Flames CHL prospects season review

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Flames CHL prospects season review

Written by: Jon Hagan on 04/18/2006

Western Hockey League Dustin Boyd

Ranging from goal scorers to gritty role players and from towering behemoths to diminutive speedsters, the Calgary Flames, with 12 prospects from the Western Hockey League and three from the Ontario Hockey League, are amongst the leaders in the NHL at drafting CHL players. The review is no particular order, but does start with the Hockey's Future No. 1 prospect for the Flames, Dustin Boyd.

Western Hockey League

Dustin Boyd, C – Moose Jaw Warriors - Selected in the 3rd round (98th Overall) in 2004

Recently signed to a contract by the Flames, the 6’0 185 lbs centerman's most productive season was this past campaign, which saw him post 90 points (48 goals, 42 assists) in 64 games. These statistics placed him second on the Warriors, and fourth overall in the league scoring race. His plus/minus rating of +27 placed him fourth on his team, and eighth overall in the league. He has played the last three seasons with Moose Jaw, and in 265 career WHL games he has posted 217 points (103 goals, 114 assists) and 260 penalty minutes.

Earlier this season, during the Christmas break, Boyd proved himself to be a vital cog in Canada's success at the IIHF World Junior Championships, as he scored four goals, and added two assists for six points. Currently, Boyd and the rest of the Warriors are embroiled in a fierce battle with the Calgary Hitmen in the second round of the WHL playoffs. In the first round, Moose Jaw dispatched the Brandon Wheat Kings four games to two. In 11 postseason games, Boyd has posted seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and is -4 with 10 penalty minutes.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Moose Jaw Warriors	WHL	64	48	42	90	34	27

Matt Keetley, G – Medicine Hat Tigers - Selected in the 5th round (158th Overall) in 2005

Having just edged out Toronto prospect Justin Pogge, the leader in all other categories, for the league lead in regular season wins with 42, Calgary prospect Matt Keetley is aiming to do the same in the playoffs. Thus far, after eight games, he is perfect with eight wins. His goals against average is an amazing 1.38 and his save percentage is .944.

Team	League	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	GAA	PCT
Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	62	42	13	1	5	2.09	.916

Gord Baldwin, D – Medicine Hat Tigers - Selected in the 3rd round (69th Overall) in 2005

A giant at 6'5, 205 lbs, Baldwin is playing like a man possessed in the playoffs for the Hat. After eight games, Baldwin's eight points, all assists, are good for third overall in team scoring, and second on the team for scoring by a defenseman, one point behind Cam Barker (CHI). Five of his eight points were on the power play, and he is fourth on the team in penalty minutes. He is a big part of the Tiger defense, and a key reason that, in the previous round, Saskatoon managed only a meager 39 shots in over four periods of hockey on Apr. 8 while the Tigers pasted Anton Khudobin (MIN) with 89 shots for the win.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	71	4	20	24	119	9

Brett Sutter, C – Red Deer Rebels - Selected in the 6th round (179th Overall) in 2005

With a similar playing style to Kris Draper, Red Deer's Brett Sutter, with the exception of plus/minus, posted personal bests this season in all categories. His 35 points would have put him fourth on the team in scoring, but with his points from the Ice factored in, he sat in first. His reputation precedes him and he will always be expected to perform as one of his progenitors has.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Red Deer Rebels	WHL	57	9	26	35	80	-15
Kootenay Ice	WHL	16	8	7	15	21	2

Kris Hogg, LW – Lethbridge Hurricanes - Selected in the 4th round (121st Overall) in 2004

After finishing the 2005-06 season with a career low in plus/minus (-19) and a career high in penalty minutes (142), the 5'11, 179 lbs Hogg is seeking to redeem himself defensively, but he will not be able to do that from the box. He is an aggressive player with a proclivity for penalties, and during the regular season he was second on the Hurricanes in penalty minutes. In six postseason games with the Hurricanes, he has three goals.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL	71	20	20	40	142	-19

Tyler Johnson, C – Seattle Thunderbirds - Selected in the 6th round (173rd Overall) in 2003

Johnson played most of three seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors, and then split his final Warrior year with the Rebels. This past season saw him starting with the Seattle Thunderbirds and playing a career-high 66 games. He was below his best output season in total points, but he tied his most productive season goal-wise with 10. He played seven games with the Thunderbirds in the postseason before being ousted by the Portland Winter Hawks and posted seven points in seven games.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL	66	10	16	26	56	-1

Adam Cracknell, RW – Kootenay Ice - Selected in the 9th round (279th Overall) in 2004

Cracknell is a big man who can score, but after a breakout season with the Ice that saw Cracknell post career highs all categories except for games played, he approached the postseason a bit more conservatively: six games, five points (1 goal, 4 assists) and -5 rating. His contribution was not enough to keep the Ice from falling four games to two to the Kelowna Rockets. He was recently moved to Calgary's top affiliate, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the AHL, where, after six games, he has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) and a plus/minus of -1.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Kootenay Ice	WHL	72	42	51	93	85	29

Matt Schneider, C – Tri-City Americans - Selected in the 7th round (200th Overall) in 2004

Being 6'6 represents tremendous potential. Being 6'6 and 185lbs represents a tremendous amount of unused space. Lanky forward Matt Schneider really needs to pack on some pounds, and fill out that long frame of his. If he can do this, he could be a decent acquisition for the Flames, but considering he is almost 21, and the fact that he has yet to do it, it may be difficult for him to gain the necessary weight.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Tri-City Americans	WHL	58	25	13	38	46	-8

J.D. Watt, RW – Vancouver Giants - Selected in the 4th round (111th Overall) in 2005

Watt is regarded as a grinding, pesky type of player who likes to get in your face. The 6'1, 201lbs winger, has modestly improved his statistics this year over his draft year. He notched two more goals, 22 more assists and has a plus/minus differential of +24 -- all in eight fewer games. This overall increase of 24 points, and the tightening up of his defensive game bodes well for him. Nine games into the postseason he has two assists and a rating of +2 with a team-leading 28 minutes worth of penalties.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Vancouver Giants	WHL	58	8	29	37	199	8

Fred Wikner, RW – Prince George Cougars - Selected in the 6th round (182nd Overall) in 2004

In his first season with the Cougars, the 20-year-old rookie Swede was tied for eighth in Cougar scoring with fellow rookie Dana Tyrell. With this in mind, Wikner is not regarded as offensively talented, and is therefore not expected to contribute in this manner. His role will be that of a forechecker, and agitator. He is sometimes inclined to play a bit dirty, and it's for this reason he gets under an opponent's skin. He is also a good skater who played two seasons with Frolunda of the Swedish junior League. He only managed one game in the Cougars' unsuccessful postseason.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Prince George Cougars	WHL	56	10	8	18	32	-9

Myles Rumsey, D – Swift Current Broncos - Selected in the 7th round (221st Overall) in 2005

In four playoff games, Rumsey had a team leading -5 (actually, tied with three others). He was held without a point, and he chalked up a mere six minutes in penalties. Uninspired play left his team handily expelled from the playoffs by the superior play of the Medicine Hat Tigers. It's easy to see Calgary added Rumsey simply for defensive depth.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Swift Current Broncos	WHL	67	0	12	12	116	-21

Ontario Hockey League

Ryan Donally, LW – Sudbury Wolves - Selected in the 3rd round (97th Overall) in 2003

In 259 career OHL games, the 6'5, 226 lbs left winger has posted 79 points (33 goals, 46 assists). It would seem that he has the size, but not the other tools. The trade to the Sudbury Wolves didn't seem to do much to awaken the sleeping giant, and, unfortunately, he no longer seems like a viable prospect.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Sudbury Wolves	OHL	39	5	5	10	76	-2
Kitchener Rangers	OHL	8	0	0	0	29	-1

Kevin Lalande, G – Belleville Bulls - Selected in the 5th round (128th Overall) in 2005

With Matt Keetley, the Flames grabbed the Western Hockey League leader in wins. With Kevin Lalande, they drafted the goalie with the third-best save percentage in the OHL. In the 2005-06 All-Star Classic, Lalande split goaltending duties with Columbus prospect Dan LaCosta. He faced 17 shots and made 16 saves. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury Feb. 24 in a game versus the Guelph Storm, Lalande was nominated for OHL goaltender of the year. In the end he finished third in voting behind Buffalo prospect Adam Dennis and Atlanta prospect Dan Turple.

Team	League	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	GAA	PCT
Belleville Bulls	OHL	50	24	17	3	2	3.08	.916

Matt Pelech, D– London Knights - Selected in the 1st round (26th Overall) in 2005

Another gigantic defenseman drafted by the Flames (the other being Gord Baldwin), Pelech is a fluid skater who is not considered an offensive type defenseman. He would rather make the safe play by putting the puck off the boards to relieve pressure than risk it with a cross-ice pass, and he forces the play at the blue line. He has a good shot, and rarely makes defensive mistakes. In 10 games with the high-flying London Knights, Pelech is second on the team with 26 minutes in penalties and +3.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
London Knights	OHL	34	1	7	8	80	3
Sarnia Sting	OHL	18	0	2	2	59	-10

Daniel Ryder, C – Peterborough Petes - Selected in the 3rd round (74th Overall) in 2005

Ryder could very well have a bright future. He sees the ice very well, is an elusive skater and has no problem taking a hit to make the play. He patiently allows plays to develop before acting, and quite often can make tape to tape passes through crowds.

He played three fewer games this season than he did last, but managed to post similar numbers. His plus/minus slipped somewhat, but he seems to be making up for any defensive lapses in the regular season with fine, solid play in the post season. He has +7 and 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 10 games.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Peterborough Petes	OHL	65	38	44	82	57	7

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