As an alternative to John Scott appreciation weekend, I thought today would be the ideal timing to unveil the second edition of my Flames From 80 Feet Calgary Flames prospect rankings.
The intention is to update this list twice a year. The first edition viewable here came out last August, after the NHL draft and development camp had taken place. Given what we can evaluate and learn about players through rookie camp, main training camp, the IIHF World Junior Championships and a half-season of hockey, issuing a mid-year update five or six months later seemed like a good idea. As you'll see, there's been plenty of movement too.
Over time, these twice-a-year snapshots of the state of the organization's prospect cupboard will provide a nice way of tracking players as they rise and fall on the depth chart.
Definition of "Prospect"
If you look at other hockey publications and websites, there are different definitions of what is a prospect. Some have age maximums, some exclude players once they're no longer considered an NHL rookie. My criteria comes down to two things:
- Age 25 or under for skaters (age 26 or under for goalies)
- Has not established himself as a NHL regular
For my rankings, note also that this isn't the order I expect players to ascend to the NHL. Do not view it as a 'who will be next?' chronological list. Instead, it is a hybrid approach that also factors in the impact/role I expect that player to have when (or if) they do make it to the NHL.
I've also included an ETA. This is when I project them to arrive in the NHL -- if they make it -- and establish themselves as a full-time player. At that point they would graduate from the list.
Graduation Day
Speaking of which, two players from the August 2015 edition are no longer considered prospects as this season they have become fixtures in Calgary's line-up.
- No. 1 - Sam Bennett
- No. 10 - Micheal Ferland
The other name from last time you may be wondering about is Markus Granlund. While he's been an everyday player for the Flames since being called up in late November, I don't view him as "established" yet as the reality is he could be in Stockton by next weekend. If Ferland is ready to return from injured reserve, a roster decision at forward will be required in the next few days and of the options to be demoted, Granlund is certainly one of them.
Calgary Flames Top 20 Prospects - January 2016
Audio Alert: On Monday, February 1, I joined Ryan Pinder on Sportsnet960 radio to discuss the latest prospect list. Listen to the archive of that segment for additional insight as to why certain players are ranked where they are.
1. G Jon Gillies (up from No. 5)
- Age - 22
- Size - 6-foot-6, 225 lbs
- Acquired - Drafted in 3rd round (75th overall) in 2012
- This Year - Stockton AHL (7 gm, 2-3-1, 2.31 GAA, .920 SV%)
- ETA - 2018-19
2. D Rasmus Andersson (up from No. 6)
- Age - 19
- Size - 6-foot-1, 215 lbs
- Shoots - Right
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (53rd overall) in 2015
- This Year - Barrie OHL (44 gm, 7-37-44)
- ETA - 2017-18
3. D Brandon Hickey (up from No. 4)
- Age - 19
- Size - 6-foot-2, 190 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 3rd round (64th overall) in 2014
- This Year - Boston University (23 gm, 5-2-7)
- ETA - 2018-19
4. RW Emile Poirier (down from No. 2)
- Age - 21
- Size - 6-foot-2, 195 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 1st round (22nd overall) in 2013
- This Year - Stockton AHL (33 gm, 7-11-18)
- ETA - 2017-18
- Age - 19
- Size - 6-foot-4, 200 lbs
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (34th overall) in 2014
- This Year - Charlottetown QMJHL (26 gm, 11-15-0, 3.53 GAA, .893 SV%)
- ETA - 2020-21
6. D Oliver Kylington (up from No. 7)
- Age - 18
- Size - 6-foot-0, 185 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (60th overall) in 2015
- This Year - Stockton AHL (32 gm, 4-5-9)
- ETA - 2018-19
7. LW Morgan Klimchuk (up from No. 9)
- Age - 20
- Size - 6-foot-0, 185 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 1st round (28th overall) in 2013
- This Year - Stockton AHL (27 gm, 3-3-6)
- ETA - 2018-19
8. C Mark Jankowski (up from No. 15)
- Age - 21
- Size - 6-foot-3, 190 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 1st round (21st overall) in 2012
- This Year - Providence NCAA (25 gm, 12-14-26)
- ETA - 2018-19
9. LW Andrew Mangiapane (up from No. 20)
- Age - 19
- Size - 5-foot-10, 177 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 6th round (166th overall) in 2015
- This Year - Barrie OHL (38 gm, 30-31-61)
- ETA - 2019-20
10. C Markus Granlund (down from No. 9)
- Age - 22
- Size - 6-foot-0, 180 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (45th overall) in 2011
- This Year - Stockton AHL (12 gm, 5-4-9), Calgary NHL (27 gm, 3-2-5)
- ETA - 2016-17
11. D Brett Kulak (not previously ranked)
- Age - 22
- Size - 6-foot-2, 187 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 4th round (105th overall) in 2012
- This Year - Stockton AHL (31 gm, 2-7-9), Calgary (6 gm, 0-0-0)
- ETA - 2017-18
12. C Derek Grant (not previously ranked)
- Age - 25
- Size - 6-foot-3, 202 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted by Ottawa in 4th round (119th overall) in 2008, signed as a free agent on July 1, 2015
- This Year - Stockton AHL (27 gm, 19-13-32), Calgary (9 gm, 0-0-0)
- ETA - 2016-17
After impressing as a relative unknown in training camp, Grant has been lighting it up in Stockton as the team's offensive catalyst. Big, fast and very good at face-offs, this late bloomer has opened a lot of eyes. A pending RFA at season's end, he could be a very serviceable bottom-six NHL player.
13. D Tyler Wotherspoon (down from No. 11)
- Age - 22
- Size - 6-foot-2, 210 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (57th overall) in 2011
- This Year - Stockton AHL (33 gm, 0-3-3)
- ETA - 2016-17
14. C Pavel Karnaukhov (not previously ranked)
- Age - 18
- Size - 6-foot-3, 206 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 5th round (136th overall) in 2015
- This Year - Calgary WHL (31 gm, 7-15-22)
- ETA - 2020-21
The young man really impressed in rookie camp. Drafted as a winger but deployed by the Flames as a centre, he's got that blend of size and skill teams want up the middle and it's why he already has people in the organization excited. He's a long way away, but the Belarusian has plenty of potential.
15. D Ryan Culkin (down from No. 13)
- Age - 22
- Size - 6-foot-2, 191 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 5th round (124th overall) in 2012
- This Year - Adirondack ECHL (31 gm, 0-8-8)
- ETA - 2017-18
16. C Bill Arnold (down from No. 14)
17. RW Garnet Hathaway (up from No. 19)
- Age - 23
- Size - 6-foot-0, 193 lbs
- Shoots - Right
- Acquired - Drafted in 4th round (108th overall) in 2010
- This Year - Stockton AHL (29 gm, 6-10-16)
- ETA - 2017-18
17. RW Garnet Hathaway (up from No. 19)
- Age - 24
- Size - 6-foot-2, 210 lbs
- Shoots - Right
- Acquired - Signed as a free agent on April 13, 2015
- This Year - Stockton AHL (25 gm, 5-6-11)
- ETA - 2016-17
18. G Joni Ortio (down from No. 12)
- Age - 24
- Size - 6-foot-1, 190 lbs
- Acquired - Drafted in 6th round (171st overall) in 2009
- This Year - Stockton AHL (37 gm, 9-8-0, .896 SV%), Calgary (4 gm, 0-2-0, .868 SV%)
- ETA - 2016-17
19. D Adam Ollas-Mattsson (not previously ranked)
- Age - 19
- Size - 6-foot-4, 210 lbs
- Shoots - Left
- Acquired - Drafted in 6th round (175th overall) in 2014
- This Year - Djurgardens Sweden (22 gm, 1-3-4)
- ETA - 2020-21
- Age - 19
- Size - 6-foot-7, 220 lbs
- Acquired - Drafted in 2nd round (54th overall) in 2014
- Last Year - Oshawa OHL (57 gm, 23-26-49)
- ETA - 2018-19
Honourable Mention - LW Kenny Agostino, RW Austin Carroll (down from 18), C Freddie Hamilton, D Kenney Morrison (down from 17), C Drew Shore