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Calgary4LIfe · 07-01-2013, 02:09 AM

I give it a 9.5.

I would have hated the Flames to trade any firsts for any players that rumors were swirling around (i.e. Matt Read). Love the first 3 picks - Emile was a bit of a headscratcher at first. I wanted Zykov badly. However, Emile is faster (well, who isn't he faster than?), a very smart player, creates turnovers like mad, breakaway speed and finish, and is gritty! What isn't there to like about him? I was hoping for Hunter, but... too many guys on the board were saying: "Noooo" to Hunter. Hunter was falling... and even 2 years ago when Hunter first came into my radar, I heard bad things. Tough to pass up a player with top-notch elite skills, but he would not fit into what the Flames are building.

Klimchuck - God do I love this pick. Elite finisher. Goes into the corners. Has an all-round solid game and is the type you throw on any line to 'complete' it.

Kanzig - this is where the Flames lose the .5 in my mind. Not so much that they picked him, but didn't trade down to do so. However, maybe they were that sure. Maybe they saw other scouts looking at this kid from teams in that area. Initially, I thought it was all about drafting a 'goon'. Now I look at him as a project. If he is that intelligent and that good of a leader on and off the ice, there is upside. Plays against everyone's top lines - not many goons in the WHL do that, do they? Makes me think this pick CAN be so much more than just a goon in the NHL, but will definitely be a project.

Roy - 1st round potential. Brandon was such a weird team this past season. Size, agility and offensive upside. TJ Brodie was not solid in his own end at that age either. Not to say he will develop that well, but gives me a reason to at least be somewhat optimistic that they can round this guy into a good top 4 defencemen.

Love Rushan! If his name kept popping up in conversations, it is a good thing. Surprised someone at his calibre was available, as it seems he is not your prototypical Russian. Looks like a very solid 'gamble' on a pick that has a fairly complete game.

Button made the other picks sound good. We will see. Weisbrod is very adamant that they Flames not 'gamble' on the backend of the draft, and treat even a 7th round pick as if it was a 1st (or something like that from a previous interview). Matt Deblouw is a guy Flames picked in the 7th round last season that I think projects into a very real possibility of becoming an NHL player down the road, so hopefully a couple of these picks strike a bit of gold too.

Really huge step forward for this organization today. I like how they Flames are continuing to draft guys who seem to fit the puck-possession game, and who are thought of as being good characters with high compete levels. Bodes well for the future having guys who have loads of character and intangibles.

07-01-2013, 02:09 AM	#80
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I give it a 9.5. I would have hated the Flames to trade any firsts for any players that rumors were swirling around (i.e. Matt Read). Love the first 3 picks - Emile was a bit of a headscratcher at first. I wanted Zykov badly. However, Emile is faster (well, who isn't he faster than?), a very smart player, creates turnovers like mad, breakaway speed and finish, and is gritty! What isn't there to like about him? I was hoping for Hunter, but... too many guys on the board were saying: "Noooo" to Hunter. Hunter was falling... and even 2 years ago when Hunter first came into my radar, I heard bad things. Tough to pass up a player with top-notch elite skills, but he would not fit into what the Flames are building. Klimchuck - God do I love this pick. Elite finisher. Goes into the corners. Has an all-round solid game and is the type you throw on any line to 'complete' it. Kanzig - this is where the Flames lose the .5 in my mind. Not so much that they picked him, but didn't trade down to do so. However, maybe they were that sure. Maybe they saw other scouts looking at this kid from teams in that area. Initially, I thought it was all about drafting a 'goon'. Now I look at him as a project. If he is that intelligent and that good of a leader on and off the ice, there is upside. Plays against everyone's top lines - not many goons in the WHL do that, do they? Makes me think this pick CAN be so much more than just a goon in the NHL, but will definitely be a project. Roy - 1st round potential. Brandon was such a weird team this past season. Size, agility and offensive upside. TJ Brodie was not solid in his own end at that age either. Not to say he will develop that well, but gives me a reason to at least be somewhat optimistic that they can round this guy into a good top 4 defencemen. Love Rushan! If his name kept popping up in conversations, it is a good thing. Surprised someone at his calibre was available, as it seems he is not your prototypical Russian. Looks like a very solid 'gamble' on a pick that has a fairly complete game. Button made the other picks sound good. We will see. Weisbrod is very adamant that they Flames not 'gamble' on the backend of the draft, and treat even a 7th round pick as if it was a 1st (or something like that from a previous interview). Matt Deblouw is a guy Flames picked in the 7th round last season that I think projects into a very real possibility of becoming an NHL player down the road, so hopefully a couple of these picks strike a bit of gold too. Really huge step forward for this organization today. I like how they Flames are continuing to draft guys who seem to fit the puck-possession game, and who are thought of as being good characters with high compete levels. Bodes well for the future having guys who have loads of character and intangibles.