Todd Cordell: ESPN ranks Calgary Flames' farm system among NHL's worst

It's OK. The pens are last but we don't mind

going from 9th to 25th should not be looked at as a negative. With your better players graduating from the farm ranks to the pro, it is more a testament to your good drafting, than it is your prospect pool ranking.

It's a actually a ranking of prospect pipeline or depth rather than farm system. The Flames farm system has been very good in recent years but the current depth may be a bit depleted due to players graduating to the NHL.

They traded 2 firsts and 4 second rounders for 2 top 4 defensemen...I don't think their prospect pool is half bad when you consider that

ESPN has hockey coverage?

Bring on the Flames hater trolls

Pronman is an idiot and ESPN hockey coverage is terrible

Bring on the Flames hater trolls

Pronman is an idiot and ESPN hockey coverage is terrible
- TandA4Flames

Yes but he got the Flyers one right

Bring on the Flames hater trolls

Pronman is an idiot and ESPN hockey coverage is terrible
- TandA4Flames

I think you are looking at it from the wrong angle. Unless you are trading away one of your prize prospects, your prospect pool should naturally get worse and worse if your team is still competitive, and it means your drafting and scouting is doing it's job when prospects are eventually making it to the pros.

I think you are looking at it from the wrong angle. Unless you are trading away one of your prize prospects, your prospect pool should naturally get worse and worse if your team is still competitive, and it means your drafting and scouting is doing it's job when prospects are eventually making it to the pros.
- Codes1087

I would say that is a very optimistic way of looking at things. Players can graduate and still result in a deep prospect pool...you just need the draft picks to do it

I think you are looking at it from the wrong angle. Unless you are trading away one of your prize prospects, your prospect pool should naturally get worse and worse if your team is still competitive, and it means your drafting and scouting is doing it's job when prospects are eventually making it to the pros.
- Codes1087

My statement has nothing to do with how I'm looking at it. Pronman is an idiot and ESPN hockey coverage is terrible. My view on our prospects or club improvement doesn't change that.

Yes but he got the Flyers one right
- YuenglingJagr

Where were you guys ranked?

I would say that is a very optimistic way of looking at things. Players can graduate and still result in a deep prospect pool...you just need the draft picks to do it
- YuenglingJagr

there is a reason that the pens were ranked last though.

there is a reason that the pens were ranked last though.
- Codes1087

there are several reasons why they were ranked last

Where were you guys ranked?
- TandA4Flames

first

there are several reasons why they were ranked last
- YuenglingJagr

b/c they can't let pittsburgh win at everything.

b/c they can't let pittsburgh win at everything.
- DeflatedPucks

yes, it was retaliatory

Anyone have espn insider and see if the flames had any prospects in the top 100

Exactly what I was thinking too and what about foo and porier. Porier is sober and feeling better after his alcohol addiction and foo could be in the lineup this season the ahl team isn't bad but to your point it doesn't matter about the rankings if players are jumping straight to the NHL you can have the greatest AHL roster and ours isn't even that bad

I think you are looking at it from the wrong angle. Unless you are trading away one of your prize prospects, your prospect pool should naturally get worse and worse if your team is still competitive, and it means your drafting and scouting is doing it's job when prospects are eventually making it to the pros.
- Codes1087

I think we all expected a drop. But that drastic of a drop probably isn't warranted. People with real knowledge of our prospects should be able to see that it's pretty well stocked. I think I've seen other lists that have us in the top 10 (this one has us ranked 8th)

http://thehockeywriters.c...arm-systems-2017-ranking/

Don't really know they guy, but it seems like he was basing his lists on who has the shiniest high-profile prospects and not on the actual depth. Doesn't really matter though, we're pretty happy with who we have on our roster and in our system right now

I think we all expected a drop. But that drastic of a drop probably isn't warranted. People with real knowledge of our prospects should be able to see that it's pretty well stocked. I think I've seen other lists that have us in the top 10 (this one has us ranked 8th)

http://thehockeywriters.c...arm-systems-2017-ranking/

Don't really know they guy, but it seems like he was basing his lists on who has the shiniest high-profile prospects and not on the actual depth. Doesn't really matter though, we're pretty happy with who we have on our roster and in our system right now
- Saskabush

Pronman's lists have always been controversial. He seems to have his favorite players, and he seems to have players he despises, and his ranking reflect his personal preference. Again, his ranking system is just his own opinion, and nothing else, so take with a grain of salt. Calgary has become super relevant again in the last few years, with a deep team at all positions, its natural to have a slow and steady drop in rankings when your team does consistently well. It is also hard to uphold a quality ranking as far as prospects go when you are in a "win now" mode, and are shipping off prospects/picks for NHL ready/established players. PIT actually only has Daniel Sprong, and their pipeline is bare after that. When you have a back to back cup win, you pain of placing last in pronman's list probably doesn't sting too bad. I wouldn't worry about these rankings anyway, you guys are, in my opinion, one of, if not THE, top team in the western conference.

$8.5M for Drai. Yikes. After 1 good season

$8.5M for Drai. Yikes. After 1 good season
- I miss Kipper

If I was Edmonton it would be all in for the Stanley cup now. Cause a couple years they won't be able to afford decent roster to surround the Muffin Twins!

$8.5M for Drai. Yikes. After 1 good season
- I miss Kipper

Good thing we'll have Benny signed BEFORE his big season !

$8.5M for Drai. Yikes. After 1 good season
- I miss Kipper

Wow!!! 21M tied up in 2 players...