Calgary Flames Young Stars Tournament Takes Off in Penticton
We’ll first look at one of the most anticipated players, the Flames 2017 first-round pick, D Juuso Valimaki.
Juuso Valimaki
Defenseman Juuso Valimaki was drafted at the 16th overall pick this past draft by the Calgary Flames. He’s 18 years old and stands 6’2″ tall and is 212 lbs. Last season with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, he had 19 goals and 61 points in 60 games. His 61 points put him at seventh among all defensemen in the WHL, he was eighth among all defencemen in powerplay assists (22), was fourth on the team in points, and second on the team in PPA.
The Flames recently signed Valimaki to a three-year Entry Level Contract. After the World Junior Summer Showcase, Team Finland has also announced that Valimaki will be captain of Team Finland at the World Juniors. That’s quite the impressive resume so far for just being drafted.
Related Story: Valimaki Named Captain of Team Finland at the WJC
Flames’ Torie Peterson put him as one of the five players to watch at the Young Stars Classic.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
The Flames’ 2017 first-round pick has had a remarkable summer thus far. After being selected 16th overall in the NHL draft, he proceeded to turn heads as one of the Flames top propsects at development camp despite being one of the youngest players on the ice. Valimaki then headed off to Michigan for the World Junior Summer Showcase and ended up being named Finland’s captain for the upcoming 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Given how well he has performed against his peers, especially over the past couple of months, he could be one of the top blueliners at this year’s Young Stars Classic.
Valimaki will be on the top unit at the blueline alongside Rasmus Andersson. Speaking of Andersson…
Rasmus Andersson
Defenseman Rasmus Andersson was the Calgary Flames 53rd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Level draft. Standing at 6’0″ tall and 214 lbs tall, Andersson’s been praised by scouts for being strong and winning battles against larger players by outworking them.
Via Elite Prospects:
An offensively active defenceman who works a power dynamic; he is able to win battles against larger opponents through outworking them, and is able to skate with the speediest of smaller opponents. Responsible defensively, but decision making does need some work. All-in-all, an intelligent, hard-working defenceman that is constantly alert in all three zones and willing to do battle with any and all opponents. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)
Calgary Flames
A former downside to Andersson before he was drafted is that he doesn’t have a lot of speed, however, he has been working on that the last few years and going pro last year definitely helped him. In 2015-16, he led all OHL defensemen in points with 60 while he was playing with the Barrie Colts and sporting the “A” on his jersey. He also led all defensemen in assist with 51. He was also 11th among all skaters in assists. During the playoffs, his 15 points in 15 games again led him among all defensemen.
Going pro last year, he joined the Flames farm-team, the Stockton Heat. He had 22 points in 54 games and finally got that pro-experience. He also made his NHL debut late in the season but couldn’t find his name on the scoresheet.
Let’s look at one more defenseman before moving on.
Josh Healey
The Calgary Flames signed NCAA free agent Josh Healey in March to a two-year, two-way deal. He’s not the tallest or the heaviest guy in the world (6’0″, 196 lbs), but he sure knows how to hit. In fact, he hits so hard that NHL scouts have even said that he belongs in Pro because he hits too hard at the college level.
Healey’s been playing with Ohio State University the last four years but reported to the Heat on an ATO when his season ended. This past season with Ohio State and sporting the “A” on his jersey, he had 25 points in 35 games. But racked up 70 PIM.
Flames’ Torie Peterson also put him as one of the five players to watch at the tournament.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
If someone is going to set a physical tone at the Young Stars Classic, it is the Ohio State alumnus. Healey keeps attackers in check with his bone-crunching hits and aggressive style of play, which led him to 212 PIM over a four-year collegiate career with the Buckeyes. In addition to keeping opponents heads on a swivel, he is a strong puck-mover and can quarterback a powerplay. With his two-year entry-level contract kicking in this fall, the 23-year-old will be looking to get his first professional camp with a bang and this tournament is an ideal setting for the rearguard.
Healey will be on the third pairing tonight alongside prospect Cliff Watson.
Right now, Michael Stone is the fifth defenseman for the Flames, but the team may be rotating the defense prospects to all give them a shot at the NHL level. And with Deryk Engelland’s grit now gone, they could use a player like Healey on that last pairing.
Now let’s look at some forwards.
Andrew Eat Bread (Andrew Mangiapane)
Yes, his last name translates to eat bread. Andrew Mangiapane was drafted in the sixth round by the Calgary Flames in 2015. While he’s usually one of the smaller guys on the ice (5’10”, 183 lbs), he’s sharp and makes smart plays. It is somewhat surprising that he didn’t go until the sixth round, and he was also projected at not going until the fourth or fifth round anyways, even though he put up 43 goals and 104 points in 68 games with the Barrie Colts of the OHL the season right before he was drafted.
In the 2015-16 season with the Colts, he put up 51 goals and 106 points in 59 games while also sporting the “A” on his jersey. Mangiapane also had an impressive +40. He had 21 points in 15 playoff games that year. He was also second in goals among all skaters in the OHL and sixth for points.
His scouting reports had good things to say about him too, the only con was his size, but he made up for it with his fearlessness.
Via Elite Prospects:
Mangiapane is one of the most underrated draft prospects in the 2015 draft. He has excellent speed and offensive instincts as can be seen as his 104 points. He is small but fearless and has continued to get better as he has grown as an OHL player. Offensively, he is one of the most talented prospects in the OHL and would be an excellent pick in the 4th or 5th round. (Tyler Parchem, EP 2015)
Mangiapane did go pro last year, playing with the Stockton Heat in the AHL. Of course with bigger players and a faster-paced environment, he wasn’t going to excel as much as he did with the Colts. He had 20 goals and 41 points in 66 games. His fearlessness also showed with him racking up 64 PIM, especially at his size.
Mark Jankowski
Mark Jankowski‘s been a special case. He was the first round pick for the Calgary Flames in 2012, but he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. One of our writers, Ben, wrote about him and his draft year, so I won’t go into too much detail about that.
Related Story: Mark Jankowski and the Worst Draft
Like I said with the video I posted earlier, he’s grown some muscle and gained some confidence. He did get to play in his first NHL game this past season, but remained pointless. Last season in the AHL, he had 56 points in 64 games and has a strong chance of making the Flames lineup this year.
He will be on the first line alongside Mangiapane and Spencer Foo tonight. Speaking of Foo…
Spencer Foo
A couple months ago, the Calgary Flames signed NCAA free agent Spencer Foo. Who was also offered a deal from the Edmonton Oilers, his hometown team, but he chose the Flames instead (*sunglasses emoji*). Last season with Union College, he put up 26 goals and 62 points in 38 games. He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker this past year.
Related Story: NCAA Free Agent Picks Flames over Oilers
Foo thought Calgary would be the better fit over Edmonton.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
First of all, it’s an absolute blessing to be in the position I am. It’s tough comparing teams. I know it’s most kids’ dreams to play for their hometown team, the one they grew up cheering for. That was certainly a consideration with me. All four of the organizations I was talked to at the end were great, great people, top to bottom. That made this really difficult. But in the end, I thought the best fit for me was Calgary.
He’s also excited ahead of this weekend playing in the tournament.
Via Sportsnet:
It’s obviously a big weekend for me. It’ll be the first time I get to put on that jersey and really kind of show why they wanted to sign me. I have high expectations of myself. Obviously the Flames do as well. I have to come out and perform to the best of my abilities and that’s what I’m planning on doing.
Foo was also one of the players Torie Peterson said to watch out for at this weekend’s tournament.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
The highly sought after college free-agent opted to sign with the Flames after a three-year stint at Union and in his first appearance in Calgary silks, he didn’t disappoint. He was one of the top forwards at this summer’s development camp and showed off his skill when he went head-to-head with Parsons in a shootout. Deking out the netminder in tight, Foo’s quick backhand-to-forehand move allowed him to slip the puck around Parsons’ pad and earned a chorus of “Foooooooooooo” chants from the crowd.
I think out of all the forwards, Foo has the highest chance of joining the Flames lineup. He’s coming off a strong season with Union College and he’s a RW. I just hope if he joins, the “Foooooooo” chants will continue.
Dillon Dube
Dillon Dube is also not the biggest guy in the world, but he’s fast and has lots of energy on the ice. He has a very offensive mindset and can deke through defenders. He was drafted in the second round in the 2016 NHL draft. This past year, with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, he had 55 points in 40 games.
He also got a chance with the AHL in the playoffs and played in one game with the Stockton Heat. He was also on the Team Canada roster at the World Juniors where he had three points in three games, but lost to Team USA in the Gold Medal game.
Now let’s look at the last forward for today.
Matthew Phillips
Matthew Phillips wasn’t drafted until the sixth round at the 2016 NHL Draft even though he put up a good amount of points in his junior years. It could be because of his small stature, being at just 5’7″. However, he put up 90 points in 70 games this past season with the Victoria Royals of the WHL.
He was also on Torie Peterson’s list of players to watch.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
Last year, Phillips followed up his time at the Young Stars Classic with his best WHL season to date. The Calgary product scored 50 goals and posted 90 points in 70 regular season games and then headed to Stockton to join the Heat on an amateur try-out after the Victoria Royals were eliminated from the playoffs. What the winger lacks in size – standing at 5-foot-7 and weighing in at 155-lbs. – he makes up for with skill. As his offensive totals show, he has no problem producing given his creativity, puck skills and speed. He will likely take on a big role at the Young Stars tournament thanks to his experience and rapid progression over the past couple of seasons.
He impressed a lot in the World Junior Summer Showcase. And people are even comparing him to Johnny Gaudreau because of his small size and skating abilities. He also impressed NHL scouts. They ranked the top ten players who impressed at the WJSS, and while he didn’t make that top ten list cut, he was still an honorable mention.
Related Story: Flames Prospect Matthew Phillips Shines at WJSS
Let’s look at the last category: goaltenders
We’re going to look at just one goaltender for now.
Tyler Parsons
Tyler Parsons will be between the pipes tonight and is the last player on Torie Peterson’s list of players to watch.
Via Calgaryflames.com:
It appears Parsons is about to make the jump to the pro ranks this fall. The Chesterfield, Mich., native has accomplished just about everything he can at the junior level – an OHL Championship, a Memorial Cup victory, gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship – and will be making a push to earn himself a spot on either the Kansas City Mavericks or Stockton Heat roster for the 2017-18 season. Earlier this summer, Parsons had a tremendous showing at the Flames development camp and was one of the club’s best players during the week-long affair. That experience should serve as an excellent springboard into this weekend’s tournament, which will feature the best players in the Canucks, Oilers and Jets prospect pools.
Parsons was drafted in the second round at the 2016 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames. In the 2015-2016 season, his OHL team, the London Knights, won the Memorial Cup. That season, Parsons also won the award for most outstanding goaltender in the CHL and the team won the Dave Pinkney Trophy, which is awarded to the OHL team with the lowest GAA.
Related Story: Let's Look at Goaltending Prospect Tyler Parsons
The London Knights lost in the finals, but Parsons was still outstanding. He was at the World Juniors this past year and helped Team USA win Gold Medal against Canada. During the tournament, he had five wins with a 0.917 sv%. In the gold medal game, he made 46 saves, including every shot in the shootout, to beat Canada 5-4 in the shootout. He made 17 saves in overtime alone.
He most likely won’t get a chance between the pipes for the Flames this season, but he’ll still most likely play pro with the Stockton Heat.
Next: How many sunglasses can Sam Bennett buy?
And that’s all the players we’re mentioning for now! Make sure to tune in to CalgaryFlames.com where they’ll be showing the game!