Flames learning plan: No rookie left behind
Their time on the ice wouldn’t amount to a full American Hockey League season between them, but rookie Quad-City Flames defensemen Gord Baldwin and Brad Cole have not felt lost in the shuffle.
“It’s your first year as a pro, right?” Cole said. “So you are just trying to get used to the situations you have been put into. It’s kind of what you make of it.”
If playing is learning, Cole, a 21-year-old native of Miniota, Manitoba, and Baldwin, a freshly turned 20-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, have learned less than a trio of fellow Flames rookies — defenseman Matt Pelech, forward Brett Sutter and goaltender Matt Keetley.
Pelech and Sutter have seen regular action, and Keetley got a one-month taste of life in the NHL.
As a first-round draft choice, Pelech has incrementally been exposed to the fire, seeing action in 68 of the Flames’ 70 games.
The Flames, though, have had the luxury of bringing Baldwin, a third-round draft
choice, and Cole, a free-agent, along more slowly, something Q-C assistant Scott Allen said is often the smartest approach with young blueliners.
“My personal opinion is it is tougher for a defenseman to play (right away) when he turns pro and the biggest reason is because his mistakes are magnified,’’ Allen said. “A lot of times, when a defenseman makes a mistake there are just one or two guys to bail him out — his defensive partner and the goalie.
“Mistakes get magnified and it is a lot more difficult with the speed of the game at this level, with the strength of the players, knowing who is on for the opposition, understanding how to manage your ice and how to play in certain areas.
“The other thing is, every individual is different,’’ he added. “We don’t like to put guys in situations they aren’t ready for. If you give them too much too soon, you set them up to fail.”
The approach with Baldwin and Cole was to keep them in the Quad-Cities for the first half of the season, spotting them occasionally into games, but mostly introducing them to the pro game’s demands through practices.
Each then spent about a month with the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers, employing what they learned in game situations.
“I learned a lot practicing here and going to Vegas gave me an opportunity to use what I learned,” said Baldwin, who played in 12 ECHL games before a recent recall to the Quad-Cities. “It was good to play. It wasn’t where I wanted to be but I think it helped me out a lot.’’
Cole played in 19 ECHL games dishing four assists. He was called back to the AHL last week.
“I think that being able to test the waters in both places was good,” Cole said. “Going to Vegas and playing was great because you are playing in all situations, playing 20 to 25-minutes a night on the power play and the penalty kill.
“Then you come back up here and the practices are crisper, guys are faster and it is more intense.’’
Baldwin has been getting recent game action, chipping in a pair of assists while playing six straight games while veteran Brett Palin coalesced.
He knows there are strides to be made and both players are looking forward to playing more substantial roles next season.
“It will be great,’’ said Cole. “Your first year, you get your feet wet and kind of learn the ropes a little bit. That second year is going to be very important and is something I am really looking forward to.’’
Allen suggests both players start getting ready for Year 2 shortly after their rookie seasons end.
“It is going to depend on them and their the offseason they have,’’ he said of their playing time next season. “On their commitment to training and their understanding of how good this league is and what it takes to play here on an everyday basis.”
Cole and Baldwin think they understand.
“The exposure has been awesome,’’ Cole said of his taste of pro life. “You learn a lot you’re first year, that’s for sure.”
Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com.