Training Camp Battles: The Forwards

Does anyone have an extra roster spot? Anyone at all? No? Well that's a shame because the Flames are currently 17 deep as far as NHL forwards go so.

For arguments sake, and so I am not sitting here till 3am going over every player who many not be here come opening day, let’s just assume that:

Johnny Gaudreau            Sean Monahan                 Jiri Hudler

Michael Ferland              Sam Bennett                    Michael Frolik

Lance Bouma                  Mikael Backlund             Joe Colborne

Josh Jooris                       Matt Stajan                      David Jones

Are the top 12 forwards with Brandon Bollig being one of the extra’s. In my opinion those 13 players have a better chance of being on the opening night roster than not being on it so we will exclude them from this brake down 

That leaves the Flames with 1 forward spot open, baring injuries, and 5 guys left battling for it.

Those 5 guys are Garnet Hathaway, Paul Byron, Mason Raymond, Markus Granlund, and Drew Shore.

Let's get Garnet Hathaway out of the way first as I think he is the easiest to dissect. Hathaway signed with the Adirondack Flames after finishing his collegiate career in 2013-2014, and impressed Flames brass enough last season to earn himself an NHL contract. Picked by many to be this year’s “Josh Jooris”, the energy forward wears his heart on his sleeve, giving 100% every shift, and doing whatever it takes to win.

Guys like Hathaway are going to be very important to the Flames success in the future, but he doesn't look ready quite yet. He is also waiver exempt so it will be easy for the Flames to stash him away in the AHL.

My guess as to why he is getting an extended look at camp is that the coaches probably want to give him a little extra work, but also want to reward Hathaway for the hard work and continued progression over the last calendar year. Hathaway may not make the opening night roster but once injuries crop up his strong training camp will probably make him one of the first call-ups.

Paul Byron is fast. Like, really fast. He’s so fast he just forced me to go valley girl on your ass. The diminutive forward is a quick thinking two-way player who likes to create turnovers defensively then use his speed to turn the puck up the ice and create odd-man rushes. So what is the problem? Well let’s just say he was snake bitten last season, and that’s putting it politely. He also got a late start on training camp as he needed some extra time to rehab his wrist after having wrist surgery in the off-season.

With all that said Paul Byron is a player that Bob Hartley trusts and relies on. Byron isn't the sexiest name on the list, nor is he the most talented player on the roster, but he sets the energy level for the rest of the team. He goes all out on every shift and when the bench see’s 5’7” Paul Byron flying around, using his speed to create chances and surprising the opposition with strong physical play, it's contagious and you can see the play of the team pick up. I suspect he will be on the opening night roster unless he suffers a setback in his injury.

Mason Raymond has become somewhat of a whipping boy for Flames fans over the last year. It’s unfortunate because Raymond is still a decent player. At first glance you’d think that the skills he possesses, very fast, strong two-way play, decent shot, would make him a perfect fit with the Flames. While Raymond hasn't lacked 'try' since donning Flaming C, he hasn't fit in like management thought he would, looking more like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.

The trouble comes in with Raymond’s contract. He has this season and next at 3.125 million and I don’t see too many teams lining up to take on that deal. If he doesn't make the Flames roster, and it doesn't look like he will at this point, he will be exposed to waivers and sent to Stockton. He could very well be a prime buy out candidate next off season. (He would have a cap hit of just over a 1 million for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons if he is bought out next summer.)

Markus Granlund is making it very difficult for the Flames brass to send him down with his play during training camp. The Flames second round pick in 2011 is thought of as the Flames most NHL ready prospect, after Sam Bennett, and can play in all situations. This preseason he has seemed to find his scoring touch as well. 

The young Finn just has 1 thing going against him. Waiver status. Granlund doesn't need to clear waivers to go down to the AHL, so with all the depth in front of him, barring an injury, it seems unlikely that he will be on the Flames roster on opening night. It’s not a bad thing either. Brad Treliving has been preaching since he took over that you can’t over ripen a prospect in the AHL, but you can rush them. Treliving is also a man who likes to have as many options open to him as possible, so look for Granlund to start the year in the AHL and be the first call up when a forward goes down to injury.

The man who throws a wrench into the Flames forward group is Drew Shore. A 2009 second round pick of the Florida Panthers, he was traded to the Flames last season for Corban Knight. He spent some time in the AHL with the Heat before being promoted to the Flames. He only ended up playing 11 regular season games for the Flames and 1 playoff game, and while he didn't exacty light the world on fire he also didn't look out of place. Flames management also seems pretty high on him.

So what’s the problem? The big bodied, right handed centre has to go on waivers if they try to send him to the AHL and he is almost guaranteed to be claimed. He either needs to be on the Flames roster, or he will be shipped out for a mid round pick. Either that or they will lose Shore for nothing, and I have a hard time seeing Flames management doing that. There’s also a possibility that the Flames could swap Shore to another team for a defenseman who is in a similar situation. As I covered yesterday, the Flames have a lot of options with their young defenders and Flames management seems to covet defensive depth.

Out of the blue: The Flames trade David Jones. I'm not saying that because I don’t like Jones. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Jones was acquired from Colorado in the Alex Tanguay trade and, despite a few injuries, he has been a valuable member of the team. He has scored 23 goals and amassed 47 points in 115 games playing a secondary scoring role for the Flames. He brings a physical presence to the small and skilled Flames squad, while possessing the speed and hands to play with them. He is also a right handed shot, which the Flames didn't have a lot of when they acquired him. Plus the man has one of the best smiles in hockey. It’s hard not to like David Jones.

But the Flames have a bunch of younger cheaper options now. Josh Jooris and Drew Shore are both right handed shots who fall under this category. Joe Colborne is also a left handed shot who plays on the right side and is one of a couple Flames players who do this (primarily Jiri Hudler and Michael Frolik). 

Jones is owed 4 million this season, which is definitely a bit of an overpayment, but his contract is up at the end of the season so it isn't impossible to think someone would take it on. It would also allow Calgary to continue to accumulate assets for expiring contracts, even though this isn't a move they would be able to make while in the middle of a play-off race. If the Flames made this move it would open up a roster spot and allow the Flames to keep both Paul Byron and Drew Shore.