I love Jankowski and think he will be a player for the Flames.
With that being said, you do not count on anyone being a long-term center for the Flames except Backlund and Monahan (and in a way, Stajan since he has signed on for a few more years).
I think Granlund is going to be (and closer to Jankowski of course). I think Reinhart could be. I think Arnold will probably end up being a decent center as well. It is all relatively meaningless until the start playing meaningful minutes in the NHL.
This team is short on game-breaking elite players. Loads of depth. I don't care if it is defence, center, RW or even LW - take the guy with the best chance of becoming elite and a driver in the long-term for this team. I think Baertschi and Gaudreau are both going to be very good LW'ers, as is Klimchuk. It may make no sense to draft a LW'er - especially with the 4th pick (and I don't think the Flames will), but I would rather the Flames draft the game-breaking LW'er if that is the best player available, rather than a center or RW who may be a tier below (Not that I think this will happen - mostly centers available at the 4th pick anyways).
I am glad Treliving has come out and stated 'Best Player Available'. Really relaxes me. I have trust in the Flames' scouting based on the last few years, and if they pick one of the 'media-consensus' top 4 or 5, or go a bit lower and select an Ehlers, Nylander, or Ritchie, (all of which could actually be the best player chosen in the draft in hindsight, as some scouts have been alluding to), I will be fine with it. Each player brings something unique to the prospect base.
The most important thing the Flames need is to add elite-level prospects to their pool. There is loads of depth already, but high-end top talent is what is low at every position.
|