** Update: Flames trade for Dougie Hamilton. Nice work Tree!! **
** Update: Flames sign Kenney Morrison. Treliving must have been reading this thread!! News Article Here **
So I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and thought I'd throw out some historical information and let people much smarter than me debate.
Assumptions:
- The Flames are being built for 2017 and beyond.
- The Flames seem to have qualified 5/6 D-Men in the system. Maybe even better than that? (Culkin, Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Cundari).
- The Flames will need a top-4 guy by 2017.
Where did our current top-4 come from?
Giordano: Undrafted
Brodie: #114 (4th round) in 2008
Russell: #67 (3rd round) in 2005
Wideman: #241 (8th round) in 2002
(Crazy, eh?)
So the question: Can we draft a D-Man this year and get top-4 caliber play out of him by 2017? How has that worked out in the past?
See data below and add your thoughts. I went all the way back to 2009. Interesting note, the highest paid D-Man in the league right now is Shea Weber who was picked #49 (2nd round) in 2003!!
Is picking defensemen a crap-shoot? I guess picking any position is, but if the Flames invest in one of the top-5 defensemen picked in the 2015 draft, can it work out? Or should we just wait a couple years and sign a UFA or two?
2014
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 1 Florida Aaron Ekblad D Barrie Colts [OHL] 37 22
1 7 Carolina Haydn Fleury D Red Deer Rebels [WHL]
1 14 Dallas Julius Honka D Swift Current Broncos [WHL]
1 17 Philadelphia Travis Sanheim D Calgary Hitmen [WHL]
1 19 Tampa Bay Anthony DeAngelo D Sarnia Sting [OHL]
2013
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 4 Nashville Seth Jones D Portland Winterhawks [WHL] 115 35
1 7 Edmonton Darnell Nurse D Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds [OHL] 2 0
1 8 Buffalo Rasmus Ristolainen D TPS Turku [SM-liiga] 72 11
1 11 Philadelphia Samuel Morin D Rimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]
1 13 Winnipeg Josh Morrissey D Prince Albert Raiders [WHL]
1 15 NY Islanders Ryan Pulock D Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL]
1 16 Buffalo Nikita Zadorov D London Knights [OHL] 36 7
1 18 San Jose Mirco Mueller D Everett Silvertips [WHL] 24 3
2012
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 2 Columbus Ryan Murray D Everett Silvertips [WHL] 70 21
1 4 NY Islanders Griffin Reinhart D Edmonton Oil Kings [WHL] 8 1
1 5 Toronto Morgan Rielly D Moose Jaw Warriors [WHL] 112 39
1 6 Anaheim Hampus Lindholm D Rogle BK [Swe-1] 118 46
1 7 Minnesota Mathew Dumba D Red Deer Rebels [WHL] 33 6
1 8 Pittsburgh Derrick Pouliot D Portland Winterhawks [WHL] 7 3
1 9 Winnipeg Jacob Trouba D U.S. National Development Team [USHL] 96 41
1 10 Tampa Bay Slater Koekkoek D Peterborough Petes [OHL]
1 15 Ottawa Cody Ceci D Ottawa 67's [OHL] 87 19
1 22 Pittsburgh Olli Maatta D London Knights [OHL] 98 38
2011
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 4 New Jersey Adam Larsson D Skelleftea AIK [SEL] 151 32
1 9 Boston Dougie Hamilton D Niagara IceDogs [OHL] 146 64
1 10 Minnesota Jonas Brodin D Farjestads BK Karlstad [SEL] 150 34
1 11 Colorado Duncan Siemens D Saskatoon Blades [WHL]
1 12 Carolina Ryan Murphy D Kitchener Rangers [OHL] 61 13
1 14 Dallas Jamie Oleksiak D Northeastern University [H-East] 48 9
1 17 Montreal Nathan Beaulieu D Saint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL] 47 8
1 19 Edmonton Oscar Klefbom D Farjestads BK Karlstad [SEL] 35 5
1 20 Phoenix Connor Murphy D U.S. National Development Team [USHL] 63 13
1 23 Pittsburgh Joe Morrow D Portland Winterhawks [WHL] 15 1
1 25 Toronto Stuart Percy D Mississauga St. Michael's Majors [OHL] 8 3
2010
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 3 Florida Erik Gudbranson D Kingston Frontenacs [OHL] 204 26
1 10 NY Rangers Dylan McIlrath D Moose Jaw Warriors [WHL] 3 0
1 12 Anaheim Cam Fowler D Windsor Spitfires [OHL] 305 135
1 13 Phoenix Brandon Gormley D Moncton Wildcats [QMJHL] 16 3
1 15 Los Angeles Derek Forbort D U.S. National Development Team [USHL]
1 22 Montreal Jarred Tinordi D U.S. National Development Team [USHL] 39 6
1 23 Buffalo Mark Pysyk D Edmonton Oil Kings [WHL] 67 13
2009
RoundNum.Drafted ByPlayerPosDrafted FromGPPts
1 2 Tampa Bay Victor Hedman D MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik [SEL] 356 164
1 6 Phoenix Oliver Ekman-Larsson D Leksands IF [Swe-1] 296 129
1 9 Ottawa Jared Cowen D Spokane Chiefs [WHL] 189 40
1 11 Nashville Ryan Ellis D Windsor Spitfires [OHL] 182 61
1 12 NY Islanders Calvin de Haan D Oshawa Generals [OHL] 87 25
1 14 Florida Dmitri Kulikov D Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL] 346 110
1 16 Minnesota Nick Leddy D Eden Prairie H.S. (Minn.) 297 111
1 17 St. Louis David Rundblad D Skelleftea AIK [SEL] 75 15
1 21 Columbus John Moore D Chicago Steel [USHL] 196 32
1 23 Calgary Tim Erixon D Skelleftea AIK [SEL] 75 13
1 28 Chicago Dylan Olsen D Camrose Kodiaks [AJHL] 108 20
1 30 Pittsburgh Simon Despres D Saint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL] 123 26