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Flames Draft Watcher · 06-03-2015, 05:29 AM

I'm trying to get a feel for this draft. As part of my basis for this is that I've noticed centres who don't have size issues almost always go as high as expected or higher. Therefore I feel a guy like Connor is gonna be a riser come draft day, his skill set and skating will lure someone. Button has him at #6 and all it takes is one top 10 team to like him a lot. Wingers are the most likely to fall based on what I remember of draft history.

McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Hanifin, Provorov, Marner, Werenski, and Connor are the 8 most likely to go top 10 IMO. That leaves:
Crouse, Rantenen, Barzal, Meier, Zacha, Merkley, Konecny, Svechnikov, Ek-Eriksson, Chabot, Roy, Zboril and Boeser as legitimate possibilities for our pick from what I've gleaned so far. 7 of those guys will be available if we stay at #15. I mean I like a lot of those names and there's a good chance one of the guys the Flames really like will fall to them at #15.

Some pertinent questions assuming things do go somewhat like that
1) Q: What are the Flames biggest organizational needs
A: IMO they are for top 3 defensemen with size and top 6 forwards with size.

2) Q: How much will that affect our drafting?
A: Obviously they won't shy away from taking amazing players who aren't huge. But make no mistake, size is an attribute that the Flames are looking for and it will be reflected in how they've chosen to rank the players. Big players with skill and speed are likely to be highest on our list. It won't shock me to see us take an average sized player or even below average but in an ideal world we'd land someone with both skill and size/strength.

3) Q: Is there anybody worth moving up to get if we could move up to say #11?
A: To me Crouse and Rantenen are intriguing because of their skating/size/skill combinations. I'd move up for Connor as well but I think he'll be long gone before we can move up. If the Flames are in love with any defenseman in particular I'd be fine with moving up to nab him.

As Sureloss's ranking variance reflects I think Konecny and Zacha are two big wildcards who could fall on draft day.

Svechnikov, Zacha, Ek Eriksson, Chabot, Roy, Zboril and Boeser are all intriguing me right now and I think they are a lot of the players that will be available at #15. I'm not as hyped on Merkley and Konecny because I think we're too small up front as it is. If either are deemed the best player available by Flames scouts I certainly won't be disappointed because they proved with Johnny that they know how to find good small players. But I'd be very happy to get someone with skill, skating and size.

06-03-2015, 05:29 AM	#513
Flames Draft Watcher In the Sin Bin Join Date: Oct 2001 Exp:	I'm trying to get a feel for this draft. As part of my basis for this is that I've noticed centres who don't have size issues almost always go as high as expected or higher. Therefore I feel a guy like Connor is gonna be a riser come draft day, his skill set and skating will lure someone. Button has him at #6 and all it takes is one top 10 team to like him a lot. Wingers are the most likely to fall based on what I remember of draft history. McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Hanifin, Provorov, Marner, Werenski, and Connor are the 8 most likely to go top 10 IMO. That leaves: Crouse, Rantenen, Barzal, Meier, Zacha, Merkley, Konecny, Svechnikov, Ek-Eriksson, Chabot, Roy, Zboril and Boeser as legitimate possibilities for our pick from what I've gleaned so far. 7 of those guys will be available if we stay at #15. I mean I like a lot of those names and there's a good chance one of the guys the Flames really like will fall to them at #15. Some pertinent questions assuming things do go somewhat like that 1) Q: What are the Flames biggest organizational needs A: IMO they are for top 3 defensemen with size and top 6 forwards with size. 2) Q: How much will that affect our drafting? A: Obviously they won't shy away from taking amazing players who aren't huge. But make no mistake, size is an attribute that the Flames are looking for and it will be reflected in how they've chosen to rank the players. Big players with skill and speed are likely to be highest on our list. It won't shock me to see us take an average sized player or even below average but in an ideal world we'd land someone with both skill and size/strength. 3) Q: Is there anybody worth moving up to get if we could move up to say #11? A: To me Crouse and Rantenen are intriguing because of their skating/size/skill combinations. I'd move up for Connor as well but I think he'll be long gone before we can move up. If the Flames are in love with any defenseman in particular I'd be fine with moving up to nab him. As Sureloss's ranking variance reflects I think Konecny and Zacha are two big wildcards who could fall on draft day. Svechnikov, Zacha, Ek Eriksson, Chabot, Roy, Zboril and Boeser are all intriguing me right now and I think they are a lot of the players that will be available at #15. I'm not as hyped on Merkley and Konecny because I think we're too small up front as it is. If either are deemed the best player available by Flames scouts I certainly won't be disappointed because they proved with Johnny that they know how to find good small players. But I'd be very happy to get someone with skill, skating and size. Last edited by Flames Draft Watcher; 06-03-2015 at 05:34 AM.