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As most teams currently have a handful of players competing in the Olympics over the next month, the Calgary Flames are one of few teams who only have one player expected to play.
While both Ladislav Smid and Reto Berra were invited to their respective countries teams, it is likely only Smid who will get much ice time as the Swiss are likely going to lean heavily on Jonas Hiller during the tournament.
That said, it will be interesting to watch the two as the games unfold even though most who read this will be cheering for Canada or the United States. With that in mind, it’s interesting to consider which players might make the 2018 Olympics who are not currently taking part in the Sochi games.
Given that the organization is undergoing a rebuild, most if not many of the players which the team feels will be part of the “future… team are either still in the minors or slowly developing at the NHL level. Players like Sven Baertschi, Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau for instance are all either still finding their games at the NHL, AHL or college levels and could be considered in four years for their respective countries.
To open the debate, who do you think could take part in the 2018 Olympic games which the team currently possess?
In addition to this topic, many fans have been discussing the “core… of this organization and further, who they feel will be part of the team in a few years once the above mentioned players are full time NHLer’s.
While this is obviously quite difficult to forecast given how players develop in much different ways and of course the option for trades, we should be able to discuss who we feel are likely to be part of said core provided everything remains constant.
For me, the players I feel that will be extended and kept around up until the 2018 games are as follows;
Matt Stajan, Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan, Paul Byron, Joe Colborne, Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Kris Russell, Karri Ramo, Tyler Wotherspoon, Patrick Sieloff, Emile Poirier, Morgan Klimchuk, Keegan Kanzig, Mark Jankowski, Johnny Gaudreau.
Those not mentioned I either feel will be traded, not extended, or fall out down the depth chart as the years pass. Conversely, those listed I feel will either be part of the main core for the Calgary Flames or big pieces to the Abbotsford Heat.
There are still at least two or three years where this team should be considered as “rebuilding… and with that comes extra prospects through drafting and trade. With a strong chance for a high draft selection this year and the next, in addition to the team possessing a few vets who are likely on the move, I imagine that the Flames will have a few extra pieces which will also be an integral part of the above list.
What do you think? Are there players who you feel I should have considered among that list, or players who you did not agree with?
Thanks for reading!