Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I would be very interested to see the Flames draft list. I suspect Gauthier is high up on that list. He checks so many boxes that Calgary needs and likes. Just because Bob McKenzie tosses out a list doesn't mean that is what the Flames list is going to look like that. Central Scouting had Gauthier as the 4th ranked North American skater, behind Tkachuk, Chychrun and Nylander mid-term. I'd take Gauthier over Nylander on the Flames, in a heartbeat. Nylander is the antithesis of what Burke and Treliving have talked about over the past couple of years. The Flames need size and skill. I just can't see them picking another undersized player in this draft. I also can't see them ignoring a player that addresses the pressing need.
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Mostly agree. However Nylander is taller than his brother and I think will end up average sized, not below average. But yes, its hard to imagine them taking an average sized player when there are many skilled big players to pick from. I think Nylander will end up bigger and stronger than a guy like Baertschi for example. He does have elite skill but its hard to turn down the big, skilled forwards at the top end this year.
I don't think they'll force a right shooter but its a nice to have. Dubois is ahead of Gauthier for many despite being a left shot. Gauthier did receive a top 6 vote from one of the scouts Bob MacKenzie talked to so its not outrageous to think he could be in our top 7.
It kind of depends how they view the defensemen. If they think Chychrun is a top pairing guy then I would think he'd have to be in our top 5. If they think he's a #3 guy then maybe they bump him down below a lot of the forwards and guys like Dubois and Gauthier could be as high as the 4-6 range on our list.
It's really hard to know. Dubois seems more universally admired and seems to be rising on all sorts of lists. Gauthier seems to average out into the 10ish range but certainly opinions will vary and some will have him top 8. He does seem like a great fit with his size and scoring ability and him being a right shooter but I think we may end up drafting ahead of where the Flames slot him in.
Certainly the CHL playoffs may help provide some separation for some of these guys. It'll be interesting to see how the draft eligibles fare.