Quad City Flames

The Rochester Americans won their first game of the season tonight against the Quad City Flames in a 5-4 victory.  Although the game really came down to the bitter end, the players put in 110% effort all night and their hard work finally payed off.

I have been at a lot of practices already this year and as you have read in my articles, I think the coaching staff is doing a far superior job than the last few years.  And I think Benoit’s “no screwing around” attitude has really given this team the need to work exceptionally hard for him.  But, I digress…

The first period of the game, the players came out to play on both sides of the ice.  Back and forth the puck went all period.  No quality shots were taken by either team and the period ended 0-0.  The Amerks were showing that they weren’t going to be taking the game lightly though.  They were immediately giving out hard hits on the boards to anyone, no matter what the size of the player.

The Flames got on the board first in the second period.  The Amerks wouldn’t stand for that for long though.  Shawn Matthias finally got his first goal he has been searching for.  I’m glad he got it because he has been working so hard for it and seemed to be getting down on himself about not having a point yet.  Only 20 seconds later, Drew Larman scored his first goal of the season.

The Flames couldn’t let the period end with the Amerks leading, David Van der Gulik scored his first goal of the season, tying the game up 2-2 going into the third period.

For nearly half of the third period the score remained 2-2 until Mike Duco scored his first professional goal at 8:44.  The FLames tied it up again pretty quickly making the score 3-3.  That was the last time they would have a glimpse at the lead again.

McArdle scored his first goal of the season at 12:46 with assists from Larman and Glass.  That line seems to be working very well together (combining for 2 goals and 4 assists tonight) and I hope they get to stay together to keep improving and show people what they are made of.

At 16:17 of the third period, Matt Pelech cross-checked Jacob Micflikier behind the Amerks’ net.  David Brine was not happy that his smaller teammate was layed out like that.  He immediately went after Pelech even though Brine is two inches shorter and weighs a lot less.  Brine may have gotten clobbered, but it is nice to see that this team really cares about each other and is willing to fight no matter who they are to protect their linemates.

Pelech was sent to the box for 2 minutes for cross-checking and both he and Brine were done for the rest of the game with their 5 minute majors for fighting.  During the last powerplay for the Amerks, Karl Stewart got his second goal of the season making the game 5-3.

There was a little bit of nail-biting that took place before the end of the game when the Flames pulled their goalie and scored with only a little over a minute left to play in the game making it 5-4.  But, the Amerks held them off for the rest of the game and were extreemly pleased with their win.  And who wasn’t?

Although the crowd wasn’t as big as I would have liked to have seen, when the buzzer went off at the end of the game, you would have thought the Amerks just won a game 7.  It was nice to hear fans happy and my voice is going to be gone for a few days I’m sure.

Chris Beckford-Tseu was in goal for the Amerks tonight.  And while people might think giving up 4 goals was a bad game for him we all need to remember that the Flames had 40 shots while the Amerks only took 24.  So, his save percentage wasn’t as bad as I’m sure everyone is worrying about.

If the Amerks’ defense can hold the opposing team to less shots, the score will go down.  And hopefully wirh lines starting to gel together well, we will continue to score more goals.  And when Meyer gets back in the game, I think that first line is only going to improve.

Improvements?  The penalty kill.  The Flames were 0 for 5 on their powerplay attempts.  And the plays being run be the PK lines were identical to the ones being run in practice on Thursday.  So, all of us fans owe Benoit a big thanks for stopping the not so hot looking special teams.

Or leave the first line Repik - Sprukts - Matthias since they seem to be playing well together and put Meyer as he head of the second line.  Spread out the wealth.

I am really hoping to be able to make it to the Syracuse game tomorrow.  I want to see Emmerson in the game fighting Mirasty (or anyone for that matter).  I want to see what he is made of and I’m sure everyone else agrees.  He did warm up witht he team tonight before the game, but when there wasn’t anyone there to fight him on the Flames, he was quickly scratched in lue of someone who has a better chance of scoring a goal.

Remember to listen to the game tomorrow.  The Amerks are traveling to Syracuse for their second of three games this weekend.  The game starts at 7:30pm.  You can also watch the game on AHL live for a small fee.

The Amerks returned to practice this morning after a trip to Winnepeg over the weekend where they lost two games against the Manitoba Moose.

Tanner Glass and Jason Garrison have been the two best players this season, it’s noticeable in practice as well.  Any time you see a great play it’s one of them.

Amerks Owner Curt Styres was watching practice as well and I spoke with him for a few minutes regarding the team.  One of the things he asked was what I thought it would take to fill Blue Cross Arena.  My reply was simple, a winning team that is also tough.

Styres seems to like players that aren’t necessarily on the ice just to drop the gloves, but can play and hit and will also give others a sense of security.  He wants players to be able to take that extra stride into the corner where the opposing player following may think twice about what they do knowing who is on the bench watching.

One thing that Styres suggested to Gage was to have the team practice without shooting the puck.  You do have to wonder what good it really does when shots are always going into your own goals chest or pads.

I sense from talking to Styres that he knows something needs to be done.  It also seems as if they are being cautious about not just signing a random player to a PTO and hoping it works out, but trying to get someone that will make the impact needed.  Janis Sprukts and Rory Fitzpatrick havn’t sold as many tickets as probably hoped.  Which also comes back to winning.

We can’t report much else player wise.  They typically do everything they’re supposed to during practices and they look good doing it.  They skate hard.  They handle the puck well.  They have fancy stick work getting around defenders.  But as we’ve noticed, playing against an opposing team is a whole different story.

We can say that Shawn Matthias looks great.  But, what good does that do if it doesn’t win a game?  It’s also not fair to keep singling him out, there’s a lot more players on the ice in the same situation.

Karl Stewart was not practicing.  As we reported last night in our injury update, Stefan Meyer, Jordan Henry, and Rory Fitzpatrick were all off of the ice as well.  Ellerby was participating in all of the drills.

It doesn’t appear that Fitzpatrick suffered a concussion on Saturday night.

Senior VP of Operations Jody Gage was also watching alongside Styres, when I asked if we’ll see any changes Jody only said that they, “are working on some things.”

Something needs to happen, especially after looking at these stats (looked up and posted by LetsAddMoreBanners on Rochester Sports Fan):

Power Play: 7.7% (Ranked 25th out of 29, Amazingly there are 4 teams that are worse, didn’t think that was possible)

Penalty Kill: 74.1% (Ranked 28th out of 29)

Both our Goalies are 34th and 35th out of 45 registered Goalies in statistics this season.

Our leading scorer (Jason Garrison, 3 Points) sits as 124th on the League’s scoring list.

Amerks and Panthers fans are both starting to wonder about Michael Frolik.  The highly coveted rookie has spent more time being a healthy scratch than playing.  We had hoped he would be sent down to the Amerks to get some playing time, but this quote from Panthers coach Peter DeBor in the Miami Herald seems to paint a different picture:

”If we get to the quarter mark of the season and he’s not playing, obviously you start to weigh if this is detrimental to him or not,” DeBoer said. “This early, he’s learning about the NHL; he’s learning what it takes and is on the ice with NHL players every day.”

The Amerks next game is Friday night against the Quad City Flames, we’ll keep you updated throughout the week.

Calgary Flames prospect defenseman Matt Pelech (No.56) works the puck with other members of the development camp's Group "B".

The Calgary Flames 2008-09 training began just a couple of weeks ago with the Prospect Development Camp at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The six day training and assessment camp hosted Flamelings new and old, all eager to prove their worth and earn the best possible placing within the various leagues.

Most will return to their North American junior teams or home to European leagues, or head off to take a roster spot on Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Quad City Flames. A select few may have a chance to crack into an NHL roster spot at some point in the season as a two-way floater, or hope against hope, earn a full time position with the big club. M MacDonald Hall attended the last three days of camp (24, 25, 26 July 2008) and reports the sights and sounds of the season’s first assessment in a short multi-part series.

Part Two reintroduces a few familiar names to the Flames Prospect Camp, and updates fans and analysts alike as to their progress thus far.  Like most prospects, this group's future will rely heavily on "if".  If they can put it all together....

One of Calgary’s more promising youths seems not to have lost his trademark speed and hockey sense over the summer months. Dustin Boyd was wearing his No. 41 sweater at the camp, and while he didn’t seem under particular scrutiny his presence at the prospect development seemed out of place.

The 22 year-old is by now familiar to Flames fans after playing 61 games for the big club over the past two seasons. He is also the only prospect camp attendee listed on the Calgary Flames roster, though he is under two-way contract. This fact, perhaps coupled with his somewhat lacklustre freshman/sophomore season may explain his presence at training. After increasingly impressive junior performances and a 66GP-27G-33A-60PT AHL rookie season, Calgary may have expected more than the seven goals and 12 points he tallied last year (16 NHL points in total including 2006-07). Though these have not been confirmed as the reason for his attendance, it seems the only explanation aside from voluntary enrolment.

Despite his slightly disappointing offensive output, Boyd remains part of Calgary’s future because of his all-around game and potential for growth. He was averaging a respectable number of minutes-per-game last year under head coach Mike Keenan, and was considered to be defensively reliable and an added offensive asset. Speed, agility, and hockey smarts round out the Manitoba product’s skill set. If he can put all his tools to work within the big league setting, Boyd will have a sound chance at an NHL future.

Of all the players attending this year’s Prospect Development Camp, Dustin Boyd is the most likely to make the Calgary squad for any significant amount of time in 2008-09. Like everyone at camp, he had the occasional hiccough in practise, but all-in-all the 6’ - 190lber looked ready to go. Working with Group “A”, Boyd would often be paired with fellow talent Kris Chucko, and the two together showed the offensive flair and work ethic which caused them to be drafted in the first place.

Chucko stood out from the rest in numerous drills with an impressive scoring touch and excellent hand-eye co-ordination. He potted various “good” goals in one-on-one and two-on-one training, and generally worked well with team-mates in add-on scrimmages. Though the Burnaby, BC native has had offensive success in the past, it has not been his greatest strength in recent years. He nabbed 87 points in 53 games in the BCHL just before his 2004 NHL draft, but hasn’t broken the 30 point mark since. His dedication to his on-ice training at camp suggested Chucko is aiming to improve his game.

In one instance, the aggressive 6’2” winger spent a great deal of what seemed to be his own time working on his puck-tipping skills. Standing at the side of the net as another prospect ripped point-shots, Chucko looked calm yet focused as he made contact with a notable amount of rubber. The fact that he was practising with an empty net may make the feat may seem less inspiring, but it was a good challenge and absorbing to watch. Other skaters took turns giving it a try, yet none worked nearly as long or had a fraction of the success rate as the right-handed Chucko.

All said, the commitment to continuing development reflects well on the 22 year-old, and the camp helped to highlight many of his hockey qualities. What wasn’t on display, however, was his trademark style of play: physical. His smooth hands may help his game, but it’s his body that drives him to the net and opponents to the ice. He can power through a lot whether it’s working the corners or shaking a tenacious checker, and he has been known to fight well above his weight category.

Unfortunately, the question of discipline has come up in the past. Unnecessary penalties and poor positioning have cost his team before. Hopefully, rededication to his greater goal will help to centre the potential power forward and help him progress as high as he is capable of going, sooner rather than later.

Two more familiar faces from prospect camps past were defensemen Matt Pelech and John Negrin. Pelech has the potential to be called up to Calgary at some point in the event of injury, and the WHL-bound Negrin is developing so well he could be there soon enough himself.

Known mostly as a sound defensive-defenseman, Matt Pelech had a breakout offensive record in 2006-07 with the OHL Belleville Bulls before returning to form for his rookie AHL season with the QC Flames last year. Though he will probably spend 2008-09 in Quad City developing his professional game further, the 6’5” - 227lbs rearguard possesses a promising skill-set that will serve him well at higher levels - if  he can become more consistent and thoughtful with his in-game decisions. It is plausible that this deficiency was partially responsible for his multiple OHL team trades.

Not always the most noticeable member of Group “B”, the Toronto-born Pelech will need to stand out in his second year of AHL play. When he did step up well in camp, it was his girth and power that really defined his presence on the ice. His size and strength will help him immensely to make an impression on Calgary staff, but he must avoid injury. The season before his draft (2005), Pelech suffered from a broken jaw on two seperate occasions after a pair of fights, resulting in an abbreviated 31-game year for the defenseman. Staying in play is the only way to get ahead in this game, and his increased on-ice discipline should aid in that effort.

Youthful John Negrin, on the other hand, shone brightly amongst the relatively experienced Group “B”. Certainly not known for offensive prowess, Negrin displayed a smooth, all-around style as he manoeuvred his 6’3” - 194lbs frame through the trials. Passing and stick handling were clean and capable and his overall presence was conspicuous.

More impressively, he seemed eager to accept the instruction of development coach Wayne Fleming during point-shot drills (among others) and competently incorporated the advice into his play.

Bound for his final WHL season with the Kootenay Ice next year, Negrin should have a good opportunity to continue his development and solidify his game.

In his short WHL/BCHL career the West Van product has tallied only five regular season goals and four playoff points.  However, last year saw Negrin set personal highs for games-played, assists, points, PIM, and post-season appearances, and with the skill displayed at camp he will look to improve further in 2009. His on-ice discipline seems to be well tuned, as Negrin had the least number of regular-season penalties amongst defensemen at prospect training.

If Calgary’s 2007 3^rd round draft pick exhibited anything in the week’s training, it was potential. Negrin’s superior skating ability, puck control, and size were demonstrated up and down the ice. His overall defensive capabilities are also reputedly well-rounded, and he was placed in many high-pressure situations last year with the Ice. If he can use the upcoming season in Cranbrook to further improve his offensive strength, Negrin may find himself very well positioned for a positive hockey future.

Vital Statistics - Dustin Boyd, Kris Chucko, Matt Pelech, John Negrin

Dustin Boyd (LW/C) ~ 6’0” - 193lbs. Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba - 16 July, 1986. Shoots: Left. 2007-08 Regular Season Stats: Calgary (NHL) GP-48 G-7 A-5 Pts-12 PIM-6 -also-Quad City (AHL) GP-18 G-2 A-7 Pts-9 PIM-4  Best Season: 2005-06 Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) GP-64 G-48 A-42 Pts-90 PIM-34

Kris Chucko (RW) ~ 6’2” - 200lbs. Born: Burnaby, British Columbia - 13 March, 1986. Shoots: Right. 2007-08 Regular Season Stats: Quad City (AHL) GP-80 G-15 A-15 Pts-30 PIM-38  Best Season: 2003-04 Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) GP-53 G-32 A-55 Pts-87 PIM-161

Matt Pelech (RD) ~ 6’5” - 227lbs. Born: Toronto, Ontario - 4 September, 1987. Shoots: Right. 2007-08 Regular Season Stats: Quad City (AHL) GP-77 G-3 A-6 Pts-9 PIM-141 Best Season: 2006-07 Belleville Bulls (OHL) GP-58 G-5 A-30 Pts-35 PIM-171

John Negrin (LD) ~ 6’3” - 194lbs. Born: West Vancouver, British Columbia - 25 March, 1989. Shoots: Left.  2007-08 Regular Season: Kootenay Ice (WHL) GP-71 G-1 A-41 Pts-42 PIM-68  Best Season: 2007-08 Kootenay Ice (WHL) [see previous]

More Flames Prospect News, Coming Up…

Analysis of prospect goaltenders Matt Keetley, Kevin Lalande, Leland Irving, and James Spratt; introductions to freshly drafted Flames prospects including Spitfire RW Greg Nemisz, SoCal C Mitch Wahl, and Swedish D Alexander Deilert; a look at the newly acquired LW Kyle Greentree‘s first Calgary camp; overview and wrap-up of the 2008 Calgary Flames Prospect Development Camp. Plus, a comprehensive listing of on-ice participants at this year’s Calgary Flames Prospect Development Camp.

Also read up on the previous chapter, filled with more Flames prospect news.

Part One: Calgary Flames 2008 Prospect Development Camp - Back to Backlund, Ryder Riding High! focuses in on Mikael Backlund, Daniel Ryder, and a sample of the atmosphere created by a fresh sheet of ice, literally and figuratively. 

For more information on some of the players present at this year’s camp, follow the links to Calgary's 2008 NHL Draft, and stay tuned for further instalments of this series on the Calgary Flames 2008 Prospect Development Camp. To read about the summer changes to Calgary’s roster, check out Calgary Flames Roster News: Old Flames, New Faces - Sutter Shakes It Up

~*The author is endlessly appreciative of the community and fan support from the Calgary Flames organisation.  Thanks for providing the opportunity to share Flames fever with the remotest corners of hockey fandom.*~

M MacDonald Hall is the Bleacher Report Calgary Flames Community Leader, and will be adding to the NHL department over the summer and throughout the 2008-09 season. Future articles include a breakdown of Calgary Flames playoff performance in the 21^st Century, roster changes and information, and Flames-specific trivia. M’s Bleacher Report archive includes an assortment of Flames/NHL articles.

M also writes on various other topics, sport and non-sport related. Enquiries regarding NHL writing or other subjects may be directed to M's Bleacher Report profile or via email.

Prospective Flames Mikael Backlund and Alexander Deilert make time for a game of keep-away after an on-ice training session at the 2008 Prospect Development Camp. 

The Calgary Flames' 2009 training began just a few weeks ago with the Prospect Development Camp at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The six-day training-and-assessment camp hosted Flamelings new and old, all eager to prove their worth and earn the best possible placing within the various leagues.

Most will return to their North American junior teams or home to European leagues, or head off to take a roster spot on Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Quad City Flames. A select few have a chance to crack into an NHL roster spot at some point in the season as a two-way floater, or hope against hope, earn a full time position with the big club. M MacDonald Hall attended the last three days of camp (24, 25, 26 July 2008) and reports the sights and sounds of the season’s first assessment in a short multi-part series.

Part One focuses in on Mikael Backlund, Daniel Ryder, and a sample of the atmosphere created by a fresh sheet of ice, literally and figuratively.

The days were hot but the Pengrowth Saddledome was typically, wonderfully cool. A light sweater and a cup of coffee was the antidote to the unwavering chill that rose from the ice surface, erasing any memory of the heat wave outdoors. The building itself felt like a shell, empty and quiet save for the sounds on the ice.

Thirty hopeful hockey prospects made up the week’s roster: four netminders, eight defensemen, and eighteen forward skaters. Separated into Groups “A” and “B” and wearing red and white sweaters, the players’ energetic nature brought the hollow ‘Dome to life as each sought to make the impression of a lifetime.

Present at various times were Calgary’s top staff, though most of the on-ice work was carried out by the trainers and assistant coaching team. GM Darryl Sutter spent most of his time in the office, but would appear periodically to appraise the different groups and drills. Son Brett was already at camp as a prospect on the ice, and the rest of the Sutter clan spent part of Friday watching the training of Calgary’s youth pool.

Head Coach Mike Keenan and Associate Coach Jim Playfair spent most of their rink time observing closely from the bench as the rest of the cast worked tirelessly on the ice. Development Coach Wayne Fleming was a near-constant on-ice evaluator, observing each group, particularly as Rich Hesketh took them through skating and coordination drills. Assistant Coaches Rich Preston and Rob Cookson were joined by Quad City Assistant Coach Scott Allen in running the offensive/defensive drills and assessing readiness for AHL/NHL play.

Goalie coach David Marcoux and newly assigned Director of Goaltender Development Jamie McLennan were also in regular attendance, putting prospective backstops Matt Keetley, Kevin Lalande, Leland Irving and James Spratt through their paces. (See more about the goalie development training in upcoming articles in this series, second week of September.)

Development training at this stage in the pre-preseason is multifaceted and multipurpose. Coaches and management assess current skill level, discipline and attitude, physical fitness, etc. while gauging potential, coachablity, and rate of development.

They inspect the individuals and the health of the prospect pool as a whole, exploiting the opportunity to put the them through tests in the Calgary Flames style. This may be the only time this year the Calgary coaching staff work directly with most of these lads, and they know the importance of personally getting a feel for a skater’s game.

Evaluation takes place on and off the ice. Combining what they already know of each player with what they observe at camp, staff will gain a better understanding of where and how the prospects may land this season. The organisation consequently develops expectations of players' performances wherever they may be, and will use camp experience to accurately reassess the roster as needed. Calgary’s current prospect team is not exactly threatening to steal NHL spots from the Flames’ main cast right now, but there are a few notables to watch out for in the near future.

Mikael Backlund was the guy to watch out of this year's prospect camp. Acquired by Calgary 24^thoverall in the 2007 Draft, this young Swede has beautifully graceful speed and nice hands. The practices didn't give much of an inkling as to his physical presence, and he'd be likely to need it as a usual on the Flames squad. And there is a chance (though slim) Backlund could be a full-time NHLer as early as this year: GM Darryl Sutter has stated emphatically that if he makes the main team it will be to play regularly, not just a few games here and there.

Backlund‘s situation makes it difficult to say anything otherwise. If he doesn’t find a full-time NHL spot he'll go back to Europe to play, although he is property of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. Backlund decided he would rather not play for Kelowna if he can return to Sweden, and although he would gain invaluable experience in North American hockey by playing the WHL circuit, Flames higher-ups are comfortable with his choice. At 19 years-old, Backlund is too young to play in the minors, so 2008-09 will see the talented youth playing full-time for either Västerås (Sweden) or Calgary's NHL club.

6'2" tall and 181 lbs, Backlund may need another year of development, but his scouting sheet illustrates his impressive potential. Hot wheels, soft hands, and a hefty shot make him a regular scoring threat, though his best skills may be as a playmaker. The ability to thread the puck and stickhandle with agility near the net means the young Swede’s presence on the ice opens up a lot of options for his team. He also possesses a healthy dose of defensive awareness which should help him become a solid two-way player, and raise his chances of positive development at higher levels of competition.

Skating in red sweater No. 60 with Group “B“, the left-handed centre made an impression on local sport media earlier in the week, and his skills showed no sign of giving out as camp drew to a close. The final three days put the players through more skating drills, shot analysis, etc., and Backlund displayed a consistent level of talent throughout. Passes were clean, crisp, and tape-to-tape, and his stick handling was simple yet effective, with just enough flash.

Though Backlund is known for his smooth and speedy skating, there is always room for improvement. As the group participated in a power-skate analysis on the last day of camp, each skater was given critical advice from development specialist Wayne Fleming. Having driven in quickly with surprisingly short strides from the goal line to centre, Backlund was informed that he was guilty of excessive shoulder movement, decreasing the efficiency of his stride. When he repeated the exercise, he had taken the recommendations to heart and improved his fluidity.

Still enjoying himself, Backlund found a few minutes after a final skate to pal around with another Swedish citizen at camp, recently recruited rearguard Alexander Deilert. Playing a short game of keep-away, the European skaters illustrated the sense of camaraderie and fun that exists amongst the discipline and hard work of hockey development camps. More importantly, Backlund consistently displayed an interest in the game and continual learning of its nuances, tools every successful professional requires in this sport.

As with most prospects, however, it is always difficult to tell how they will handle themselves when they play with the best in the big leagues. Junior talents often have to slide back down the totem pole and work a niche out wherever they can depending on how high they climb back up. Regardless of how much or little we see of Mikael Backlund in '08-'09, he is one of the more talented prospects in Calgary’s pool and his progress this year will be important. He could have a shot at playing in the preseason - if he doesn‘t head home to Sweden - where coaches and fans alike may decide for themselves just how much Backlund has to offer the NHL right now. And if not today, there’s always tomorrow.

Dan Ryder has come back to the fold of hockey and seemed to be comfortable in his on-ice homecoming. The 21 year-old centreman, brother of former Canadien/current Bruin star Michael Ryder, returns to the Calgary Flames after a hiatus that had been indefinite until recent months.

Dan, who was drafted by Calgary in 2005, walked away from his position on the AHL roster last season as he reconsidered his future in hockey. This was just months after he wrapped up his OHL career and signed an entry-level NHL contract with Calgary. The organisation received no explanation when he left after only six games, in which he tallied a goal and four assists. Sutter was content to leave the decision in the boy’s own hands, though a suspension from Quad City and comments by the Calgary GM made it clear he would have to earn his place if he chose to return to the team.

It seemed for a while that Ryder would not return to hockey, but reportedly felt that familiar call of the ice. In early July, Sutter announced Daniel’s return to the Flames Development Camp in an interview on Calgary’s sports radio station, The FAN 960. Since then, the city has been abuzz as to the future of this young hockey prospect.

A member of Group “B” with Backlund, Ryder looked to fit right in. On the ice he completed the training exercises with competence, though his best skills were not on particular display in many of the development drills. The 5’11” - 190 lbs Newfoundland centre plays a simple, hard-working game and makes a huge impact working the intangibles of hockey gameplay. Ryder uses his slightly smaller stature to manoeuvre and find open ice, creating opportunities for himself and his team.

He can score, he can pass, and he battles hard for the puck in every encounter. Ryder’s tenacious attitude may be his strongest attribute, and he will need it to fight the sense of indecision which has shadowed his reputation since the unannounced exit last year. Indeed, his greatest pro-sports struggle could be the combat of any negative impressions he may have left regarding his professional commitment. He will need to prepare himself on two fronts: working hard on the ice and being diligent with his future career choices.

As of this time the Calgary Flames seem happy to let bygones be bygones at least in the public eye. Until the final rosters are drawn and the season is underway, we will not know what kind of confidence they truly have in young Dan Ryder.

Vital Statistics - Mikael Backlund and Daniel Ryder

Mikael Backlund (C) ~ 6’2” - 181 lbs  Born: Västerås, Sweden - 17 March, 1989. Shoots: Left. 2007-08 Regular Season Stats: Västerås (Allsvensken) GP-37 G-9 A-4 Pts-13 PIM-24 Västerås (Junior) GP-9 G-7 A-6 Pts-13 PIM-20 Best Season: 2005-06 Västerås (U-20) GP-25 G-15 A-16 Pts-31 PIM-30

Dan Ryder (C) ~ 5’11” - 193 lbs  Born: Bonavista, Newfoundland - 12 January, 1987. Shoots: Right. 2007-08 Regular Season Stats: Quad City Flames (AHL) GP-6 G-1 A-4 Pts-5 PIM-2 Best Season: 2005-06 Peterborough Petes (OHL) GP-65 G-38 A-44 Pts-82 PIM-57

More Flames Prospect News, Coming Up In This Series…

Goaltender analysis; introductions to freshly drafted Flames prospects including Spitfire RW Greg Nemisz, SoCal C Mitch Wahl, and Swedish D Alexander Deilert; a look at the newly acquired LW Kyle Greentree, and camp returnees D John Negrin, RW Kris Chuko, D Matt Pelech, and LW/C Dustin Boyd. Plus, a detailed listing of on-ice participants at this year’s Calgary Flames Prospect Development Camp.

Part Two is already available, discussing Dustin Boyd, Kris Chucko, Matt Pelech and John Negrin.

For more information on some of the players present at this year’s camp, follow the links to Calgary's 2008 NHL Draft, and stay tuned for further instalments of this series on the Calgary Flames 2008 Prospect Development Camp. To read about the summer changes to Calgary’s roster, check out Calgary Flames Roster News: Old Flames, New Faces - Sutter Shakes It Up.

~* The author is endlessly appreciative of the community and fan support from the Calgary Flames organisation.  Thanks for the opportunity to share Flames fever with even the remotest corners of hockey fandom*~

M MacDonald Hall is the Bleacher Report Calgary Flames Community Leader, and will be adding to that department over the summer. Future articles include a breakdown of Calgary Flames playoff performance in the 21^st Century, roster changes and information, and Flames-specific trivia. M’s Bleacher Report archive includes an assortment of Flames/NHL articles.

M also writes on various other topics, sport and non-sport related. Enquiries regarding NHL writing or other subjects may be directed to M's Bleacher Report profile or via email.