[mile]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Exactly as Sureloss posted. You never give up the better player in a draft because organizationally you are weak somewhere else. That is what trades and FA periods are for - to round out your team.

Though it will be a huge piece to the rebuild, having a bona fide #1 defencemen may not be the 'make it or break it' issue with Calgary. If you look at the prospect base as a whole, you see an identity forming. All the prospects are essentially high character, high IQ types, and for the most part are fairly well lauded for their complete 200ft games. Even a guy like Granlund who I had personally pigeon-holed as a highly offensive but defensively deficient player has proved himself to be great in all zones (as evidenced by Hartley loving him and throwing him out in all situations in his brief time up).

To me, this means that these kids will be growing up in an environment that will be promoting strong and complete games, and this will only help the defence out. The Flames may be able to get away with throwing out competent but perhaps not 'top end' top pairing guys. Obviously this is not the preference here, but the Flames in '04 went pretty damn far by having their forwards competing hard in all 3 zones (and of course, a very outstanding goalie).

At any rate, you have to always pick the best player available, and hope that somehow you fill in the other holes at some time by having prospects exceed their potential, trading for them, or signing them as FAs. Never pass on value.

Agreed.

Ideally though, I would like the best player at where we are picking to be a defenseman.