[Sylvanfan]

Tkachuck was getting a fair bit of love on NBC's hockey day US pre game show on Sunday. Right now he does appear to be the crown jewel to emerge from the St. Louis minor hockey system.

It's taken 50 years, but we are starting to see pretty good hockey systems coming into place in Pittsburgh and St. Louis in terms of being able to produce multiple NHL players. Than consider guys like Seth Jones, and Austin Matthews from non-traditional hockey regions in the US.

Going into the draft I was wanting the Flames to try and move up to get Pulijarvi. Past that I really didn't have strong convictions one way or the other. I was mostly hoping the Flames wouldn't make a Logan Brown type off the board pick. As it turns out Tkachuck's early play can't leave anyone disappointed. Thus far he's really been a real gem.

In time some of these other guys may emerge, but early on, it's going to be very tough to be critical of the Flames grabbing him with the 6th pick.