Another reason to what has already been added as to why Conroy was a little bit perturbed at Mathews in Switzerland, is that the organization has to spend their time scouting Mathews ONLY. I don't think there are many guys in the Swiss League that are draft eligible. Probably more in the Finnish league - and the Flames can still catch a junior game with more ranked prospects in the junior leagues in Finland than they could in Switzerland.
Even when the Flames were scouting Jankowski - in a league that normally doesn't receive a whole lot of attention scouting wise - there are other games in close proximity that they could see.
As for Nylander - he most definitely is on Calgary's list, but as FDW put it so diligently - probably further down than some other teams probably have him. Watch any Anaheim-Calgary game, and you see the Flames dominated along the boards and in front of the net for 60 minutes. They also happen to be out-skilled, but the skill that Calgary does have Anaheim negates it rather well by shutting down the boards and area in front of the net.
Can't contain Gaudreau? That's ok - just play him safe using zone coverage, and force him to take a bad shot. Have guys on top of Monahan and covering for a late pinching d-man.
Quite often, as soon as that puck is shot - and especially if it goes along the boards - Anaheim re-takes possession. I can't really imagine Nylander is going to be able to neutralize that tactic too much, but a big guy like Laine or Puljujarvi - or even Tkachuk - could at least force more turnovers along the boards (or just keep possession along the boards) and helping to provide 2nd and 3rd chances in front of the net. Flames don't get those 2nd and 3rd chances as often against Anaheim it seems as compared to teams like Vancouver (and not just because Anaheim is good, though it obviously helps).
Flames are desperate for a really big guy to try and re-gain possession along the boards on that top line. Just look at who they have rotated through that spot - Colborne, Ferland, Jones - heck, they even tried Bollig.
Flames obviously need more talent as well. If they play themselves out of a top 5 pick, I can see them picking Nylander with the 6th-10th pick - and probably closer to 10th. A team like Anaheim might be looking at Nylander right around 4 if they feel he has more skill than Chychrun, or Dubois. Difference is, they already set themselves up for a nice decade when they drafted Perry and Getzlaf, and continued to add average + guys on the roster through trades and the draft.
Cogliano is the smallest Duck forward at 5'10", and followed by Hagelin at 5'11" (according to hockeydb). Everyone else is 6'0" and up - including Getzlaf at 6'4", and Perry at 6'3".
Skill is still more important than size. As Flames fans, we can attest to that after witnessing the revolving door on RW for the top line. However, also as Flames fans, we can attest to how humbled this team gets when facing teams that have a few guys in their top 6 that are both big and skilled. Flames need to at least close the gap somewhat to be competitive, and that is why I wouldn't think they have Nylander ranked anywhere in their top 5, even if he arguably had top 3 or 4 skill.
Guys who are both big and skilled are so very difficult to acquire. Flames have a golden opportunity to find one now in what looks like a top 5 pick. I doubt the squander it.
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