Post by Nordiques - Chris on Jan 10, 2009 19:02:35 GMT -5
IIHF World U20 Championships '08-'09: Flames Prospect Review
{by Alexandre "The Sure Thing" Daigle reporting for the FAN960 Radio Network and the Fan960.com}
*Note: Much of the following information was obtained by chatting over a few beers (okay more than a few!) with Flames GM Chris Ralph.
Goaltenders:
Jacob Markstrom - 2nd rnd pick 2008: Although Markstrom got frustrated, thrown off his game, and often looked like an Italian soccer player in the Gold Medal final against Canada, he had a great tournament overall and showed why so many scouts think he has a brilliant future. The future may not that be far down the road as this 18 yr old may already be the best goalie in the Swedish Elite League. He was named best goaltender in the tournament and posted awesome stats - a 0.943 save percentage, along with a 1.61 GAA. This tourney showed he has some maturing to do and likely adjusting to the North American style and expectations.
Dustin Tokarski - Some GMs, scouts, hockey writers and fans alike wondered if the Flames may have spent too early of a pick (a 3rd rnder) on this smallish 'tender. Although he had some definite rough stretches in the tournament (down 3-zip in the 1st to USA), he proved Coach Quinn right by leaving him in through those times and time after time when called upon, he made some tremndous timely saves (If you haven't seen it, see video of his save, well actually robbery, of Colin Wilson at a key moment later in the game against USA). Heading into the Gold Medal game, a majority of the hockey world though Quinn would make the switch to Pitkard, but he stuck with his guy. Tokarski rewarded his coach and team and all his fans with a fantastic performance in which he earned Player of the Game. This guy is simply a winner: he's won at the AAA Midget level at the national level, then onto to conquer the Memorial Cup, and now capped off with a WJC Gold Medal. But is that the end?...I'm willing to bet Dustin's ultimate goal is...Lord Stanley...the Holy Grail of the JGHL!
D-men:
Erik Karlsson - The 2008 1st rnder impressed even more than expected - GM Chris Ralph will confirm this statement. He was named tournaments best dman and who can argue. He finished tied for 8th overall in tourney scoring, and tied with 2 others (newly acquired by the Flames PK Subban & Kevin Shattenkirk) with 9 points. and was +6. I expected to see a much smaller, meeker youngster, but he looked solid - and a nice moustache I might add (you gotta see picks of that 'stache!). He was the most impressive Swede in my opinion in the Gold Medal game.
PK Subban - The former 2nd rnder and recently acquired prospect had an outstanding tournament. As mentioned, he finished tied with 2 others for top scoring dman with 9 points and was a constant offensive threat. He also finished at an impressive +12, which led all players. He was voted by coaches as a top 3 player for Canada, and was named to tourney All-Star team. His renegade style occassionally led to turnovers and chances going the other way and this style of play might land him in hot water with coaches if he advance to the JGHL, but you got to respect the fact that he was only on the ice for 3 goals all tournament long.
Colten Teubert - For the majority of the tournament, it was a quiet performance by the 12 overall pick of the Flames. He finished with no points, but saw no PP time with all the offensive dmen on the team. His role was along with partner Captain Thomas Hickey to be the shutdown pairing, usually facing the top offensive players on the opposing team. The pairing was admittedly shakey at times and both finished a disappointing -3. Both saved there best for last, however, and played a very strong game in the Gold Medal finale. The Flames are still excited about this young dmen, as this smooth-skating shutdown dman has also shown offensive upside in the WHL this yr.
Nichlas Torp - The former late rnd pick put in a solid reliable performance, finishing with 1 assist and a +5 for Sweden.
Forwards:
Mattias Tedenby - The small, smooth, shifty, speedy, elite-skilled forward was underwhelming at times and brilliant at others (see his highlight assist against Slovakia where he undresses 3 Slovaks before giving a gift to his teammate). The Flames will be patient while he matures and adds strength; there's no denying the talent.
Brett Sonne - The recently acquired prospect in the same trade that brought in Subban was the leading scorer in the WHL before departing for Ottawa and the WJC. He was faced with task of more of a supporting role player and didn't disappoint in that role. He still chipped in with 3 points in 6 games and was +2. Sonne was outstanding in the faceoff circle, winning over 59% of his draws.
Stefan Della Rovere โ The 5th rnder from this yr, captain of his OHL Barrie Colts teams was in a word, controversial, at this yearโs WJC. He had 3 pts in 6 games in a 4th line agitator/energy role. Did he take some bad penalties? Yes. Did he go over the edge on a couple of occassions? Probably yes. Would you rather play with a guy like this than play against him? Definitely yes! Some in the hockey world compared this guy to Sean Avery, but I donโt see it. The guys a great hitter, sticks up for teammates and plays with a great deal of heart. He does have some maturing to do and may have to learn when to pick his battles better, but this guy could be a very good 2-way forward.
{by Alexandre "The Sure Thing" Daigle reporting for the FAN960 Radio Network and the Fan960.com}
*Note: Much of the following information was obtained by chatting over a few beers (okay more than a few!) with Flames GM Chris Ralph.
Goaltenders:
Jacob Markstrom - 2nd rnd pick 2008: Although Markstrom got frustrated, thrown off his game, and often looked like an Italian soccer player in the Gold Medal final against Canada, he had a great tournament overall and showed why so many scouts think he has a brilliant future. The future may not that be far down the road as this 18 yr old may already be the best goalie in the Swedish Elite League. He was named best goaltender in the tournament and posted awesome stats - a 0.943 save percentage, along with a 1.61 GAA. This tourney showed he has some maturing to do and likely adjusting to the North American style and expectations.
Dustin Tokarski - Some GMs, scouts, hockey writers and fans alike wondered if the Flames may have spent too early of a pick (a 3rd rnder) on this smallish 'tender. Although he had some definite rough stretches in the tournament (down 3-zip in the 1st to USA), he proved Coach Quinn right by leaving him in through those times and time after time when called upon, he made some tremndous timely saves (If you haven't seen it, see video of his save, well actually robbery, of Colin Wilson at a key moment later in the game against USA). Heading into the Gold Medal game, a majority of the hockey world though Quinn would make the switch to Pitkard, but he stuck with his guy. Tokarski rewarded his coach and team and all his fans with a fantastic performance in which he earned Player of the Game. This guy is simply a winner: he's won at the AAA Midget level at the national level, then onto to conquer the Memorial Cup, and now capped off with a WJC Gold Medal. But is that the end?...I'm willing to bet Dustin's ultimate goal is...Lord Stanley...the Holy Grail of the JGHL!
D-men:
Erik Karlsson - The 2008 1st rnder impressed even more than expected - GM Chris Ralph will confirm this statement. He was named tournaments best dman and who can argue. He finished tied for 8th overall in tourney scoring, and tied with 2 others (newly acquired by the Flames PK Subban & Kevin Shattenkirk) with 9 points. and was +6. I expected to see a much smaller, meeker youngster, but he looked solid - and a nice moustache I might add (you gotta see picks of that 'stache!). He was the most impressive Swede in my opinion in the Gold Medal game.
PK Subban - The former 2nd rnder and recently acquired prospect had an outstanding tournament. As mentioned, he finished tied with 2 others for top scoring dman with 9 points and was a constant offensive threat. He also finished at an impressive +12, which led all players. He was voted by coaches as a top 3 player for Canada, and was named to tourney All-Star team. His renegade style occassionally led to turnovers and chances going the other way and this style of play might land him in hot water with coaches if he advance to the JGHL, but you got to respect the fact that he was only on the ice for 3 goals all tournament long.
Colten Teubert - For the majority of the tournament, it was a quiet performance by the 12 overall pick of the Flames. He finished with no points, but saw no PP time with all the offensive dmen on the team. His role was along with partner Captain Thomas Hickey to be the shutdown pairing, usually facing the top offensive players on the opposing team. The pairing was admittedly shakey at times and both finished a disappointing -3. Both saved there best for last, however, and played a very strong game in the Gold Medal finale. The Flames are still excited about this young dmen, as this smooth-skating shutdown dman has also shown offensive upside in the WHL this yr.
Nichlas Torp - The former late rnd pick put in a solid reliable performance, finishing with 1 assist and a +5 for Sweden.
Forwards:
Mattias Tedenby - The small, smooth, shifty, speedy, elite-skilled forward was underwhelming at times and brilliant at others (see his highlight assist against Slovakia where he undresses 3 Slovaks before giving a gift to his teammate). The Flames will be patient while he matures and adds strength; there's no denying the talent.
Brett Sonne - The recently acquired prospect in the same trade that brought in Subban was the leading scorer in the WHL before departing for Ottawa and the WJC. He was faced with task of more of a supporting role player and didn't disappoint in that role. He still chipped in with 3 points in 6 games and was +2. Sonne was outstanding in the faceoff circle, winning over 59% of his draws.
Stefan Della Rovere โ The 5th rnder from this yr, captain of his OHL Barrie Colts teams was in a word, controversial, at this yearโs WJC. He had 3 pts in 6 games in a 4th line agitator/energy role. Did he take some bad penalties? Yes. Did he go over the edge on a couple of occassions? Probably yes. Would you rather play with a guy like this than play against him? Definitely yes! Some in the hockey world compared this guy to Sean Avery, but I donโt see it. The guys a great hitter, sticks up for teammates and plays with a great deal of heart. He does have some maturing to do and may have to learn when to pick his battles better, but this guy could be a very good 2-way forward.