Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Who should the Flames pick at 6th overall?

Calgary4LIfe · 05-02-2016, 12:09 AM

I look back at the Flames in 89 - without a doubt, the best Flames' team ever assembled.

They were a big bad-ass team. Want to play rough? The Flames would roll over you and leave the skaters picking their teeth off the ice, and the goalie picking the puck out from the net. Want to play a skilled game? Flames had snipers, they had guys to dig the puck out of the corners and make plays, they had finesse players that could stickhandle in a phonebooth and then some.

Looking at Calgary's lineup right now, their biggest hole is on RW (ok, let's ignore the goalie anyways - the 6th overall pick is not going to be used to address that gigantic glaring hole), and it is with big, physical players that can make plays and put the puck in the net.

Teams like LA, Anaheim, St.Louis, etc., can look at Calgary and know: "Ok, they are skilled and fast, but really undersized and not very physical at all, especially in their top 6. Our job is to go out there and just make life difficult for their top 6 guys. Hit them every chance you get, but don't take penalties. Double-up on Gaudreau, but make sure you cover Monahan and pick up the trailing D. Cycle the puck in the offensive zones - no passing up the middle in the defensive zone!"

I swear that is what those teams use as part of their strategy.

Yes, having Keller on the second line would make it a bit tougher for teams to focus on Gaudreau, but the difference is essentially the same. It does not change the team dynamic. It does not give Hartley more options in how to modify the game's strategy. It just gives him another (great) weapon on the 2nd line, but all teams will do is write up Keller's name beside Bennett's, and use quotation marks to describe how to handle that line exactly as you would handle the top line.

I think it helps to roll out different lines with different types of players, and I think it helps to have both a lot of skill and a lot of size/toughness.

I really wanted the 2nd overall pick this year since Laine could have gone a long ways in addressing it. You can't double-team Gaudreau any longer. Laine could help disrupt the board play at both ends of the ice and make a solid pass to either Gaudreau or Monahan.

Now, Laine's ship has sailed obviously (and it was just a pipe-dream anyways), but that is the kind of presence I think the Flames require on the top two lines. I voted Jost - but only because he at least is a very dynamic player that isn't undersized. I don't think he is that less skilled than Keller. I think he is more skilled than Nylander and possesses a non-stop motor that would compliment Bennett extremely well.

I am a bit leery of Brown. I would pick Brown ahead of Keller without blinking an eye, though, and it is simply because huge guys with skill that you can legitimately put on the top line - or even at least on the 2nd line - are difficult to find.

I am not even talking about a Lucic type that runs over everyone. That would just be a great 'plus'. You need guys that can disrupt a cycle game at least. Hopefully guys that are good on the cycle so that Hartley can add that to the repertoire of his systems when line-matching against other teams.

With this 6th pick, give me the most talented big man, or give me the most complimentary player to Bennett so the Flames can at least roll 2 legitimate scoring lines in opposing rinks.

I think Keller is a heck of a prospect. I wouldn't HATE the pick. I would just be worried that this team - though very skilled - is still relatively easy for teams that are both big and skilled to defend against, or at least, neutralize somewhat. Flames have a hard time neutralizing the big teams. Gaudreau can still put up points against these big teams at times - it isn't like he just gets rubbed out all the time and rendered useless. It is that these teams know that if they force the Flames to play along the boards, the game is over. Keller - even with his all-world skill - isn't going to change it.

Ask me next week, and I may be hoping for a different player though. At this point, Jost is my pick, even though I think Keller is more talented. I do think that Jost has more talent than Nylander though, and a much better motor.

05-02-2016, 12:09 AM	#152
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I look back at the Flames in 89 - without a doubt, the best Flames' team ever assembled. They were a big bad-ass team. Want to play rough? The Flames would roll over you and leave the skaters picking their teeth off the ice, and the goalie picking the puck out from the net. Want to play a skilled game? Flames had snipers, they had guys to dig the puck out of the corners and make plays, they had finesse players that could stickhandle in a phonebooth and then some. Looking at Calgary's lineup right now, their biggest hole is on RW (ok, let's ignore the goalie anyways - the 6th overall pick is not going to be used to address that gigantic glaring hole), and it is with big, physical players that can make plays and put the puck in the net. Teams like LA, Anaheim, St.Louis, etc., can look at Calgary and know: "Ok, they are skilled and fast, but really undersized and not very physical at all, especially in their top 6. Our job is to go out there and just make life difficult for their top 6 guys. Hit them every chance you get, but don't take penalties. Double-up on Gaudreau, but make sure you cover Monahan and pick up the trailing D. Cycle the puck in the offensive zones - no passing up the middle in the defensive zone!" I swear that is what those teams use as part of their strategy. Yes, having Keller on the second line would make it a bit tougher for teams to focus on Gaudreau, but the difference is essentially the same. It does not change the team dynamic. It does not give Hartley more options in how to modify the game's strategy. It just gives him another (great) weapon on the 2nd line, but all teams will do is write up Keller's name beside Bennett's, and use quotation marks to describe how to handle that line exactly as you would handle the top line. I think it helps to roll out different lines with different types of players, and I think it helps to have both a lot of skill and a lot of size/toughness. I really wanted the 2nd overall pick this year since Laine could have gone a long ways in addressing it. You can't double-team Gaudreau any longer. Laine could help disrupt the board play at both ends of the ice and make a solid pass to either Gaudreau or Monahan. Now, Laine's ship has sailed obviously (and it was just a pipe-dream anyways), but that is the kind of presence I think the Flames require on the top two lines. I voted Jost - but only because he at least is a very dynamic player that isn't undersized. I don't think he is that less skilled than Keller. I think he is more skilled than Nylander and possesses a non-stop motor that would compliment Bennett extremely well. I am a bit leery of Brown. I would pick Brown ahead of Keller without blinking an eye, though, and it is simply because huge guys with skill that you can legitimately put on the top line - or even at least on the 2nd line - are difficult to find. I am not even talking about a Lucic type that runs over everyone. That would just be a great 'plus'. You need guys that can disrupt a cycle game at least. Hopefully guys that are good on the cycle so that Hartley can add that to the repertoire of his systems when line-matching against other teams. With this 6th pick, give me the most talented big man, or give me the most complimentary player to Bennett so the Flames can at least roll 2 legitimate scoring lines in opposing rinks. I think Keller is a heck of a prospect. I wouldn't HATE the pick. I would just be worried that this team - though very skilled - is still relatively easy for teams that are both big and skilled to defend against, or at least, neutralize somewhat. Flames have a hard time neutralizing the big teams. Gaudreau can still put up points against these big teams at times - it isn't like he just gets rubbed out all the time and rendered useless. It is that these teams know that if they force the Flames to play along the boards, the game is over. Keller - even with his all-world skill - isn't going to change it. Ask me next week, and I may be hoping for a different player though. At this point, Jost is my pick, even though I think Keller is more talented. I do think that Jost has more talent than Nylander though, and a much better motor.