It's kind of funny reading some of the trade rumours around here. Some of us just looking for the thrill of seeing a trade. Trading our first+Dallas pick to Winnipeg, Columbus, Edmonton or Vancouver. I definitely think none of these trades will happen even if the Flames adding another draft pick. The top 5 picks will not be traded except maybe Edmonton to a team who desperately wanted Matthew Tkachuk and that team is willing to dangle one of their top defenseman plus their first pick and maybe another player(draft or roster player). Toronto is sticking with the franchise player Matthews, Jets will also stick with Patrick Laine(another franchise player), Columbus will definitely not trade their pick as he could be another franchise player. Edmonton and Vancouver will not trade their first round draft pick to Calgary except if they have to dangle one of their top young defenseman TJ Brodie or Hamilton + 1st pick. Chances of that happening is... it will never happen. So, the Flames I think will just pray that the Oilers will draft somebody else other than one of Tkachuk, Dubois or Nylander. I think the Flames #1 priority is to draft Matthew Tkachuk but I don't think they will be disappointed if they landed Dubois or even Alex Nylander.
Tkachuk or Dubois can play on the first line with Monahan & Gaudreau. Second option is if Tkachuk get picked by Oilers or Canucks, they can play Dubois on either 1st or 2nd line. If those two gets picked and we ended up with Alex Nylander, I can see him playing with Sam Bennett instead. As for trading down, I think it is kind of dumb move. Not a lot of time that you have a chance to draft one of Tkachuk(who is a good power forward), Dubois and Nylander who are both skilled player who can play with Bennett to create a one-two lines tandem. Right now, we don't have the player who can consistently play on the top 2 lines. Colborne and Ferland can help but they are more into a 3rd line players. Frolik is a good two-way player but he is more suited in playing with Backlund, who is an awesome 3rd line player. Bouma, Hathaway, Jooris and others are more suited for the bottom 6 forwards. Maybe Prybil or Shinkaruk can be top 6 forwards but it way too soon to tell.
So I think the Flames will keep their first pick (#6 overall) and just pray they can land one of the 3. Maybe the Dallas pick or their 2nd pick, I can see them packaging to move up the draft especially if the player they are looking for is available. Or they can trade one of those picks for a couple of picks and move down. That's just my opinion..
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