2016 NHL Draft

[GranteedEV]

Tkachuk is about the same tier of prospect as Landeskog, and Landeskog was a 2nd overall/instant Calder winner.

But this is a hell of a draft year and Tkachuk will be happy to be taken at 5th-6th.

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Somehow I get the feeling we'll end up with Alexander Nylander. He's not the power forward we'd like but he's greatly skilled and for whatever it's worth born in Calgary.

I didn't realize he was born in Calgary! That's pretty cool but it makes sense.

[CliffFletcher]

If we're going to do the comparison to NHL dads (like we did with Tkachuk), I'll just point out that Michael Nylander was probably the softest player to ever wear a Calgary Flames jersey.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If we're going to do the comparison to NHL dads (like we did with Tkachuk), I'll just point out that Michael Nylander was probably the softest player to ever wear a Calgary Flames jersey.

Softer than Huselius?

[DionTheDman]

Andrei Medvedev was pretty soft, but literally.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Softer than Huselius?

It is an epic soft tie. Although Nik Borschevsky might have them both beat.

[Vulcan]

Robert Reichel was pretty soft as well.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Softer than Huselius?

Yes.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I know some definitely won't agree because of player preferences but I would be pretty thrilled to get Tkachuk as well. I think he's the type of player that could make room for a Gaudreau. I think he's the type of player that would compliment our skilled centres, make room for them, finish plays, make nice little passes, get garbage goals, win board battles, screen the goalie, make us harder to play against. He looks like a legit 1st line power forward. Power forwards are always complimentary guys but the work they do is invaluable and so are they. So for me there's 5 guys I'm more excited about rather than 4. People ask if Tkachuk can drive the offence himself. I wouldn't be looking for him to do that based on what I know about his game. He just has to play that complimentary, power forward style game. Crash the net, win board battles, make nice shots and passes in tight. Imagine him with Gaudreau and Bennett, wowza that line would be deadly. Adding Tkachuk would allow us to have a power forward on each of the top two lines if Ferland continues to develop. That would be ideal.

Right now for me its a top tier of 2 guys (Matthews/Laine) and then a small drop off to the next 3 (Puljujarvi, Tkachuk, Chychrun). That said I haven't seen these guys a ton so my confidence on that opinion is so so

It's the same argument we had a couple of seasons ago with Ritchie and Ehlers, although in this case I agree with you that Tkachuk or to a lesser extent Dubois or Gauthier would be good to add because they can make space with their size (the other two don't seem quite as physical as Tkachuk). We are at a different stage of the developmental cycle than we were in 2014 when we didn't have enough skill. Skill is still #1 on my list, but the odd thing with the top 4 is that they are skilled while being big/physical enough to make an impact on that side of things (win/win). With Tkachuk, there is a few minor questions about how much skill and is it translatable. His downside is likely in the neighbourhood of Virtanen although I do think Tkachuk is a better player at thinking the game. There still is not enough of a book on him to be able to tell. His playoff run will go a long way to determine things and if he is able to go beast mode then.

Lots of interesting players though, makes it more interesting than in 2014 when there was 4 guys then a whole group of mediocre guys by comparison to the ones ranked 5-12 this time.

[GranteedEV]

I'm not sure how I feel about Nylander. Some skill is there, but how much? Not small but slight... RNH 2.0?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm not sure how I feel about Nylander. Some skill is there, but how much? Not small but slight... RNH 2.0?

De ömhet?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm not sure how I feel about Nylander. Some skill is there, but how much? Not small but slight... RNH 2.0?

He's growing on me a bit. Oodles of skill. Looks quite a bit taller than his brother William. Some room to fill out.

Tough call between him, Juolevi and Dubois for me.

[albertGQ]

Who do you think will be a better NHL player? William or Alex Nylander?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Who do you think will be a better NHL player? William or Alex Nylander?

Will. I think he is the more skilled player but it could go either way. Hard to judge there.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Softer than Huselius?

Andrew Cassels says hi

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Will. I think he is the more skilled player but it could go either way. Hard to judge there.

Anything I've read suggests that Alex Is much less a perimeter player than is his brother William.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Softer than Huselius?

Sjostrom was softer.

[Vulcan]

Here's some more info on Alexander Nylander.

ISS Hockey - Twitter (Oct. 18th): "Very quick & explosive skater. Loves to handle the puck & make plays happen."

ISS Hockey - Twitter (Nov. 11th): "Explosive skater w/all-world creativity & offensive brilliance. Adjusted quickly to NA game."

From the sounds of this he'd be better paired with Bennett than with Gaudreau. That's if he falls in our lap of course. As for being soft, as long as he's responsible, it's okay. The game is changing.

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2016/NHL-D...ander-Nylander

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Here's some more info on Alexander Nylander.



From the sounds of this he'd be better paired with Bennett than with Gaudreau. That's if he falls in our lap of course. As for being soft, as long as he's responsible, it's okay. The game is changing.

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2016/NHL-D...ander-Nylander

Love hearing this every year, before the playoffs start

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Love hearing this every year, before the playoffs start

Sure it's always like that but you have to admit there is more room for skilled players than in the past.