Calgary Flames Mid-Season Status Report: Part 2 (#11-1)

Welcome to Part 2 of the Flames Top 25 Under 25 Mid-Season Status Report. Here we’ll be going through #11-1 from last summer. If you’d like to read what we wrote at the time on those players, click here. If you’d like to read Part 1 that we did earlier in the week, click here.

#11: LW Andrew Mangiapane, Stockton Heat (AHL)

Age: 22

Drafted: 2015 6th Round (#166)

NHL: 13 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, 2 PIM, -4, AHL: 15 GP, 9 G, 8 A, 17 Pts, 20 PIM, -5

Mangiapane has had a few decent looks in Calgary, however most of his playing time has come on the fourth line with limited action each game. He has more of a skillset to make an impact further up the lineup, but may not get a good chance in Calgary due to the current forward depth. He could be one of the Flames deadline trade chips.

#10: D Brett Kulak

TRADED!

#9: D Juuso Valimaki, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 20

Drafted: 2017 1st Round (#16)

NHL: 22 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts, 12 PIM, -3, AHL: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, 4 PIM, -1

Valimaki made the Flames out of camp and made some progression with his game on an all-rookie pairing with Rasmus Andersson. He suffered a high ankle sprain with Arizona and missed the last few months. Valimaki is finally healthy again and getting back into game shape with the Stockton Heat. Whether or not he spends a long time in Stockton remains to be seen.

#8: LW Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 22

Drafted: 2014 1st Round (#4)

49 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 19 Pts, 72 PIM, +/- 0

After starting to get more physical in 2017-18, Bennett has really carved out a role for himself as a strong power forward in the middle six. While he may not reach the offensive potential many had hoped for, he’s filling a role that the Flames desperately needed filled in the past, and his offence is starting to come as well. A good year thus far for Sam.

#7: D Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 22

Drafted: 2015 2nd Round (#53)

48 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 Pts, 18 PIM, +7

During his first full season in the NHL, Andersson has been a very steady defender playing alongside fellow rookies Juuso Valimaki and Oliver Kylington. He’s shown a lot of potential at the offensive end of the ice and has been stout defensively. I often say if you aren’t noticing your third pairing, it’s probably a good thing. He’s been tremendously steady all year, save for a few teaching moments.

#6: C Mark Jankowski, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 24

Drafted: 2012 1st Round (#21)

48 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 Pts, 8 PIM, +6

When Jay Feaster said that Mark Jankowski was going to be the best player in his draft class, he just left out the word shorthanded. Jankowski’s scoring output when shorthanded this year has been ridiculous as he has 4 shorthanded goals (T-1st) and 7 shorthanded points (1st). If he can continue improving his 5v5 play, he could form a really strong third line with Sam Bennett and James Neal.

#5: RW Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 24

Drafted: 2013 1st Round (#5) by CAR, acquired via trade on June 23 2018

51 GP, 21 G, 37 A, 58 Pts, 16 PIM, +26

It’s safe to say that many Flames fans questioned the trade but Lindholm has done nothing but impress since coming to Calgary. He’s been the perfect fit on the top line with Gaudreau and Monahan, and has been a great addition to the PP and PK units as well. At the time, the trade seemed questionable, but the Flames finally found their 1RW, and are reaping the rewards. Lindholm has already surpassed his career high by 13 points.

#4: D Noah Hanifin, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 22

Drafted: 2015 1st Round (#5) by CAR, acquired via trade on June 23 2018

51 GP, 4 G, 21 A, 25 Pts, 10 PIM, +10

Just like with Lindholm, Noah Hanifin has been a great addition to the Flames team and has been a big part of Travis Hamonic’s bounceback year in my opinion. They’ve formed a really strong second unit for the Flames that has been reliable on a nightly basis. While Hanifin may not get the fanfare that Lindholm gets, he’s also well on his way to crushing his career high of 32 points set last year. He also has six more points than Dougie Hamilton this year, calming fears that the Flames D lost their scoring touch in the trade.

#3: LW Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 21

Drafted: 2016 1st Round (#6)

51 GP, 24 G, 33 A, 57 Pts, 45 PIM, +12

There aren’t really words to describe how well Matthew Tkachuk has been playing this year. He’s kind of been overshadowed by the other Flames skaters with 50+ points, if its possible to overshadow a guy like Tkachuk. He’s been able to stay close to the top line players despite playing on the second line, and has also excelled in the defensive zone with Mikael Backlund again. Chucky gonna get paid!

#2: C Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 24

Drafted: 2013 1st Round (#6)

51 GP, 27 G, 34 A, 61 Pts, 10 PIM, +11

Here’s a list of centremen with more goals than Sean Monahan this year: John Tavares, Brayden Point, Connor McDavid. Here’s a list of some of the guys with less goals than him: Steven Stamkos, Mark Scheifele, Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, and Tyler Seguin to name a few. Monahan’s fantastic play continues to fly under the radar but that might just be how he likes it. He’s on pace to shatter his career highs of 31 goals and 64 points, both set last year. He’s on pace for 43 goals this year, ridiculous.

#1: LW Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames (NHL)

Age: 25

Drafted: 2011 4th Round (#104)

51 GP, 29 G, 44 A, 73 Pts, 16 PIM, +20

Simply amazing. Johnny Hockey has found yet another new gear in 2018-19, currently sitting tied for 3rd in the scoring race. As good as he’s been in past years, Gaudreau has been absolutely taking over games this year at a different level. He’s one of the leagues top superstars, and looks to break 100 points for the first time in his career this year. He also is one of the leading candidates for the Hart Trophy.

But he’s too small right??

by Michael MacGillivray