Draft targets

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Problem I see with Lindstrom is he seems to have tunnel vision and his compete isn't great away from the offensive zone, I think he'll end up as a middle 6 winger similar to a Anthony Mantha or if as a center a Kevin Hayes type that needs a slick winger to be successful.

He should be a good player but this team needs a skilled line driver, I just don't see that in Lindstrom

Lindstrom's skating is terrible. Really choppy and short stride, and generally awkward looking. Doesn't have the elite edgework to compensate for his poor mechanics.

His skating reminds me a lot of Michael Dal Colle and Keiffer Bellows, although his raw speed is better than Bellows at the same age.

If the Flames are picking 8-10, Lindstrom seems like too much of a project to waste such a high pick on.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Lindstrom's skating is terrible. Really choppy and short stride, and generally awkward looking. Doesn't have the elite edgework to compensate for his poor mechanics.

His skating reminds me a lot of Michael Dal Colle and Keiffer Bellows, although his raw speed is better than Bellows at the same age.

If the Flames are picking 8-10, Lindstrom seems like too much of a project to waste such a high pick on.

I have read some prospect reviews of him saying that his size gives him a big advantage in junior and he isn’t as good as his production suggests.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by devo22

I am a firm believer that you should build through the middle. And even if you don't think you get a "franchise" center at ~10, I think you still ideally shoot for a center.

That also sounds like a recipe to end up with Zacha instead of Rantanen or Meier.

I think you need top line players in general. If all things are equal, then take the centre, but if not, take the BPA.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Lindstrom's skating is terrible. Really choppy and short stride, and generally awkward looking. Doesn't have the elite edgework to compensate for his poor mechanics.

His skating reminds me a lot of Michael Dal Colle and Keiffer Bellows, although his raw speed is better than Bellows at the same age.

If the Flames are picking 8-10, Lindstrom seems like too much of a project to waste such a high pick on.

Yeah, no idea why all the scouts can't see how ####ty he is.

[TheScorpion]

I think Lindstrom is gone waaaay before the Flames pick in any case.

[Enoch Root]

The problem with the "if all things are equal, take the C" argument is that all things are not equal... Cs are more valuable. This is why at any given ranking point, the winger is a better player than the C, because if the C was as good, he would be ranked higher!

Cs come at a premium - at some point, you have to pay up. And the Flames have NOTHING under the age of 30.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yeah, no idea why all the scouts can't see how ####ty he is.

Waste was a harsh term, but there is a reason why his latest rankings are anywhere from 3rd OA to 15th OA. There's too many question marks about him

The Flames need to focus on BPA overall, not BPA at a specific position.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The problem with the "if all things are equal, take the C" argument is that all things are not equal... Cs are more valuable. This is why at any given ranking point, the winger is a better player than the C, because if the C was as good, he would be ranked higher!

Cs come at a premium - at some point, you have to pay up. And the Flames have NOTHING under the age of 30.

A 1st line center is worth more than a 1st line winger, but a 1st line winger is more valuable than a 2nd line center, in my opinion.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I think Lindstrom is gone waaaay before the Flames pick in any case.

You think he’s a top 5 pick?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

You think he’s a top 5 pick?

If a big center has promise, he’s always looked at. Dubois jumped up for the same reason. Could see Montreal going for him. Maybe even Arizona, Columbus, or Chicago. I personally prefer Catton or Demidov after Celebrini.

[CF84]

There seem to be many "1st line centers" available in the mind of fans, but if the scouts have any doubts about hockey sense and intelligence about certain players, I hope they stay far away even if they do fall to us. I don't know enough about the hockey sense of any of the top draftable centers, but I'm sure the scouting staff and people like Sandman have a well informed opinion. Hockey sense/intelligence is just something that can't easily be taught.

I'd pick a smart winger over a "#1" center or defenseman with questionable hockey sense any day. That's how you end up with Yakupov or Nurse.

I'm sure there will be one or two #1 centers in this draft, but if they aren't available, I hope they aren't chosen simply because they are a good center. Pick the best available player weather they are a potential #1C, #1D, or the potential best winger on a team.

Tij Iginla could be the best available player where the Flames pick, and if the team feels that way, please choose him.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

If a big center has promise, he’s always looked at. Dubois jumped up for the same reason. Could see Montreal going for him. Maybe even Arizona, Columbus, or Chicago. I personally prefer Catton or Demidov after Celebrini.

Lindstrom is not a player I would reach for. I would take him if he’s BPA, but I certainly wouldn’t take him over Catton, and probably not Iginla either.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CF84

There seem to be many "1st line centers" available in the mind of fans, but if the scouts have any doubts about hockey sense and intelligence about certain players, I hope they stay far away even if they do fall to us. I don't know enough about the hockey sense of any of the top draftable centers, but I'm sure the scouting staff and people like Sandman have a well informed opinion. Hockey sense/intelligence is just something that can't easily be taught.

I'd pick a smart winger over a "#1" center or defenseman with questionable hockey sense any day. That's how you end up with Yakupov or Nurse.

And if you look at most drafts, it’s really hard to get 1st line centers outside of the top 5 or 6. But it’s not that uncommon to get 1st line wingers or a top pairing defenseman outside of the top 5 within the top 20.

A team like the Flames that has holes pretty much everywhere shouldn’t be too picky. You need top end talent period to build a winner. If we already had blue chips prospects at wing or defence, then I can see reaching for a center, but right now there is too much to do to be that picky.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

A 1st line center is worth more than a 1st line winger, but a 1st line winger is more valuable than a 2nd line center, in my opinion.

Strongly disagree. Only the very best wingers are more valuable than a #2 C. The very best. Average players at both positions the center is much more valuable.

The valuation only shifts in favor of the winger when he's a in the upper echelon of players at his position, and even then the advantage probably isn't as radical as you would imagine.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I think Lindstrom is gone waaaay before the Flames pick in any case.

Centers go early, the list of top 10 centers from 15-18 taken between picks 3-10 are below (11 out of a possible 32 picks)

Dylan Strome
Panel Zacha
Dubois
Jost
Cody Glass
Lias Anderson
Casey Middlestadt
Elias Pettersson
Michael Rasmussen
Kotkaniemi
Barrett Hayton

A few of those guys hit.

Dmen seem to go later but the dmen picked outside of 1 and 2 in those drafts were

Quinn Hughes
Adam Boqvist
Evan Bouchard
Miro Heiskenen
Cale Makar
Oli Juloevi
Michael Sergachev
Hanifin
Ivan Provorov
Zach Werenski

Two busts in that group but a lot of absolute studs on the backend. If you draft a dman top 10 you are probably getting a centerpiece (pardon the pun) for your organization. The centers have a lot more busts, but at least one stud in Pettersson, a couple good 2nd line centers and then a sprinkling of busts and third/4th line centres.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Lindstrom's skating is terrible. Really choppy and short stride, and generally awkward looking. Doesn't have the elite edgework to compensate for his poor mechanics.

His skating reminds me a lot of Michael Dal Colle and Keiffer Bellows, although his raw speed is better than Bellows at the same age.

If the Flames are picking 8-10, Lindstrom seems like too much of a project to waste such a high pick on.

Is this a serious post? Lindstrom is an excellent skater, and if you can’t see that, then I have no idea what to say to you. He can flat out fly. We can debate other parts of his game, but this one is pretty obvious…

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Lindstrom's skating is terrible. Really choppy and short stride, and generally awkward looking. Doesn't have the elite edgework to compensate for his poor mechanics.

His skating reminds me a lot of Michael Dal Colle and Keiffer Bellows, although his raw speed is better than Bellows at the same age.

If the Flames are picking 8-10, Lindstrom seems like too much of a project to waste such a high pick on.

The same thing was said about Scheifele, that is who he is closer to imo coming out of his draft year.

[FanIn80]

Something I've been thinking about... Let's say we win the first pick, and SJ picks second...

How good is Celebrini? Good enough to trade the first overall pick plus our pick from VAN to SJS for Eklund and the second overall?

If so, is there a way we can convert the 2nd overall into both Iginla and Yakemchuk?

Obviously I'm living in a complete dream world here, but walking away from the draft with Eklund, Iggy and Yakemchuk seems better than drafting Celebrini... Or is it?


Edit: I don't actually know how good Celebrini is/isn't. I've stayed away from watching him since there's been no point all season long... but as we drop lower and lower, there's a bigger chance it can happen. All I know about the guy is the hype, so forgive me if he's a Gretzky or Crosby or something like that.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Something I've been thinking about... Let's say we win the first pick, and SJ picks second...

How good is Celebrini? Good enough to trade the first overall pick plus our pick from VAN to SJS for Eklund and the second overall?

If so, is there a way we can convert the 2nd overall into both Iginla and Yakemchuk?

Obviously I'm living in a complete dream world here, but walking away from the draft with Eklund, Iggy and Yakemchuk seems better than drafting Celebrini... Or is it?

You draft Celebrini.

[dammage79]

I'd way rather have a Jonathan Toews comparable center than two wingers and a D man. way way rather that.

#1 centers don't grow on trees and you gotta take em when you can get em.