Prospect Pulse: Kris Chucko

In an effort to appease Flames fans that appear in my circle of friends, I have chosen the one Calgary prospect whom I have seen play. Having seen Chucko play both with the University of Minnesota and with the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the AHL, I feel confident in saying that he doesn’t appear to be an offensive juggernaut.

He is not, however, without skills. Chucko possesses a large frame and good skating ability that he is able to translate his talents into room for his linemates. He is also adept at cycling the puck and is a hard worker on the boards. The trouble is he lacks finish, despite his personal skill with the puck. He posted respectable totals (14-14-28) in his first year of pro hockey and established his physical game at the AHL level. Chucko even exhibited a willingness to drop the gloves and handled himself quite well against older players.

Chucko’s future in the NHL would seem to be as a 3rd or 4th line energy player who can chip in from time to time. His style of play seems ideally suited for the current edition of the Calgary Flames. In order to establish himself at the NHL level, he will have to improve both the strength and accuracy of his shot and cut down on the dumb penalties he takes. If he can do that without sacrificing the physical element to his game, he will be a fan favorite in Calgary.