Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] With the 54th overall pick the Flames select RW Hunter Smith

SuperMatt18 · 03-03-2015, 02:15 PM

Ashasx I think you just personally overvalue a certain type of player, the more flashy dynamic type that puts up lots of points.

Guys like Kanzig, Smith, etc are never going to impress you because you don't value strong bottom pairing or 3rd or 4th line guys. You think that you should always be drafting for top end skill and not to fill a lineup.

What you are missing though is that the really good teams do a great job of drafting and developing those guys, as well as the top 9 players.

L.A. has done it with guys like Clifford (2nd), King (4th), Nolan (7th) , Lewis (1st).

Chicago with guys like Bickell (2nd), Shaw (5th), Bolland (2nd) , Hjalmarsson (4th).

And plenty of others examples on teams like the Rangers, and Bruins.

The issue is that for you if a guy like Kanzig, or Smith, who likely tops out as a 3rd liner or a bottom pairing d-man is waste of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, when really it's not the case.

I tend to agree that goalies shouldn't be taken that early but the Flames did have an organizational need and MacDonald was seen as one of the best in his age group, so it might be a strategic pick to get him there. If you were to flip the Hickey and MacDonald picks I am sure you would have no issue with it but unlikely they could take Hickey in the 2nd and still have MacDonald in the 3rd.

03-03-2015, 02:15 PM	#316
SuperMatt18 Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	Ashasx I think you just personally overvalue a certain type of player, the more flashy dynamic type that puts up lots of points. Guys like Kanzig, Smith, etc are never going to impress you because you don't value strong bottom pairing or 3rd or 4th line guys. You think that you should always be drafting for top end skill and not to fill a lineup. What you are missing though is that the really good teams do a great job of drafting and developing those guys, as well as the top 9 players. L.A. has done it with guys like Clifford (2nd), King (4th), Nolan (7th) , Lewis (1st). Chicago with guys like Bickell (2nd), Shaw (5th), Bolland (2nd) , Hjalmarsson (4th). And plenty of others examples on teams like the Rangers, and Bruins. The issue is that for you if a guy like Kanzig, or Smith, who likely tops out as a 3rd liner or a bottom pairing d-man is waste of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, when really it's not the case. I tend to agree that goalies shouldn't be taken that early but the Flames did have an organizational need and MacDonald was seen as one of the best in his age group, so it might be a strategic pick to get him there. If you were to flip the Hickey and MacDonald picks I am sure you would have no issue with it but unlikely they could take Hickey in the 2nd and still have MacDonald in the 3rd. Last edited by SuperMatt18; 03-03-2015 at 02:23 PM.