Quote:
Originally Posted by Samonadreau
Hypothetical scenario:
You are the flames and you win the lottery, you would be just as happy with one of the Finns as they fit a positional need and you already have a top tier 1/2 down the middle for the future. Do you entertain trading/shopping the 1st overall to one of the other two lottery winners to see if they want Matthews bad enough to put a big package together that would obviously include there lottery pick. Even if you know which Finn you want, you try shopping to the 2nd lottery winner.
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I definitely would consider trading down. Or (and I know I'll get flamed for this), taking Matthews and trading Monahan.
Having three elite centres sounds good, but I think it would cause some serious problems. You would be telling one of Monahan or Bennet that they have no future as a centre with the Flames. And these guys know what beings shunted to the wing will likely hurt their career and their career earnings. Just like the writing was on the wall for RNH the moment McDavid was drafted, the writing would be on the wall for Monahan or Bennet the moment Matthews was drafted. I'd just as soon deal one of those three assets right at the outset before things went sour.
If you traded down with Columbus, you could get a Rychel. Maybe Bjorkstrand. You might even be able to pry a Jenner (if Calgary added) from them. That's how desperate they are for a franchise centre like Matthews. I imagine Arizona would also offer a lot to snag Matthews. These franchises need an American superstar centre in the worst way.
I might even make a deal with a team picking 4th or 5th.