February Prospect Check-In

The Flames are garbage. It’s been an uncomfortable truth since the start of the season, but now management has acknowledged this and decided to rebuild and restock. It’s not all that bad, they did get some good pieces this trade deadline. So without further ado…

Make sure you check out January's check-in here

Stockton Heat

The Heat only have 21 games left on their schedule, and have to make every last one of them count in order to make the playoffs. They’re six points out of a playoff spot with at least three less games played than anyone else in the Western Conference. With a few key players – namely, Derek Grant– out with injury, they’ll have to rally to extend their season.

As always, make sure to check out Ed’s constantly great coverage of the team here.

Brief read-up on NHLe is available here. Rob Vollman’s translation factors are here. For the AHL, the factor is 0.48. (X) means recall

Player Spotlight:

Hunter Shinkaruk, upon joining the team, immediately became the leading scorer. That lasted for all of two games before Kenny Agostino took the throne. Shinkaruk's numbers, while including tons of powerplay goals, are nothing to scoff at for now. He could get a look at the end of this dismal season.

Promising:

Concerning:

CHL

OHL translation factor is 0.33, while QMJHL and WHL factors are both 0.27

Player Spotlight:

Well guess what it’s Brett Pollock. The Flames added the Oil Kings‘ top scorer yesterday, and he’s already showing some good potential. He’s not going to be as high scoring as Mangiapane, but he’s going to be solid in the future. I can’t wait for that duo to light some fires in the AHL next season.

Promising

Concerning

NCAA

NCAA translation factors are here. DeBlouw plays in the Big Ten, Harrison in the ECAC, and Jankowski, Gilmour, and Hickey in the Hockey East

• It’s just about playoff time for the NCAA schools, first starting with conference tournaments (just a note, even if they lose in the conference tournament, that does not exclude them from the Final Four). Jankowski and Gilmour’s Providence Friars shared a piece of the Hockey East Championship, while Hickey’s Boston University Terriers sit in fourth. DeBlouw’s MSU Spartans haven’t had their season end just yet, but are fifth in the six-team Big Ten, and are likely outsiders for that tournament. Harrison and Colgate finished 10th in the ECAC. Not looking good on that front.
• Jankowski finished off the season nicely, allowing us to continue the debate about whether or not he is an NHLer. I’m still saying the Flames shouldn’t sign him, mostly based on roster issues. There are already three definite NHL centres ahead of him, and plenty more in the depths of the AHL. Again, why not continue to rack up the second round picks?
• Brandon Hickey has been a massive disappointment this season. Maybe he misses Jack Eichel, maybe he’s just having an off year, maybe he’ll step it back up in the playoffs. Either way, you expected more and got much less.

Europe

Goalies

Prospect of the month

To break the cycle of Barrie Colts and Derek Grant, I'm giving this month's award to Kenny Agostino, who continues to make a push for why he deserves a contract, and maybe an NHL spot, for next year. Sound off in the poll/comments below

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