I'm of the same mind ATM. If Gaudreau can developed into anything close to a Patty Kane, Monahan anywhere between a Seguin and Teows and our new guy coming in being anything close to who they are compared to, the Flames will absolutely have one of the brightest futures of top 6 out of anyone in the league.
Add Poirier and Beartschi developing into what we think they might be, then we have serious hope for the future.
Add in Klimchuck, if he can get passed his recent injury issues, Granlund continuing to improve, Knight coming along, and if Ferland starts seeing NHL time. We could have the deepest pool of top 9 players in the NHL in 2 years time.
Gaudreau
Monahan
Beartschi
Bennett, Reinhardt, Draisaitl
Porier
Granlund
Knight
Ferland
Klimchuck
Jankowski
Agostini
Arnold
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Add top 9 ready in
Bouma
Byron
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If 1/3 of these guys hit their mark which is absolute IMO. The Flames are really solid going forward and should just stand-pat with their draft position. Don't move any assets to move up. Don't try and gain anymore by moving down. Take the BPA at 4.
Defense can be sorted in later rounds and through other means. Goaltending can be acquired with 1st rounders if need be when they are picking between 20-30. (Absolute worst case scenario)
You forgot Max Reinhart who keeps surprising on the upside.
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Here are a few Prospects who IMO have every right to go ahead of Ritchie in the draft. Each one of them brings something dynamic to the table. Watch Perlini's speed and shot. So good.
Kapanen has great speed and sweet hands and a killer shot too.
I think Ritchie is going to fall, at least to the Leafs pick at 7 if the Flames don't reach for him. There has been quite a lot of talk linking the isles to Dal Colle and Ehlers to the nucks. Mgmt could be leaning another way but if you look at Canucks fans polls on the pick, he's about their 3rd or 4th choice, they'd even rather Nylander.
Dunno about Kapanen or Nylander for the leafs though so I could see him going there.
I think the "consensus" top 5 is just a Burke/Treliving and a few of their more zealous fans type consensus.
How do you know what Jankowski will become? He could be the next Joe Thornton even, nobody knows yet. I think it might be you who lacks the understanding of prospects here.
Find me one person who believes Jankowski or Grandlund are good enough second line centres to win 16 games in the playoffs?
Find me one person who believes Jankowski or Grandlund are good enough second line centres to win 16 games in the playoffs?
To be fair, I don't think any of the top 4 in this years draft can be considered good enough yet to win playoff games. The key word here is prospects. We don't know what we will have in 2 or 3 years time. Best to take who the Flames scouts think is BPA.
Find me one person who believes Jankowski or Grandlund are good enough second line centres to win 16 games in the playoffs?
You or I or anyone at this point cannot quantify either way how they will pan out yet. It's frustrating sometimes reading posts that under value the teams prospects by a gross margin. I get the hesitance on Jankowski's upside, it's a long long ways off.
But Granlund. Everything I've seen tells me there's some serious top six quality to him and how he plays. First year in the AHL? Stellar beginning to his pro career. Shortened NHL stint? Good start, defensively responsible, good on the faceoffs, potted some nice points before going down with the shoulder injury.
If anything his play last season goes against what you're saying.
Let's keep an open mind here and watch what happens next season. For both players.
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You or I or anyone at this point cannot quantify either way how they will pan out yet. It's frustrating sometimes reading posts that under value the teams prospects by a gross margin. I get the hesitance on Jankowski's upside, it's a long long ways off.
But Granlund. Everything I've seen tells me there's some serious top six quality to him and how he plays. First year in the AHL? Stellar beginning to his pro career. Shortened NHL stint? Good start, defensively responsible, good on the faceoffs, potted some nice points before going down with the shoulder injury.
If anything his play last season goes against what you're saying.
Let's keep an open mind here and watch what happens next season. For both players.
I agree here. I didn't think Granlund would make a big impression for a few years, but watching him play- he is definitely an NHLer. Good hustle, good offensive instinct, and always in good position defensively. Little bite to his game too.
Assuming the top 4 is our real top 4, we're kind of in a perfect situation in a way given that all 4 seem to be getting consideration for #1.
If Ekblad somehow fell to us, we wind up with the #1 ranked defenceman, and fill a sizeable need in the organization.
If Reinhart fell to us, we end up with the best playmaker who is just coming off a beast of a playoff run and would make for another great option with Monahan for #1C down the road.
If Bennett fell to us, we get the #1 ranked player by most reports, who has the most to grow into physically yet was still dominant.
If Draisaitl fell to us, we get the large top 6 centreman who again fills an important need in the organization, solidifying our 1-2-3 (with Backlund) punch down the middle.
Can't friggin wait!
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Assuming the top 4 is our real top 4, we're kind of in a perfect situation in a way given that all 4 seem to be getting consideration for #1.
If Ekblad somehow fell to us, we wind up with the #1 ranked defenceman, and fill a sizeable need in the organization.
If Reinhart fell to us, we end up with the best playmaker who is just coming off a beast of a playoff run and would make for another great option with Monahan for #1C down the road.
If Bennett fell to us, we get the #1 ranked player by most reports, who has the most to grow into physically yet was still dominant.
If Draisaitl fell to us, we get the large top 6 centreman who again fills an important need in the organization, solidifying our 1-2-3 (with Backlund) punch down the middle.
Can't friggin wait!
This is pretty much it in a nutshell.
Last year I wanted Lindholm, but would have been fine with Monahan. This year, I want Reinhart the most, but any of those players is a huge piece for us.
I'm totally exhausted regarding this draft ... I just can't wait until next week. To think, we're going to go through this all again next year.
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