{"id":14326,"date":"2017-08-10T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T13:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=14326"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:42","slug":"tsp-calgary-flames-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/10\/tsp-calgary-flames-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Calgary Flames Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Calgary Flames Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Calgary Flames<\/a> had a slow start, and things seemed bleak following a January 24th loss to the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>. That loss actually became a turning point for the Flames season. Led by Brian Elliott<\/a><\/strong>, the Flames went on a furious second half run and made the playoffs. Unfortunately that meant a match-up with a team that has owned Calgary in recent years. Elliot’s play would plummet, and the Anaheim Ducks<\/a>\u00a0would continue their mastery of the Flames, defeating them in four straight.<\/p>\n

The off-season has brought change. Elliott and goaltending partner Chad Johnson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0are out. The team traded for<\/a>\u00a0a new tandem of Mike Smith<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and<\/a>\u00a0Eddie Lack<\/a><\/strong>. The Flames also bolstered an already strong defence with the addition of<\/a> Travis Hamonic<\/a><\/strong>. They also locked up college free agent Spencer Foo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Juuso Valimaki<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Adam Ruzicka<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Zach Fischer<\/strong>,\u00a0D\u2019Artagnan Joly<\/a>, Filip Sveningsson<\/strong>
\nGraduates: Matthew Tkachuk<\/a><\/strong>, Freddie Hamilton<\/a><\/strong>, Garnet Hathaway<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Prospect: Mark Jankowski<\/a><\/h3>\n

Center — shoots Left
\nBorn September 13th, 1994 —\u00a0Hamilton, Ontario
\nHeight 6’4″ — Weight 202 lbs [193 cm \/ 92 kg]
\nDrafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1st round, #21\u00a0overall at the 2012 NHL Draft<\/p>\n