CENTER
Built
Up the Middle
D'Arcy McGrath
August
24th, 2003
For the first time since Joel Otto packed
his bags for the city of
the Brotherly Love, it
appears the Calgary
Flames have a center ice
core that makes sense.
They
have size ... all four
centers stand 6'0"
or greater.
Speed
... all four centers
have above average speed
And
most importantly they
have four guys that seem
to be built to fulfill the roles asked of them.
Steve
Reinprecht and Craig
Conroy have the skill
sets to put some numbers
up on the board, while
Stephane Yelle has the
coach in his corner as
the club's go to
defensive presence.
Rookie Blair Betts will
likely complete the quartette
with decent size, and an
ability to chip in
offensively as well.
The
club has some homes on
the wings, holes that
may see a repeat of a
club that has trouble
scoring on a game in
game out basis, but it
won't be for lack of
skill down the pipe.
The
real question comes down the
wingers, as beyond Jarome
Iginla, there just isn't a sure
thing for goal production in
Cowtown.
If
one or both of Oleg Saprykin or
Chuck Kobasew are able to step
up then both Conroy and
Reinprecht will have someone to
work with. If not, then one
pivot will have Iginla and the
other will be left to create
offence on his own - no easy
task.
The Big Club
Craig Conroy –
The likeable and
talkative Calgary
captain was able to
prove within a
reasonable doubt that
his first season in
Calgary wasn't a fluke,
as he scored close to 60
points despite Iginla's
injury woes. Conroy
continues to carry the
coat tail label of
sponging off his all
star winger's abilities,
a notion that is
somewhat unfair given
the fact that most good
players line up with
good players. Conroy's
contract situation
should be interesting to
monitor as February
turns into March. Prediction –
26 goals
Steve
Reinprecht –
The Steve Reinprecht
experiment should look
an awful like the Chris
Drury experiment of last
season. Reinprecht, so
the story goes, being
unleashed with ample ice
time in Calgary will out
strip his production in Colorado
where he was buried on a
star studded roster.
Well it didn't pan out
for Drury, but it could
for Reinprecht. Here's
hoping. Prediction –
23 goals
Stephane
Yelle – While
coach and general
manager Darryl Sutter
isn't noted for playing
favourites, it's pretty
clear that there's a
warm place in his heart
for center Stephane
Yelle. Yelle is Mr.
Everything for the
Flames, as he's asked to
carry the penalty
killing brigade, shut
donwn the opposition's
most lethal center and
chip in once and a while
on offence. Yelle should
be a benefactor of the
trickle down effect of a
rebuilt Calgary roster,
yielding the Frenchman a
more potent presence on
the left side. Prediction – 13 goals
Blair Betts – It's time. Blair Betts has had
many a battle to fight
on his way to the
National Hockey League,
specifically ill timed
injury after ill timed
injury. Even a dust up
in camp won't lose him
his job this season
however, pencil him in
on opening night. Betts
is an exciting addition
to the Flames as the
player has size, speed
and decent hands, three
variables very foreign
to the club's fourth line
in past years. Prediction – 7 goals
Predicted Big Club Goal Output – 69
goals
On the Farm
Should injuries fall one of
the club's top four
centermen, look for
Matthew Lombardi to make
the jump to the big
leagues a little earlier
than expected.
The
talented former Oiler
draft choice had a great
rookie campaign in the
American Hockey League,
suggesting his learning
curve is progressing a
little more quickly than
anticipated. He should
see some time in
Calgary, even if on the
wing.
Depth Chart
- Craig Conroy
- Steve Reinprecht
- Stephane Yelle
- Blair Betts
- Matthew Lombardi
Organizational Ranking – B
The group lacks the top
end, clear cut, number
one NHL center, but as a
foursome they do boast a
pretty solid 2A, 2B, 3
and 4th line option. The
group seems to be a good
mix and should give
Sutter the ability to
roll four lines more
often this season. The
center ice position is a
huge variable in today's
NHL as the group tends
to drive the transition
game from defence to
offence on the rush. The
Flames seem to have
taken some good strides
in making sure this key
area is a strength and
not a weakness.
