[Calgary Flames Drafting and Development: Your Analysis]

I wonder if the Flames will focus more on speed and skill moving forward and step away from the Burke mandated truculent focus. With this new NHL it seems like the "stay at home" defenseman is dead! Puck moving, rush joining D men are all the rave.

 

I thought this was their direction last year since it was Brad Trelivings first year have full reign, I thought their size guys they picked all have a good combination of Speed and Skill;

• Andersson is "bigger" but has some really stellar potential skills and is a talented Dman although I think he's working on his footspeed,
• Kylington isn't "Big" but he has incredible potential and the most talented skater.
• Karnaukhov is really raw but could turn out to be a good bet as a strong power forward (although I thought he was a winger not centerman).
• Mangiapane is of the Low Risk super skilled player that you need to take chances on late in the draft.
• Bruce... Well we'll see, it seems he's made some strides this year compared to the past years, Big Defenceman but not sure what else he has as I've never seen him play, but a 7th round so why not.

[Stockton Heat Updates [2016-2017]]

Normal healing time is 6 - 8 weeks.

 

No solid food for the first week or two.

 

Crap...    so pretty much his season is done and we probably won't get to see him until next season, that is depending how the team looks post TDL.

[Stockton Heat Updates [2016-2017]]

Yikes!

 

Injuries abound in Stockton.

 

Johnson, Kylington, & Smith out day to day with upper body injuries.

 

Arnold is out week to week with a lower body injury.

 

Now, Grant is out indefinitely with a fractured jaw sustained in practice.

 

This is why we can't have nice things.....  Arnold just having a rough time, I don't think it's the same injury so at least it's not like it is a nagging propensity to be injured in a particular way, much like Bouma.  It's probably a silly question but for someone who hasn't sustained any sort of break or fracture, how bad is a jaw fracture? Obviously a broken or shattered jaw is brutal (See Hamhuis), I guess it would depend on the severity of the fracture correct?

[Calgary Flames Drafting and Development: Your Analysis]

How can you not? You have to use Baertschi in the conversation because he was a part of the organization for his whole ELC, aside from the TDL when we traded him. You can't dismiss it just because the Canucks did similar things with him.

The one thing they didn't do was publicly bad mouth the kid. Plus, after awhile they sheltered him and you prove that point with the minutes he is getting. They're living with his game which we never did. They're getting rewarded now, playing him with Horvat, after sheltering them both.

In a sense, the Canucks are therefore developing Baertschi better than we ever did...

 

 

For all we know how he is performing now is because of everything that he was taught on the Heat, however, just because he's getting an opportunity in a fresh environment doesn't mean we didn't develop him properly.  I don't think he ever showed he was better than a player on our roster the last couple years, without going back and watching all the times he played, he always seemed disinterested and making mistakes that he just couldn't put aside, I can't ever remember him back-checking or fighting for a puck he had just lost, much like Taylor Hall who watches as the puck enters his zone and he's off on a change.  Not a good way to instill confidence in you.  He did have his opportunities to play, it was just meant to be that a fresh scene made things better because there was no history there.  Again I could be totally wrong on this it was just the feeling I have.

[Calgary Flames Drafting and Development: Your Analysis]

Of course there's concern over what looks to be regression down in the A but I'm going to wait another year or two here before worrying. There was a lot of transition going on with new players being added, injuries happening at inopportune times, the team basically mirrored everything that happened to the Flames this year.  They made a serious change in locale and playing schedule etc... I want to see how things settle before becoming leery about the state of our development.  Last year they were way better so I'm not sure it's as much coaching/development as it is situational change, heightened expectations and confidence.

 

Drafting is another tough nut to crack as every year is different, we can hope for all around wins every year but I think this is just a false predication. I honestly have the feeling that our drafting is much better since Treliving joined and now has full understanding of the state of the team compared to when he was 1st hired.

[Flames Defense]

All I'm saying is for th right return I would absolutley deal Wideman because if the flames can get a piece that can help then more in 2-3 years I would do it. I would not give him away like some want to because IMO he is a still solid top 4 dman but if you out can make a smart future move I would do it.

Agreed, on point here Cross. Wideman isn't part of the future (always hate saying it about anyone but have to be realistic). He's great on offense and has been better defensively but if you can get future assets for him when his stock is high. His D-game is only going to last so long I think so take the "money" and run if you get the opportunity.