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Calgary4LIfe · 03-10-2021, 01:47 PM

I have never really seen the point of 'what could have been', with the exception of the Flames having rumours surrounding a particular player that they coveted.

From the 2012 draft, all we know is that they had Galchenyuk 1st over all (not too bad in hindsight, considering he is currently the 2nd best point producer from that draft), and in addition to the players they selected, were also interest in Matt Finn (who only played 28 games in the NHL years ago).

I can imagine the revolt that would have happened in that draft day thread with the Flames taking Wilson though! LoL "Great, another Chucko, Pelech, Nemisz!".

I don't get upset much if the Flames don't draft my favourite player any longer, or seem to draft something else. I was 100% fine with the Kanzig and Smith picks as they were both players on the rise, but just didn't pan out. Jankowski I thought was a fantastic pick. At the end of the day, Flames picked an NHL'er instead of a bust.

I have made the argument that the Calgary Flames have become a strong drafting and development organization in the NHL since 2007. Year upon year they seemed to continue to improve, but it all started in 2007 when they tried to identify IQ and character as the principle traits they look for, and have continually added more scouts and development staff since then, as well as having their scouting department mature and improve through experience.

Since 2007, the Flames have graduated at least one pick every single season except 2009 (FU Tim Erixon! - but he at least looked like an astonishingly solid defencemen even in his draft +2 and +3 years), right up until 2018 (still too early, and the first pick that year was Pospisil at 105, so it will take time to get those picks developed).

Every year I look to see who the Flames drafted and research that player up myself, smile, and think of what may be. I have stopped going back in the drafts and figured out who we could have drafted instead.

When you figure in average draft pick number, plus number of picks, I would say the Flames are one of the top drafting teams - somewhere between 5 and 10, easily. I do wonder, however, if the same people who wish the Flames drafted Wilson are the same people being angry at the time over Kanzig, Smith, Pelech, etc. It is difficult figuring out if these tough players are doing well because they are bigger and stronger than everyone else, if they really do have translatable skills, and to properly develop them. I will never begrudge the Flames on taking Kanzig and Smith for instance, as if they both worked out this would probably be the toughest team in the NHL right now, and could play a heavy game as well as a skilled game.

This is something that I think future drafts are going to correct for (and it won't be because of Darryl Sutter). Even Feaster said it before getting turfed - this team needs some muscle and size. When you are always really good at finding skilled but undersized players in the draft, you often end up with a skilled but undersized team. Flames have been trying lately over the years (not just Kanzig and Smith, but guys like Carrol, Fischer, Pospisil), and I expect them to try and identify larger players with some jam to their game.

03-10-2021, 01:47 PM	#8906
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I have never really seen the point of 'what could have been', with the exception of the Flames having rumours surrounding a particular player that they coveted. From the 2012 draft, all we know is that they had Galchenyuk 1st over all (not too bad in hindsight, considering he is currently the 2nd best point producer from that draft), and in addition to the players they selected, were also interest in Matt Finn (who only played 28 games in the NHL years ago). I can imagine the revolt that would have happened in that draft day thread with the Flames taking Wilson though! LoL "Great, another Chucko, Pelech, Nemisz!". I don't get upset much if the Flames don't draft my favourite player any longer, or seem to draft something else. I was 100% fine with the Kanzig and Smith picks as they were both players on the rise, but just didn't pan out. Jankowski I thought was a fantastic pick. At the end of the day, Flames picked an NHL'er instead of a bust. I have made the argument that the Calgary Flames have become a strong drafting and development organization in the NHL since 2007. Year upon year they seemed to continue to improve, but it all started in 2007 when they tried to identify IQ and character as the principle traits they look for, and have continually added more scouts and development staff since then, as well as having their scouting department mature and improve through experience. Since 2007, the Flames have graduated at least one pick every single season except 2009 (FU Tim Erixon! - but he at least looked like an astonishingly solid defencemen even in his draft +2 and +3 years), right up until 2018 (still too early, and the first pick that year was Pospisil at 105, so it will take time to get those picks developed). Every year I look to see who the Flames drafted and research that player up myself, smile, and think of what may be. I have stopped going back in the drafts and figured out who we could have drafted instead. When you figure in average draft pick number, plus number of picks, I would say the Flames are one of the top drafting teams - somewhere between 5 and 10, easily. I do wonder, however, if the same people who wish the Flames drafted Wilson are the same people being angry at the time over Kanzig, Smith, Pelech, etc. It is difficult figuring out if these tough players are doing well because they are bigger and stronger than everyone else, if they really do have translatable skills, and to properly develop them. I will never begrudge the Flames on taking Kanzig and Smith for instance, as if they both worked out this would probably be the toughest team in the NHL right now, and could play a heavy game as well as a skilled game. This is something that I think future drafts are going to correct for (and it won't be because of Darryl Sutter). Even Feaster said it before getting turfed - this team needs some muscle and size. When you are always really good at finding skilled but undersized players in the draft, you often end up with a skilled but undersized team. Flames have been trying lately over the years (not just Kanzig and Smith, but guys like Carrol, Fischer, Pospisil), and I expect them to try and identify larger players with some jam to their game.