[News] With the 16th OA pick, the Flames select D Juuso Valimaki

[GoJetsGo]

Knowing we were in on Hamonic yesterday and seeing us come away with him - and still drafting Valimaki - is pretty sweet.

[SuperMatt18]

I know we are never supposed to draft for current need but with the top 4 we have now, and Andersson, Kylington, Fox, etc already in the pipeline I kind of wish this was a forward pick.

You always pick BPA but our forward prospect pool is lacking top end talent right now.

[BigJim]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I know we are never supposed to draft for current need but with the top 4 we have now, and Andersson, Kylington, Fox, etc already in the pipeline I kind of wish this was a forward pick.

You always pick BPA but our forward prospect pool is lacking top end talent right now.

With Valimaki now in the fold, I'm actually expecting that at least one of our other defence prospects (Andersson, Kylington and/or Fox) will go for either a recouping of picks or packaged for an upgrade at forward/picks.

[djsFlames]

When you have an excess of wealth at one position, it allows you to deal some of it to address other needs.

Nothing wrong with having great organizational depth at defence.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

When you have an excess of wealth at one position, it allows you to deal some of it to address other needs.

Nothing wrong with having great organizational depth at defence.

Exactly.

There is a reason why McPhee chose so many D in the expansion draft and received so many quality draft picks for not choosing available D.

Quality D are highly marketable .... in high demand

[Gaudfather]

In his summary interview on Fan 960 Todd Button is just gushing on Valimaki - thinks he is Top 4 and could be a Top 2 defenceman. Said "there is no limit to the upside on this guy".
This could be one of the sleeper picks of this draft!

[Bunk]

The current D and top four prospects - Valimaki, Andersson, Kylington and Fox, really set up the future well. If Gillies or Parsons step up into true starter status in the next 1-2 years, things look good the blue line back for an extended competitive window.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I know we are never supposed to draft for current need but with the top 4 we have now, and Andersson, Kylington, Fox, etc already in the pipeline I kind of wish this was a forward pick.

You always pick BPA but our forward prospect pool is lacking top end talent right now.

Yes our forward prospect pool is lacking top end talent outside of Jankowski/Shinkaruk and maybe even Poirier if he can rebound.

But given the Flames have Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Backlund (if he re-signs), Jankowski, Ferland most of whom are extremely young and are going to be here for years, where would you fit top end prospects in the next 5 years? We'd likely just have to trade them away in a few years because there's no room for them. And if you're just going to have to trade prospects away at some point I'd rather have d-men because they are so valuable and easy to trade.

IMO a lack of top end forward prospects isn't an issue at all when you have the wealth of young NHL forwards the Flames have. There is limited room for anybody to step in for years.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yes our forward prospect pool is lacking top end talent outside of Jankowski/Shinkaruk and maybe even Poirier if he can rebound.

But given the Flames have Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Backlund (if he re-signs), Jankowski, Ferland most of whom are extremely young and are going to be here for years, where would you fit top end prospects in the next 5 years? We'd likely just have to trade them away in a few years because there's no room for them. And if you're just going to have to trade prospects away at some point I'd rather have d-men because they are so valuable and easy to trade.

IMO a lack of top end forward prospects isn't an issue at all when you have the wealth of young NHL forwards the Flames have. There is limited room for anybody to step in for years.

Perfectly stated! I think we have just witnessed the zenith of draft picks lost in building our core in the BT GM era. From here on end we will have the luxury of adding other's picks and holding our own picks going forward as we offload our B+ and A- prospects that we cannot find room for.

[Anduril]

Draft BPA, address the other needs as time comes. What the Flames need in 3 years is unknown.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Draft BPA, address the other needs as time comes. What the Flames need in 3 years is unknown.

^

This is exactly right. You can deal with positions of strength later.

[AC]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Tod Button says Valimaki was in the Flames top 11 for this draft.

Haha, I guess that means 11th.

[dustygoon]

i'm stoked they grabbed a blue liner and that it was Valamaki. totally agree with FDW. but also, i don't think Anderson and Kylington are really great prospects.

[14]

[QUOTE=Flames Draft Watcher;6303478] .......and maybe even Poirier if he can rebound.

IMO 'eat bread' is way ahead of Poirier in the Flames plans at this point.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I knew nothing about any of this year's draft class outside of Hischier and Patrick. That being said, the scouting reports and highlights of Valimaki have me very happy. I am surprised that a defenseman of his skill level was available at 16. This is a great 1st round pick by Treliving/Button and co. Couldn't be happier. I already have him in the top 5 prospects for the Flames.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GGG

This is not worth noting.

They probably had 3-4 Jerseys with sewn on name bats for their first pick. If you have the lettering available it's no more work to see it on. Also in the 10 minutes to do the pick you could have enough time to see on the name bar.

I hate that this gets said about the flames as some kind of pro, it's meaningless PR. It's like being shocked that the team that won the Stanley cup has championship hats ready

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this exact thing has been posted for about ten years in a row for our first pick in each draft.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Tod Button says Valimaki was in the Flames top 11 for this draft.

he also said they had 7 D-men in their top 16;
3 were selected, and Valimaki was 4th

[Locke]

Now I have to learn the keyboard shortcut for umlauts.

Why must you make my life difficult?!?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GGG

This is not worth noting.

They probably had 3-4 Jerseys with sewn on name bats for their first pick. If you have the lettering available it's no more work to see it on. Also in the 10 minutes to do the pick you could have enough time to see on the name bar.

I hate that this gets said about the flames as some kind of pro, it's meaningless PR. It's like being shocked that the team that won the Stanley cup has championship hats ready

The oilers didn't even have a name bar for Puljujarvi last year. I think it does mean something for a player that gets drafted as you can put it right into a shadow box and it doesn't come across as cheap.

[Da_Chief]

If you're picking 1st overall, you should have 2-3 jerseys with different names stitched on them in case a team ahead of you takes a guy you want.