What I'd like to see in this upcoming draft:
1st Round - If the Flames win the lottery, draft Ekblad, no questions asked. He's just what the doctor ordered for this team. While there is some defensive depth in the system, the Flames are lacking a high end guy who is pegged for the first pairing. Getting Ekblad, with the bonus of keeping the Oilers' mitts off of him would be a win for the franchise.
If the Flames don't win the lottery, and end up in the 3-6 spot, draft a centreman, or trade down and take Fleury on D (although I consider this to be an inferior option). Any of the players in this range will do, excepting Nylander. Any of Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl or Dal Colle could pair with Monahan as second line centre or on his wing for a formidable 1-2 punch. I consider Reinhart unreachable unless Edmonton or Buffalo go off the board, and I prefer Draisaitl otherwise.
2nd - 3rd rounds - The Flames should pick a defenseman with one of those 4 picks (barring trades that increase or decrease that number), and focus on strategically stocking wing depth, particularly right wing with size. Taking a centre isn't wrong, but I don't think the Flames should take any less than 2 right-hand-shot forwards in this draft, and maybe even more than that. With basically only Poirier to speak of in the system on right wing (who everyone should be excited about to be sure), the depth here needs to be addressed.
Prospects that stick out to me are Alex Tuch, Conner Bleackley and Jack Dougherty.
Later rounds - with only a sixth round and a seventh round pick, take a goalie with one of them and throw a dart for the other one.
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