[ricardodw]

If Florida does not feel that there is a significant gap between Ekland and Rienhart and have Draisaitl-Bennett-Dal Colle ranked higher they could be just thinking that Edmonton should want Ekblad and will likely get him with their #3 if they picked Bennett or Draisaiti.

If they are able to squeeze an asset out of Edmonton (even Yakapov) and still get the player they wanted all along that would be a reason to shop the #1.

Last year they passed on Seth Jones and got nothing for it. Picking Barkov was not that much better, if better at all, than getting Lindholm, Monahan or Nichushkin.

there would be no team that today would offer Jones, Lindholm, Monahan or Nichushkin plus their 2014 2nd round pick for Barkov.

If the Flames have Ekblad as the clear cut #1 pick franchise D-man it would make sense to offer our #4 pick plus either Baertschi, Klimchuck or Poirier to get him.

That way Florida gets who they really want with the #4 pick plus a guy with a 90% chance to be a useful NHLer.

From the Flames perspective (same contract as Monahan) they obviously think that Gaudreau will take Baertschi's spot in the top 6 as the small forward. Having another small forward Byron pass Baertschi and their best forward Hudler being small makes Baertschi window to make the Flames really small.