[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Tkachuk switching from LW to RW isn't really switching positions, they are both winger slots and as I I've said I've seen many, many, many wingers switch sides in the history of the NHL without a problem. What does LW/RW really mean? It's where you line up for the face-offs. It's which defenseman you are supposed to cover in your own blue line. Outside of that wingers are apt to move all over the ice and thus the designation between LW/RW doesn't hold that much meaning IMO. As for character I think Tkachuk's is high so that should have him high on the Flames list too.

I take it you've never played hockey? The difference between wings doesn't vary much from a coverage point of view, but it is completely different from a physical point of view. Why do you think you have a right handed defense man on the right side and a lefty on the left? All the same things apply to forwards, but are amplified because of the speed up front. Taking all pucks around the boards on you backhand is certain to lead to bad possession stats and a lot of broken noses from being planted head first into the boards. The foot work used to play your off wing is much more difficult and usually only comes from playing it for years. It is not a simple change otherwise you'd see more lefties playing the right side.

Switching someone from centre to wing is a complete change of position. Certainly it is done at times but you have to see what their strengths are. Attributes that are good on the wing include speed, winning board battles, great shot. Attributes that are good at centre include two-way play, playmaking, face-offs, basically most of the things that McLeod excels at. I think McLeod's skill set makes him a natural centre. Some scouts have said Tkachuk could actually make a good centre as well because of his smarts and playmaking.

Switching from center to wing is much easier, especially if you have to dexterity advantage. The coverage is less complex and you don't have the same level of responsibilities. This happens all the time at all levels of hockey.

They addressed right shot d-men through signings (Wideman, Nakladal) and trade (Hamilton.) I suspect we'll sign or trade for a RWer and solve the issue that way.

This is true but you can't always rely on trading for weaknesses in your system. You have to draft them as well. You can bet the Flames were exceptionally happy when they got Rasmussen Andersson to address that weakness long term. Same should apply to the forwards.

They can't prioritize getting a right shot player in the draft over picking the best player, that would be stupid. Laine, Puljujarvi, Nylander and McLeod are the only 4 right shooters talked about as top 10 picks at this point. So if we don't win the lottery there is a very good chance we don't pick a right shooter this draft with our 1st rounder. I can't see the fact that McLeod shoots right moving him up on the Flames list significantly at all. I don't think right shooting is going to be a big deal at all to the Flames scouts. It's nice to have, it'd be a bonus but their list will not be based around it.

The Flames can build their draft list any way they want. Just because the basement bloggers suggest the draft should go a certain way doesn't mean the team's sees the draft the same way. If you are a follower of the draft you'll remember several instances of lists being leaked and them not being anything remotely close to what Bob MacKenzie and the ungreatful dead bloggers have to say. The NHL even showed the Flyers draft room a few years ago and they had six defensemen in their top seven picks, which flew in the face of what "the draft order" said. Teams will identify their needs and draft accordingly. Draft BPA is all about the BPA on your team list, not Bob MacKenzie's or Craig Button's. I suspect their draft list wil be very different from what the bloggers are calling as the draft order.