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Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Depends. Flames might not see it that way. Or a guy they have in their top 10-12 may fall to 15.
I think the only way you deal down into the early 20's is if you really like a guy that you think everybody else is underrating, you could deal down to pick up that kid. Other than that I think you probably just take the guy you like the best.
It's a strong draft. In another strong draft in 2003 the Oilers dealt down and took Marc-Antoine Pouliot. Instead of dealing down they could've taken Parise, Getzlaf or Brent Burns. I suppose where they took Pouliot they could've had Kesler or Perry as well. What's the morale of that story? Hire some good scouts and let them pick the kid they like best. Flames scouting has been pretty good lately, Button and Treliving will have a pretty solid plan and a bunch of scenarios available where they might trade up or trade down.
Personally I think there's usually more compelling reasons to try and deal up to take a guy your scouts love than to deal down. In a draft where we already have three 2nd rounders and two 3rds I don't think our philosophy in the first round should be to deal down to acquire more 2nds or 3rds. All those 2nds and 3rds will be useful if the Flames feel it's worth it to move up. I think our resources have never been better for a trade up in the first round. And we're not too far back so it is reasonable to think they could deal up to 11-13 and potentially nab a guy they have in their top 8-10.
Should be an interesting one. I'd be excited if we dealt up and I'd be excited if we just use all the picks. Not really huge on dealing down unless its like 2-3 spots and they're convinced they can get the same guy they like in that later position.
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Definitely, agree with you, it would entirely depend on what's up when they go to pick. I guy like Zacha (insert random guy here) might fall randomly to 15 for no reason other than the teams from 7-14 might not like him as much as the guy they picked. I could see this draft being a bit of a repeat of 2010 with the D-men falling because all the teams from 3-8 have rather stocked defense pools and a lack of forward talent.
It's so hard to determine exactly what would be on the board and what the Flames are looking at. If they are going to take a guy like Sprong, who should be available later, it might make sense to trade down. If they like Svechnikov, then they should stick at 15 to see if he's on the board. I just trust the scouting staff to find the right players regardless of where they pick.