8. Morgan Klimchuk, LW
Stats: 62 gp, 19 g, 21 a, 40 p. 3 PPG (8 A), 1 SHG (1 A), 4 GWG, 4 ENG, 123 SOG, .65 pts/g. Stockton Heat, AHL
The best thing that can be said about Klimchuk is that he was tied for 100th in AHL scoring, and was at about a .65 point-per-game pace. But as a 23-year-old, long past his rookie AHL season, and with a background as a former first-round pick, it feels like Klimchuk is destined to not live up to that potential.
The only difference between Klimchuk and the prospects below him on this list (Joly and Ruzicka) is that Klimchuk was playing at the professional level and is likely more NHL ready than the two in the juniors.
He can still play on both special teams units, can score at the right time, and can generate shots. But he doesn’t do it well enough (below two shots per game) and four of his goals were on an empty net.
Klimchuk has only played one NHL game in five possible years and didn’t make much of an impact, playing just 7:25. If he was going to be a permanent member of the Calgary Flames, he likely would have played more. His ceiling will always be somewhat high because teams believed he was first-round pick worthy, but, again, it just seems like he’s never going to be there.