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Calgary4LIfe · 06-09-2016, 12:57 AM

Logan Brown:

Why are people insisting that he is a lesser-skilled player, but think Nylander is some type of super-skilled player? They had about the same amount of points. Nylander was the slightly better goal-scorer, Brown the better playmaker. That can easily flip-flop. Also, board-play and puck-possession IS a skill, and Brown possesses it in spades. He wasn't some over-muscled, earlier maturing physical phenom that was running guys over to get his points, and who would look like he may not have that advantage any longer in the NHL. Brown is one of this year's most attractive prospects with his size, reach, skating, IQ and yes, one of the most skilled players available this draft.

Keller vs Jost vs Nylander:

For me, Keller and Jost are both a more attractive pick than Nylander - and I do have a bias for size, so why not pick Nylander ahead of those two, since he is the bigger player? Pace! Jost has an unbelievable non-stop motor in all zones of the ice. Keller is somewhat similar, but isn't quite the puck-retrieval hound that Jost is. Nylander is the guy who plays with the least amount of pace and consistency in his shifts, but yet was ranked as the fittest? Yeah, give me the two kids with skill that are only arguably worse than Nylander's (I think Keller is higher, and Jost is right around there too).

Why were the Pens and Lightning successful this year? It isn't just speed vs brawn. It is all about pace out there. Pittsburgh just doesn't look fast, they look they like are always going. Just a team that seems to be constantly moving more than San Jose, constantly backchecking, constantly out-working San Jose. They aren't just out-racing the Sharks to loose pucks. They are out-working them. Keller and Jost fit so well with Bennett from that standpoint, and with Backlund on the next line it creates a successive formidable puck-retrieval wave.

I like Brown because - last time I checked - board play was still a factor in the NHL. Nobody on the Flames is going to be able to protect the puck better than a 6'7" center with skill, vision, skating ability and IQ. Sure, try to take the puck away from him, and he will just go around you. Add that to the stable of Jankowski and Colborne, and suddenly the Flames have guys that can control larger sections of the ice, and have the size and eventual strength to both cycle effectively, and help stop a cycle effectively. That means something.

I don't know how to rank Keller/Jost/Brown - I really don't. But I do have them on another tier than Nylander (relatively speaking - it isn't like comparing Tkachuk's level to Mathews').

What are the Flames? When it comes down to it, what have the Flames consistently been for 30 years or so - minus about 5 years (give or take) post '04 run? Black and Blue? Sure, throughout a majority of those years, sure. Skilled? Not exactly. Fast? Not exactly.

They were a team of guys who played hard. That was the culture in Calgary. Even through the 90's, those under-skilled teams at least played hard most of the time. That is my best definition of 'hard to play against'.

Also, I think there is too much of an argument over position. Flames are going to draft BPA - who they think will end up becoming the best player for them, period. They are not going to rank a wingers higher in the list to fill a hole - holes fill up and show up (and sometimes glaringly so) from season-to-season, and there is a good chance that nobody the Flames select at 6 is going to be ready to fill a hole immediately.

Flames are also not going to rank goalies ahead of defencemen ahead of centers ahead of wingers. They are going to rank BPA. Johnny Gaudreau has more value than Hamilton. Patrick Kane has more value than Seabrook. You want to hit the most value on your pick, you draft the best available player. Sure, in the event of a hotly contested tie, you pick the more valuable position - and I believe essentially that is what Burke said. So, if they view Keller is better then Brown or Juolevi, then they will draft Keller. I am ok with that.

I have made peace with just about anyone that the Flames take there - even Nylander (who I feel doesn't fit the Flames as well). I am ok with them moving up and grabbing Puljujarvi, but not at the expense of someone like Backlund. Backlund is not getting traded for help up front - Backlund would leave a massive whole on the Flames that I don't think Monahan and Bennett will ever really fill even at their primes - he is a guy that plays with a non-stop motor against the best lines in the NHL, and not only shuts them out, but out-scores them while he is on the ice.

I am also ok with the Flames dropping down a max of 3 or 4 spots - my worst guy is Nylander, and I would be ok if the Flames drafted him at 6 (though not thrilled, I would be open-minded, and he unquestionably is skilled enough to be selected at 6th going by merit).

This draft is going to be an 'easy' one I think. The Flames have the top pick in the third tier - arguably

One final word on Logan Brown. Columbus thought enough of him to risk a fine and take a good hard look at him. He isn't Hunter Smith with a bit more skill. He has 'top of the draft skill'. Due to his size, he also instantly becomes the most dynamic prospect in the top 10 not named Laine. Why? Because huge guys with loads of skill can beat you so many ways. If Brown was 6'0", I am sure he would still be talked about as a top 10 pick, or near top 10. His numbers justify it. Those 7 inches (6.something) add up to a lot of puck protection, especially given his arms are probably longer than most prospects in the draft too. He becomes - next to Laine (IMO) - this draft's most versatile skilled forward because of his total package - INCLUDING skill.

06-09-2016, 12:57 AM	#5145
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Logan Brown: Why are people insisting that he is a lesser-skilled player, but think Nylander is some type of super-skilled player? They had about the same amount of points. Nylander was the slightly better goal-scorer, Brown the better playmaker. That can easily flip-flop. Also, board-play and puck-possession IS a skill, and Brown possesses it in spades. He wasn't some over-muscled, earlier maturing physical phenom that was running guys over to get his points, and who would look like he may not have that advantage any longer in the NHL. Brown is one of this year's most attractive prospects with his size, reach, skating, IQ and yes, one of the most skilled players available this draft. Keller vs Jost vs Nylander: For me, Keller and Jost are both a more attractive pick than Nylander - and I do have a bias for size, so why not pick Nylander ahead of those two, since he is the bigger player? Pace! Jost has an unbelievable non-stop motor in all zones of the ice. Keller is somewhat similar, but isn't quite the puck-retrieval hound that Jost is. Nylander is the guy who plays with the least amount of pace and consistency in his shifts, but yet was ranked as the fittest? Yeah, give me the two kids with skill that are only arguably worse than Nylander's (I think Keller is higher, and Jost is right around there too). Why were the Pens and Lightning successful this year? It isn't just speed vs brawn. It is all about pace out there. Pittsburgh just doesn't look fast, they look they like are always going. Just a team that seems to be constantly moving more than San Jose, constantly backchecking, constantly out-working San Jose. They aren't just out-racing the Sharks to loose pucks. They are out-working them. Keller and Jost fit so well with Bennett from that standpoint, and with Backlund on the next line it creates a successive formidable puck-retrieval wave. I like Brown because - last time I checked - board play was still a factor in the NHL. Nobody on the Flames is going to be able to protect the puck better than a 6'7" center with skill, vision, skating ability and IQ. Sure, try to take the puck away from him, and he will just go around you. Add that to the stable of Jankowski and Colborne, and suddenly the Flames have guys that can control larger sections of the ice, and have the size and eventual strength to both cycle effectively, and help stop a cycle effectively. That means something. I don't know how to rank Keller/Jost/Brown - I really don't. But I do have them on another tier than Nylander (relatively speaking - it isn't like comparing Tkachuk's level to Mathews'). What are the Flames? When it comes down to it, what have the Flames consistently been for 30 years or so - minus about 5 years (give or take) post '04 run? Black and Blue? Sure, throughout a majority of those years, sure. Skilled? Not exactly. Fast? Not exactly. They were a team of guys who played hard. That was the culture in Calgary. Even through the 90's, those under-skilled teams at least played hard most of the time. That is my best definition of 'hard to play against'. Also, I think there is too much of an argument over position. Flames are going to draft BPA - who they think will end up becoming the best player for them, period. They are not going to rank a wingers higher in the list to fill a hole - holes fill up and show up (and sometimes glaringly so) from season-to-season, and there is a good chance that nobody the Flames select at 6 is going to be ready to fill a hole immediately. Flames are also not going to rank goalies ahead of defencemen ahead of centers ahead of wingers. They are going to rank BPA. Johnny Gaudreau has more value than Hamilton. Patrick Kane has more value than Seabrook. You want to hit the most value on your pick, you draft the best available player. Sure, in the event of a hotly contested tie, you pick the more valuable position - and I believe essentially that is what Burke said. So, if they view Keller is better then Brown or Juolevi, then they will draft Keller. I am ok with that. I have made peace with just about anyone that the Flames take there - even Nylander (who I feel doesn't fit the Flames as well). I am ok with them moving up and grabbing Puljujarvi, but not at the expense of someone like Backlund. Backlund is not getting traded for help up front - Backlund would leave a massive whole on the Flames that I don't think Monahan and Bennett will ever really fill even at their primes - he is a guy that plays with a non-stop motor against the best lines in the NHL, and not only shuts them out, but out-scores them while he is on the ice. I am also ok with the Flames dropping down a max of 3 or 4 spots - my worst guy is Nylander, and I would be ok if the Flames drafted him at 6 (though not thrilled, I would be open-minded, and he unquestionably is skilled enough to be selected at 6th going by merit). This draft is going to be an 'easy' one I think. The Flames have the top pick in the third tier - arguably One final word on Logan Brown. Columbus thought enough of him to risk a fine and take a good hard look at him. He isn't Hunter Smith with a bit more skill. He has 'top of the draft skill'. Due to his size, he also instantly becomes the most dynamic prospect in the top 10 not named Laine. Why? Because huge guys with loads of skill can beat you so many ways. If Brown was 6'0", I am sure he would still be talked about as a top 10 pick, or near top 10. His numbers justify it. Those 7 inches (6.something) add up to a lot of puck protection, especially given his arms are probably longer than most prospects in the draft too. He becomes - next to Laine (IMO) - this draft's most versatile skilled forward because of his total package - INCLUDING skill.