Examining Calgary's youth movement

Let’s be blunt, when you look at Calgary’s farm system and are evaluating the caliber of the players who have yet to break into the NHL, things look a bit thin. 

The caveat to this is that’s because all of their best recent prospect talents have already made it to the NHL.

Also, that’s not saying that they don’t have quality prospects in their system, they absolutely do, they just don’t look like they’re going to be NHL ready this season. Matthew Tkachuk was the latest and most prominent prospect to be a smashing success in the NHL, but that could be a hard act for a rookie Flame to follow this season.

Perhaps the Flames rookie-to-be with the most hype around him now is defenseman Juuso Valimaki. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he moves on the ice like someone much smaller, which is impressive to watch. He’s solid playing defensively, but his stick skills and offensive game could still use a bit of work. Still, the 2017 first-round draft pick has a ton of promise to become another great blueline asset for the Flames.

The prospect defensemen don’t dry up with Valimaki however. Adam Fox blew everyone away playing for Harvard last season both offensively and defensively. Oliver Kylington has amazing offensive upside, but his game needs work defensively.

When it comes to forwards, Calgary’s depth is a little more shallow. Center Dillon Dube scored 20 goals and 35 assists in 40 games in the WHL last season, and his game is solid if not elite. 

Goalie Tyler Parsons is also considered by many to be one of the top goaltending prospects in the NHL system at the moment, but he’ll have a few years to establish his game before Mike Smith is up for contract negotiations. Matthew Phillips’ also had a great year in the WHL, scoring 50 goals and 90 points in 70 games. The biggest knock against Phillips is his size, 5’7 and 141-pounds. That’s fine though, because many diminutive NHLers have made up for size with pure talent.

Center Adam Ruzicka has had problems with consistency of his play, but the 18-year-old power forward has plenty of time to work on that. 

And then there is the newly signed free agent Spencer Foo. Foo has as good of a chance as anyone to make the Flames as a rookie to start the season. The 23-year-old played 38 games in the NCAA for Union College last season, and put up 26 goals and 62 points, along with a plus-29 +/- rating.

While rookie defensemen could have an uphill battle to crack the Flames lineup this season, their forward prospects could find spots in the lineup, but only if they’re actually ready to handle it. 

After last season, Calgary will be looking to keep contenders in their lineup, the rebuild is all but over for the Flames.