The Missing Word in C-Town

P-R-O-S-P-E-C-T : anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.

It’s been a tough go for our Calgary Flames when the word prospect comes up, words like disappointment and phrases like, ‘how’d we let him go’, are usually front and centre. The trend continued this summer, when top prospect, Tim Erixon, who the Flames selected 23rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, refused to sign his entry level contract with the Flames, handcuffing GM Jay Feaster and forcing him to deal Erixon to the New York Rangers. Erixon was by far and away the Flames top prospect. Rated 15th in the Hockey News’ top 50 prospects in the NHL, Erixon is a steady two-way defenseman who should have challenged for a spot on the Flames’ blue line next season. In my eyes, the Flames, or I should say Feester, could really only do so much in this situation and I do give him credit for getting two 2nd round draft picks (45th and 57th overall) and prospect Roman Horak in return. I question the Flames scouting staff and then GM Darryl Sutter on drafting Erixon in the first place. How, with all the testing, scouting, interviewing etc, would something so important (not wanting to play in the organization) slip through is beyond me. Never the less, Darryl is gone but there is even more pressure on this scouting staff to make sure this year’s draft produces some excitement when the word prospect is brought up around Calgary.

Mock Draft: Picks 21-30

Tyler Biggs

Nick Symon looks at the final 10 picks of the first round.

21. OTTAWA SENATORS (via NSH) - Tyler Biggs, RW, U.S. U-18


Analysis: The Senators have to continue to stock-pile young players up front and with the love of size Bryan Murray has, Biggs could be a nice choice with their second pick in the first round. Biggs stands at 6-foot-2 and projects to be a power forward. Biggs has great work ethic to go along with his physical play, but whether he will score once in the NHL, is yet to be seen.
22. ANAHEIM DUCKS- John Gibson, G, U.S. U-18

Analysis: The Ducks are another team who did very well with last June’s draft when Cam Fowler fell to them. Fowler enjoyed a very good rookie season and looks to be a top defensemen for years to come. GM Bob Murray has stock piled fire power up front and the back end in recent drafts and it’s time to add a prospect behind Jonas Hiller. Gibson, the second goalie taken with the last name Gibson, is projected to be a franchise goaltender. He is the top rated goalie in Central Scouting rankings and is compared to Dallas prospect, Jack Campbell. Gibson is said to stay poised and not get rattled.

Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

Continuing from yesterday's look at the possible top 10 picks in this weekend's draft. TSR Guest blogger Nick Symon looks at the middle of the first round and what the Flames might do with their 13th overall pick.


11. COLORADO AVALANCHE (via STL) - Christopher Gibson, G, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)


Analysis: With the Avalanche’s second pick in the top 12, they need to address their other glaring hole, goaltending. The Avalanche did select Calvin Pickard, 49th overall in last June’s draft but with the slow development of goaltenders, it’s never bad to have more than one. Gibson, who is half-Finnish, half-British, has said to be a big game goalie. He led an offensive weak Chicoutimi team into the playoffs. Gibson has good size and is projected to be a starting goaltender.



12. CAROLINA HURRICANES - Joel Armina, RW, Assat (FIN)

Analysis: The Draft was very good to the Hurricanes last year, as 18-year old Jeff Skinner was a phenom in his first season and led all rookies in scoring. What can Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford do for an encore? That’s a tough question but I have heard he doesn’t like selecting defensemen with a high pick, so Armina could be his guy. Armina, a big (6-3, 191) right winger has the makings of a pure goal scorer. Armina uses his size well and throws a lot of pucks on net. He could complement the 3 S’s down the middle, Skinner, Staal and Sutter, very well in the Hurricanes future.

Mark McNeill the next Flame?

13. CALGARY FLAMES - Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL)

Analysis: Our home town Flames have been filled with disappointment when it comes to the Entry Draft in recent seasons (beside Backlund). It continued this summer as top prospect, Tim Erixon refused to sign with the Flames, handcuffing GM Jay Feaster and forcing him to trade Erixon to the Rangers. It was a tough spot for the organization but I will hold my opinion back about that for now. In my eyes, this draft becomes even more important for the Flames. The Flames need to add some size and offensive potential up front. McNeill has been compared to Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan. He can play either centre or wing and from watching him play in P.A, he is what the Flames need.

Hank was Screaming: Karlsson re-signs

The Calgary Flames have re-signed back-up goalie Henrik Karlsson to a two-year contract worth $1.725 million. He posted a 4-5-6 record last season with a .908 save % and a 2.58 GAA.


Comments from Jay Feaster regarding the signing (taken from flames.nhl.com):

"We are very pleased to have Hank under contract and welcome him back,” said Flames General Manager Jay Feaster. “Last season he demonstrated that he is more than capable as a dependable back-up goalie to Kipper who can win games for us when needed and get us valuable points in the standings. Hank’s game performances, especially after long layoffs and in relief efforts, his work ethic, and his positive personality earned him the trust and support of Brent and his teammates and we are happy to have him back in the fold."

The signing doesn’t surprise me and it’s probably the right one. As much I would love to see Leland Irving given a chance in the NHL, it would probably be best to have him gain some more confidence at the AHL level and bring him up for a maybe a spot start here or there.

Regardless though, Irving will not just play dead. He will battle even harder in training camp to try and prove to the Flames brass that he deserves to play in the big leagues –and he will play with the big boys one day, that much I am sure of.

I believe Irving is the future of goaltending in this city once Kipper decides to move on, whether to the retirement home or to another franchise.

Karlsson is simply a solid number two at this point. That’s not to say he couldn’t one day be a starter but I’d like to think that the Flames would love to see Irving, a Flames draft pick, between the pipes one day.

Karlsson is the safe play and he showed last season that he can be reliable when called upon. Depending on how the season goes will depend on how much work he receives. If the Flames are forced to play catch up again like last season, expect The Calgary Tower to be stapled to the end of the bench and forced into the role of permanent water boy/bench warmer/cheerleader.

With the Karlsson signing, it still leaves Tanguay and Pardy as realistic guys to be re-signed before July 1 – Staios is gone, Modin is not coming back, Babchuk apparently wants too much money, Mikkleson is replaceable and Morrison is the wild card and could be a last minute deal.

And with the salary cap set to increase to $64 million next season, you would think that signing Tanguay is all but certain now. The Flames sit at just over $57 million right now which leaves roughly $6.5 million to sign Tanguay and a couple other fill in players.

Hopefully they are just crossing those “t’s” and dotting the “i’s” as we speak.

Feaster has a busy two weeks ahead of him.

Newman
Jersey Fouls!
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Mock Draft: Picks 1-10

TSR welcomes a guest blogger, Nick Symon, to the fold to talk about the upcoming NHL entry draft. So without further ado...

The NHL season has come to an end but the fun is about to begin. Friday, the NHL Entry Draft will take place in St. Paul, Minnesota. With Mock Draft’s and trade rumours flooding the internet, I thought it would be fun to put together my own mock draft. These things are virtually impossible to predict, as I have done a mock draft for every draft since 2007 and have got a whopping 18 of 120 picks correct. I can’t believe I’m admitting that but here we go again:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkinn: soon to be Oiler?

1. EDMONTON OILERS - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer (WHL)

Analysis: The Oilers will pick first overall for the second straight season and so far so good (excluding his injury) for last year’s pick, Taylor Hall. Not much argument here with Nugent-Hopkins, as the majority of mock drafts has him going first as well. The one argument that can be made is the Oilers lack of depth on defence. To that I say, in my opinion from watching him play, as I help cover the Calgary Hitmen, Nugent-Hopkins is the real deal. I don’t think the Oilers can pass on him and when him and Hall fully mature, they will complement each other very well and could be a lethal duo. Keep in mind the Oilers also hold the 19th pick in the first round and have a couple solid prospects on the back end with Jeff Petry and Martin Marincin in their system.



2. COLORADO AVALANCHE - Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Kitchener (OHL)

Analysis: The Avalanche has done very well in recent drafts. Matt Duchene looks to be a budding super star after his first couple of seasons in Colorado. Looking at the Avalanche roster and prospects, they are filled to capacity down the middle and are fairly solid on the back-end. With Chris Stewart being dealt to the Blues before the deadline for defensemen Eric Johnson, the Avalanche has some holes on the wing. Landeskog is the unanimous choice here. Compared to Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers, Landeskog along with Duchene could make the Avalanche perennial contenders. Landeskog was captain of the Rangers at the young age of 17 and with the recent retirement of Adam Foote, could be groomed to be the Avalanche’s next captain in a couple seasons.