form of Kevin Hayes? Or will they acquire another player from a different organization?
Sound off in the comments, and we’ll be back on Monday to continue our look at what you can (reasonably) expect from the 2014-15 Calgary Flames.
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