Welcome to the 2015 edition of Top Shelf Prospects. As the summer progresses, I will be featuring each NHL team’s top prospects, following the order of the first round of the 2015 NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks) — you can find all the articles here.
Because we already published an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in 2015, as my reports on them will not have changed — I will, however, link you to those articles. Instead I will focus on prospects that were acquired in past drafts, examining their progress and their chances of making the 2015-16 roster of their respective NHL team. I will also choose one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the fourth round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a darkhorse to make the NHL.
For those wondering, the determining factors for defining who is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not set in stone, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
Most expected that the Calgary Flames would spend the 2014-15 season at the bottom of the standings and fighting for a position in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. Someone must have forgot to tell the Flames that though, because the team defied the odds and finished third in the Pacific Division, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Along the way they faced adversity when their best defenceman, Mark Giordano went down for the season, but even that couldn’t stop them. The Flames would take out their rivals, the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, before falling to the Anaheim Ducks in the second round.
The Off-season has been a busy one for Calgary, as they added Dougie Hamilton to the team, giving them one of the best defence corps in the NHL. They also added Michael Frolik to give the team more size and grit upfront. Add in the emergence of Sam Bennett (more about him below) during the NHL playoffs, and how he will have a full-time role in Calgary next year, and the return of Giordano from injury, and the Flames could be even better in 2015-16.
Players Drafted: Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington, Pavel Karnaukhov, Andrew Mangiapane, Riley Bruce
Graduates: Johnny Gaudreau, Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris
Calgary Flames Prospects
Top Prospect: Sam Bennett, Centre
Born Jun 20 1996 — Toronto, ONT
Height 6.01 — Weight 181 [183 cm/82 kg] – Shoots Left
Drafted in the first round, fourth overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft
Bennett missed much of the season, and missed out on a chance to play at the World Juniors, due to a shoulder injury suffered in Flames training camp. He played 11 games for the Kingston Frontenacs scoring 11 goals and 24 points. He added three points in four playoff games before joining the Flames for the final game of the regular season, grabbing his first NHL point, and 11 playoff games, grabbing headlines along with three goals and an assist.
Slightly undersized, Sam Bennett is extremely thin and needs to put on weight before he will be able to play his game in the NHL. Still that size hasn’t slowed Bennett down as he has excellent hockey sense, and always seems to be in the right place, and make the right play. He finds holes in the defence and can get open. With the puck on his stick he is a deadly playmaker as he has the vision to find open teammates, and the passing skills to make tape-to-tape passes to create scoring chances. He is a hard worker who will work on the cycle game and can protect the puck well. He battles in the corners, and in front of the net and gets in quickly on the forecheck. This will only get better as he adds muscle. Bennett can also score goals with good hands in tight, and an excellent release on his wrist shot.
Good skating, and excellent agility and acceleration make Bennett a menace off the rush, or in cycling the puck as he seems to slip by defenders who can’t keep up with him when he quickly changes speeds. Bennett has an extremely good first step, and when Bennett drops his shoulder and decides to take off, he can quickly separate from defenders. He has good balance on his skates and is tough to knock off the puck. Again this is an area that will improve with more strength.
A hard-worker, Bennett is fearless, and always involved in the corners, in front of the net and at the middle of the after the whistle scrums. He shows this work-ethic in the defensive zone where he is willing to use his body along the boards, to block shots, to support his defensemen in their own zone.
Sam Bennett should make the Flames this year. He is one of the best prospects in hockey, and will form and outstanding 1-2 punch with Sean Monahan for years to come. Quite simply Bennett has the potential to be a franchise forward. He can do it all at both ends of the ice and will bring everything that teams look for in a top line centre.
#2 Prospect: Jon Gillies, Goaltender
Born Jan 22 1994 — South Portland, ME
Height 6.05 — Weight 215 [196 cm/98 kg]
Drafted by Calgary Flames in round 3, #75 overall at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Gillies has put up three very good years for Providence. He has finished with a save percentage of .931, .931, and .930 over those three years, respectively, to become one of the best goalies in the NCAA. The list of awards and accomplishments for Gillies over these last few years is exceptionally long, but one stands out, and that is the NCAA Tournament MVP as he led the Friars to the upset over Jack Eichel and the Boston University Terriers this spring.
Gillies is a big goalie (6’5″) who plays a butterfly style. He comes out of his net to cut down angles and takes advantage of his frame giving the shooter very little net to see. He has quick legs and takes away the bottom of the net effectively and has a decent glove and blocker to take away the top of the net. If there is a weakness though, its in his rebound control as it is inconsistent, but has improved greatly since he was drafted three years ago. There is still some work to be done, but it is much better than it was, as Gillies has matured and learned to control things in front of him, or direct pucks to the corners. He’s also decent at playing the puck.
Gillie should be battling Joni Ortio for starts in Stockton. He will likely need at least one full year there, and potentially two before seriously challenging for an NHL spot. The potential here is high though, as he could become a franchise goalie for the Flames in time.
#3 Prospect; Emile Poirier, Left Wing
Born Dec 14 1994 — Montreal, PQ
Height 6.01 — Weight 183 — Shoots Left
Drafted in the first round, 22nd Overall by the Calgary Flames at the 2013 Draft.
In his first professional season, Poirier put up 19 goals and 42 points in 55 games with Adirondack in the AHL. He also got in a 6 game stint with the Flames, earning his first NHL point, an assist.
Poirer is an excellent skater. He has great acceleration, a quick first step, and great top end speed. He is quick to react and pick up loose pucks, or can fly when his team creates a turnover and look for a long stretch pass in transition. He can also beat defenders to the outside. Poirier’s agility and edgework are also very good allowing him to weave through traffic, and to get around defenders and take the puck to the net. His balance is good allowing Poirier to be strong on the puck and work in the cycle game.
Poirier has a well rounded offensive game. He was once thought of as mainly a playmaker, thanks to his excellent stickhandling, vision, and passing ability. While those skills have not diminished (and in fact continue to improve) he’s added some other strong aspects to his game. Poirier has really very good wrist and snap shots both in power and accuracy, and his release continues to get quicker. With this shot, the willingness to go to the net, and some soft hands in tight, and one can see how Poirier just keeps raising his goal totals. Poirier does get involved in the corners and go to the dirty areas of the ice at times, but he still doesn’t do it enough to be called a true power forward. He can really improve his game, by doing that, and by adding upper body muscle.
Poirier has a well-developed defensive game. He is a willing and able back-checker who places good back pressure on the puck carrier off the rush. He is good positionally in his own end and can create turnovers with his active stick cutting down passing lanes. A willing shot blocker, Poirier was used on the penalty kill regularly while in junior. While he saw some PK time in the AHL, he should see more as he gains experience.
Expect Poirier to be one of the stars of the Flames new AHL club in Stockton, and to be an injury callup for the Flames this year. He could be looking at full time duty as early as the second half of this season if things go in a best case scenario. If not, look for him to make a big push in 2016 training camp.
#4 Prospect: Morgan Klimchuk, Right Wing
Born Mar 2 1995 — Calgary, ALTA
Height 5.11 — Weight 180 — Shoots Left
Drafted in the 1st Round, 28th Overall of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames
A WHL trade deadline deal saw Klmchuk leave the struggling Regina Pats and join the first place Brandon Wheat Kings last year. He helped the Wheat Kings reach the WHL final, before they ultimately succumbed to the Kelowna Rockets. Overall Klimchuk was able to put up 34 goals and 80 points in 60 games, and added another 13 points in 13 playoff games.
Klimchuk is a natural sniper, gifted with a great wrist shot and an excellent one timer. His outstanding release fools and confuses goaltenders as he seems to have the puck in the back of the net before they know he’s even shot it. Klimchuk has good hockey sense and is able to find openings in the defence where he can set up to unleash that deadly shot. More than just a one trick pony though, Klimchuk works hard in the corners, often winning board battles despite the fact he is merely average size. He also does extremely well in the cycle game protecting the puck with his soft hands and excellent balance on his skates. Klimchuk gets to the front of the net and can use his soft hands to tip in shots, or to bury rebounds. He also has good vision and ability.
Klimchuk has decent top end speed, but it is his excellent first step quickness, and acceleration that really defines his skating. He also has very good agility. He ends up being one of those players who is more quick than fast, as he pounces on loose pucks, and darts through openings with ease, however he doesn’t have that pull-away gear that makes him a real breakaway threat. His balance if very good and he fights through checks well and is strong on the puck.
Klimchuk should make the jump to pro hockey, joining Stockton this year. He likely needs a little time in the AHL to continue his development.
Super Sleeper: Kenney Morrison, Defence
Born Feb 13 1992 — Lloydminster, ALTA
Height 6.02 — Weight 198 [188 cm/90 kg] — Shoots Right
Kenney Morrison was highly sought after as a college free agent following the 2013-14 season, e choose to go back to Western Michigan. The 23-year-old Lloydminster, Alberta native put up 5 goals and 15 points in 35 games this year, confrirming the assessments from last year and became my number one college free agent target. He signed with the Flames and looked fantastic in Adirondack, scoring 2 goals and 6 points in 10 AHL games.
Morrison is a tremendous skater. He has outstanding speed, great acceleration, and superb edgework. He shows this skating skill in both directions, and has crisp pivots and excellent agility. As a result he is extremely mobile on the backend and a great two-way defender. He is also strong on his skates, which makes him tough to knock off the puck, and gives him the balance to clear the crease, or wing battles in the corners.
Morrison has an absolute cannon from the point, and if he can be just a little more accurate could really do damage on the powerplay. He shows good poise with the puck on his stick, and can make strong passes to start the transition game, or on the powerplay. While he doesn’t lead the rush often, he has been known to join as a trailer, or to pinch in at the line.
Morrison also plays an excellent defensive game, and his ability to change directions quickly makes him a feared hitter off the rush. He has strong positioning, and is willing to block shots and cut down passing lanes.
Breaking into the Flames defence could be difficult for Morrison, and he likely needs a little more pro time in the AHL before he is NHL ready. That said, I could see him filling in if injuries arise, and being a full-timer late in the season or at the start of 2016-17.
Last year we said that the Flames needed an infusion of young talent on the blue line going forward. Well they seemed to fill that need getting Dougie Hamilton, who isn’t a prospect. We also saw further development of T.J. Brodie who is one of the most underrated defencemen in the NHL. These two will give the Flames a one-two punch on the blueline for the foreseeable future. Morrison was a great get from the college ranks. In the draft, the additions of Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington give the Flames two high-risk, high-reward prospects on the blueline. Brandon Hickey’s development at Boston College this past year also has to be considered a big positive. Tyler Wotherspoon is a good depth project. In goal, Mason McDonald gives the Flames another high quality goalie prospect. Up front Mark Jankowski has yet to really put up a huge offensive season in college, but could develop into a solid bottom six centre, while Hunter Smith, Michael Ferland, Drew Shore, and Kenny Morrison provide depth up front. With Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau already playing huge roles for the Flames up front, the future is bright in Calgary.
PETERBOROUGH, ON – MARCH 30: Sam Bennett #93 of the Kingston Frontenacs skates against the Peterborough Petes during Game 6 of the OHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on March 30, 2014 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The Petes defeated the Frontenacs 5-4 to even the series 3-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
