Post by CalgaryGM on Feb 14, 2009 13:43:13 GMT -5
Flames 2008-09 NCAA Prospect Update
Written by: Roid Rage Chuck
The Calgary Flames currently have seven players in the NCAA this season -- six forwards and one goaltender.
Brad Malone, RW - University of North Dakota
6'2, 207lbs
Acquired: 4th Round, 98th overall, 2007 NsHL Entry Draft
Malone is a big, aggressive power forward at a very strong development program at the University of North Dakota.
In his second season with the Fighting Sioux, he's seen massive progression in his offensive statistics. As one of the younger players on a team that is mostly 21 to 23-year-olds, Malone at 19, has notched two goals, eight assists for 10 points in 27 games. In comparison, he only recorded three points through 34 games last season in his freshman year. He's one of the team leaders in penalty minutes also with 61, and is a respectable +2.
Malone has desirable size, and grit that teams love to have at the NHL level. He'll continue to work on his overall game in the coming years at North Dakota. He's definitely a player to watch coming through the ranks as he may turn out to be a pleasant surprise if he can find more overall offensive consistency.
Chad Rau, C
Colorado College, senior
Acquired: 7th round, 214th overall, 2005 NsHL Entry Draft
Still only 5'11, 180 pounds, Rau has not developed the size or blazing speed that the Flames were looking for when they drafted him as a project at the end of the 2005 draft. Nonetheless, Rau is a gifted goal scorer and is especially dangerous when the game is on the line as his team-leading 11 goals and 28 points can attest. While Rau is the sixth leading scorer in the nation, Rau's Tigers are ranked a disappointing 27th in the country and are fifth in the WCHA after a dismal one-point, home-and-home series against St. Cloud State Jan. 24-25. To make the NHL, Rau needs to develop something in his game that will set him apart from other smallish, talented centers. If not, he's destined for a long and productive minor league career.
Jimmy Hayes, RW
Boston College, freshman
Acquired: 2nd round, 58th overall, 2008 NsHL Entry Draft
After putting his team up 2-0 at the 2009 WJC round-robin Canada-US game, Hayes' taunting of the Canadian bench came back to haunt him. Once leading the game 3-0, the US ran into a determined John Tavares who scored three times, leading the Canadians to a 7-4 victory. After his second goal, Tavares mocked Hayes' earlier gesture to rally his teammates. Hayes finished the tournament with two goals in six games as the US finished fifth.
With a 6'5, 205-pound frame and with Tom Fitzgerald and Keith Tkachuk as second cousins, it would appear Hayes has all the makings of a power forward. Hayes doesn't appear committed to that role just yet as his four penalty minutes in 21 games for Boston College are hardly power forward numbers. Hayes is among BC's top six as a freshman, playing with center Benn Ferriero (PHO). Hayes' modest six goals and 10 points should improve as he fills out and learns to use his body more.
Pierce Norton, RW
Providence College, senior
9th round, 231st overall, 2005 NsHL Entry Draft
Norton needed to build on last season's breakthrough campaign when he scored 14 goals and 24 points in 36 games. The 45th-ranked Friars have struggled, however, and it has affected Norton's production dramatically. After finally proving himself last season, the 6'2, 195-pound winger would need a spectacular finish for the Flames to sign him once his college eligibility expires.
Michael Gergen, F – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Acquired: 2nd round, 55th overall, 2005 NsHL Entry Draft
In his senior year with the UMD Bulldogs, Gergen has still not been able to put it all together for any consistent stretch of time. While he can at times dazzle offensively, it is not with enough regularity to earn a regular spot in the top of the line-up. He plays physically, but occasionally takes bad penalties. If Gergen can manage to find a greater level of consistency in the second half of his senior season, he could be an intriguing prospect for the Flames.
Andrew Glass, LW
Boston University
Acquired: 7th Round, 199th overall, 2005 NsHL Entry Draft
After spending the past two years at Nobles High school in the Boston area, Glass is continuing his hockey career in his hometown at Boston University. The play and energy that Glass has shown thus far is very promising, despite the fact he has played in only nine games. The inability to crack the lineup on a regular basis is due to the number of experienced forwards ahead of him. Glass has only three points, with two goals and one assist.
Standing at 5’11 and weighing only 180 pounds, Glass will have to get stronger in his time in college. His lack of size and strength is evident in games as he gets rubbed off the puck rather easily by larger and more developed players. As Glass continues to grow stronger and gain experience, he will surely continue to grab a more prominent role for the Terriers.
Scott Darling, G
University of Maine, freshman
Acquired: 6th round, 153rd overall, 2007 NsHL Entry Draft
The Black Bears weren’t expected to be much of a threat in the league this year, but Darling’s red-hot start between the pipes changed all of that. Going 8-3-1 after the second week in December, the freshman was sitting as one of the best netminders in the nation. All of a sudden, Maine was looking like a surprise contender. But since returning from Christmas break, the Bears now look like they are headed for the endangered list. They’re 0-5-2 in their last six games and Darling is trying to keep things together. Even though he’s been shelled as of late, he’s still playing great hockey for a team in a funk. To date, he has an 8-7-3 record with a 2.18 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
(this article was written and/or copied from other articles on the internet)
