Given the perception of this as a 'weak' draft, here are some overagers that were passed over on 2016. Given that there are stats showing that overagers selected in later rounds have a higher chance of making it, will be interesting to see if teams take flyers on any of these prospects. Have included some links below.
D Griffin Luce - ranked 70th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
G Zachary Sawchenko - ranked 6th NA G on 2016 central scouting
F Otto Makinen - ranked 211th NA skater on 2017 central scouting
D Jacob Neveu - ranked 107th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F Simon Stransky - ranked 48th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F Jamie Armstrong - ranked 124th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F William Knierim - ranked 149th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F Maxime Fortier - ranked 145th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F Vladimir Kuznetsov - ranked 55th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
F Brayden Burke - ranked 63th NA skater on 2016 central scouting
Report out there that the Canucks won't sign 2015 5th rounder Carl Neill. He was 2nd in points for the QMJHL (yes that needs the context of being an overager). He can put up points but his biggest weakness is skating.
If as reported he isn't signed before June 1st he will re-enter the 2017 draft.
Here are the Flames connections to him:
Was invited to 2014 Flames development camp but medical testing revealed an irregular heart beat and he was prevented from participating. Heart condition was fixed later that summer via surgery.
Charlottetown islanders traded for Carl Neill this season... who is an owner of the Islanders? Flames QMJHL scout Bob MacMillan.
Doubt he will be taken if he goes back to the draft and I doubt the Flames would give him an NHL contract, but could be of someone of interest to the Flames as AHL/ECHL depth.
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Jaret Anderson-Dolan is a very interesting prospect. He is a Calgary kid with a deadly shot and also has some pretty outstanding character as well (he's a champion on his team for LGBT rights because of his two moms). Flames might take a look? 76 points in 72 games for Spokane this year, I would be thrilled if we could pick him up.
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I was cruising EP for some late round prospects and I stumbled upon an OA defenseman who checks all the boxes, good production, great size, seemingly capable defense.
Johnny Kovacevic plays for Merrimack College, he's a 97 born RHD, 6'3" 220 lbs, 4th on his team in scoring, and 2nd in +/-.
There's very little mention of him anywhere that I've found but he looks promising as a late round pick. Plus, he's 2 years OA so some of the painfully long defenseman development time is already done.
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Oliver Kylington is the greatest and best player in the world
I was cruising EP for some late round prospects and I stumbled upon an OA defenseman who checks all the boxes, good production, great size, seemingly capable defense.
Johnny Kovacevic plays for Merrimack College, he's a 97 born RHD, 6'3" 220 lbs, 4th on his team in scoring, and 2nd in +/-.
There's very little mention of him anywhere that I've found but he looks promising as a late round pick. Plus, he's 2 years OA so some of the painfully long defenseman development time is already done.
Any idea where we could find out how his skating is?.
Johnny Kovacevic, 6’4”/215, RD, Merrimack - The Grimsby, Ont. native was a prospect that some scouts thought could be taken in the later rounds of the 2016 NHL Draft. He still has one year left of draft eligibility.
He’s a big, physical presence on the blue line, but he has good mobility and can move the puck well. He really fits the new mold of defensemen that Mark Dennehy and his staff are trying to recruit to Merrimack.
He spent the past two seasons playing in the CCHL, with the Ottawa Jr. Senators and Hawkesbury Hawks. In 61 combined games last season, he recorded eight goals and 35 assists.
With several established blue liners already in place, Kovacevic won’t be rushed into the fire right away, but by the second semester, expect him to get plenty of ice time.
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Any idea where we could find out how his skating is?.
I'd usually browse HF to see what some more knowledgeable posters are saying about him but there's maybe 10 posts about him and none of them are anything more than a late round pick in a mock draft. Hopefully the Flames' scouts have been doing their due diligence in Hockey East (they should be, with Hickey and Jankowski last year playing there) and have some sort of a read on him
Once thing I don't know is how long a team keeps rights for a NCAA-track player when they're drafted as overagers. Since he's 2 years post draft, would he be a college FA in 2 more or do you get the full 4?
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Oliver Kylington is the greatest and best player in the world
Im betting we see a few of those picks moving in a pkg with a goalie!
If the Flames could land a good young goalie like Murray/Grubauer/Pickard/Raanta, I wouldn't be opposed to the Flames taking the Stars' late first rounder for Lehtonen. He always seems to play well against the Flames.
Hmmm, guess who was the head coach in Dallas during Lehtonen's career year?
Maybe a change of scenery would help him get back on track?
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
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I would not be mad at the Flames drafting Lias, I do like where the flames are sitting. Could be some nice little surprises that fall as well. Will be an interesting draft day to say the least.
I would not be mad at the Flames drafting Lias, I do like where the flames are sitting. Could be some nice little surprises that fall as well. Will be an interesting draft day to say the least.
I completely agree, looks like it will be a fun day to watch some trades and see where/who the Flames pick once the dust settles.
On one hand I can't see the Flames going to the draft without a pick until round 4
On the other hand I can't see them properly fixing the goaltending without using that pick, especially since they dont have 2nd or 3rd to use as a trade chip.
I guess they could use the 1st for a goalie and get a 2nd back in the same deal somehow.
