Tij Iginla ranked No. 10 overall by Bob McKenzie for 2024 NHL Draft

[Royle9]

Watching Helenius at the under 18’s I’m more firmly in my posistion of he’s good but not great. He lacks a real offensive upside and don’t get me wrong he’s probably the 2nd best 200ft player behind Celebrini but for what Calgary lacks I don’t see a fit at 9.

He hasn’t dominated any game thus far and I’ve watched them all, he’s honestly not very notable at either end of the ice. His skating is good and he’s a big RHS center but his release is pedestrian and his playmaking is alright but nothing flashy like a Catton for example.

I thought he would stand out on a weaker finish team, but I’m not seeing it.
Probably a great Backlund comparable as his ceiling, but certainly lots of improvement required.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

What if the center is helenius? You’ve talked about your hesitancy when it comes to his upside

I would take Iginla for that very reason.

[Erick Estrada]

Backlund looks closer to floor than a ceiling for Helenius and I’m not exactly a guy that’s pining for the Flames to take him.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Celebrini
Demidov
Levshunov
Lindstrom
Buium
Parekh
Dickinson
Catton

Who would you take at that point? I’d want Iginla

In that case I would take Iginla.

[Tbull8]

Is that your top 8 ahead of him then?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Is that your top 8 ahead of him then?

It is. I do have concerns on Lindstrom health issues.

[Savvy27]

Wow what a battle back by Sweden. Iginla was out there at the end of the game defending 6-5. Good sign.

Player of the game!

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Celebrini
Demidov
Levshunov
Lindstrom
Buium
Parekh
Dickinson
Catton

Who would you take at that point? I’d want Iginla

Buium. All day long.
Edit: I can't read.
I would probably take Helenius.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Buium. All day long.
Edit: I can't read.
I would probably take Helenius.

I was saying if those 8 are gone

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Hopefully with the Vegas pick.

I mean I'll take it with any pick but the Vegas one would be extra sweet

Probably too soon for Vegas to have a lottery pick capable of hitting 1st OA. It will most likely have to be the Flames own pick. If it means drafting McKenna then I'm fine with that.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Buium. All day long.
Edit: I can't read.
I would probably take Helenius.

I’m not saying I’m right but I just feel that the upside of a center > winger. Honzek and Helenius is a good start to solidifying the position for the future. They will probably be in position next season to grab another one or impact defenseman so I’m not going to get upset regardless of which they would pick in that scenario.

[Bonded]

I’m still in the anyone in the top 12 but Silayev camp

[Royle9]

When I watch Iginla vs Helenius and compare the two solely on impact I’m taking Iginla 10/10 times. Iginla is constantly involved in the play even without the puck, he’s generating offense on the rush and driving the corners and net hard without the puck hoping to find a weakness in the D.

When I watch Helenius I see a guy who’s positionally sound, but shys from the tougher areas and certainly isn’t generating consistently shift to shift. He’s older, bigger but plays more reserved and it stands out like a sore thumb to me.

Tij reminds me of Tkachuk but with more skill and less “pest” but tough to play against and hard on the puck. He looks much like his dad but more skilled, better shot at this age and he’s still young.

I can’t for the life of me see any scenario where you’d want Helenius over Iginla, outside of the fact that many see Tij as a winger vs Konsta as a center. That certainly isn’t enough for me to choose him over Tij at this point, I want impact and I want offensive threat at #9 and there’s just more available wether it’s Iginla or an impact D for me at this point.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by butterfly

It means that earning 20 nickels is as hard as earning 1 dollar. If I earn one nickel 20x as often as you earn one dollar, we are producing at the same rate.

A stick check, a block, a defensive rotation, a clear, forcing an offside - for someone who plays well, these things happen at a far more frequent rate as the end-to-end rushes that show up on TV ad nauseum at the end of the night.

Except one person isn't doing all 20 and 20 aren't required against each one.

Let it go. You're wrong.

[Tibnadian_tpd]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Watching Helenius at the under 18’s I’m more firmly in my posistion of he’s good but not great. He lacks a real offensive upside and don’t get me wrong he’s probably the 2nd best 200ft player behind Celebrini but for what Calgary lacks I don’t see a fit at 9.

He hasn’t dominated any game thus far and I’ve watched them all, he’s honestly not very notable at either end of the ice. His skating is good and he’s a big RHS center but his release is pedestrian and his playmaking is alright but nothing flashy like a Catton for example.

I thought he would stand out on a weaker finish team, but I’m not seeing it.
Probably a great Backlund comparable as his ceiling, but certainly lots of improvement required.

Yes, he definitely looks good but not great. I agree with you that he lacks real offensive upside, strikes me as a 40-60 point player at max, not talented enough to become an 80 point player. Seems like a Teuvo Teravainen level talent. Definitely can't go wrong with a player like that, will likely have a nice career as a reliable two way player, but gosh I'm just really in the camp of needing to try for a home run offensive pick this year. We need someone that can really be the straw that stirs the drink on the offensive side. Hopefully we can somehow land Catton beyond the top guys (would likely have to move up a few spots).

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I’m still in the anyone in the top 12 but Silayev camp

Add Lindstrom to that as well.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Add Lindstrom to that as well.

Injuries?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Injuries?

Yup. Can’t waste a pick on someone with back issues.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yup. Can’t waste a pick on someone with back issues.

This one is tough. Up until this year this has not been an issue. It's tough because we don't have the medical reports the teams will see. If the prognosis is it won't be a long term issue or just a one off thing I absolutely take him if he is still there at 9 but if that is the case he won't be anyhow. That size with that skill, if injuries are not a concern he won't get by Montreal imo. If there is uncertainty there I am not sure you gamble at 9 with other good players on board.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

This one is tough. Up until this year this has not been an issue. It's tough because we don't have the medical reports the teams will see. If the prognosis is it won't be a long term issue or just a one off thing I absolutely take him if he is still there at 9 but if that is the case he won't be anyhow. That size with that skill, if injuries are not a concern he won't get by Montreal imo. If there is uncertainty there I am not sure you gamble at 9 with other good players on board.

Again you say size. You can’t get blinded by that. The goal to assist ratio is concerning as well.

I just think the defenceman minus the giant Russian too good to pass.

Tiggy is also looking like he will be a star, and I don’t think coming to Calgary would impact him much.