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Calgary4LIfe · 07-24-2021, 10:32 PM

I think the Flames go with the following D:

UFA/Trade - Tanev
Hanifin - Andersson
Valimaki - Stone (would be shocked if he isn't re-signed)
Mackey - Kylington

I really like Kylington, but I don't feel he is an asset to the Flames any longer. I am betting he goes on to have an NHL career, but with the way the Flames are structured, and who Sutter seems to prefer, I think he will be gone as a throw-in on a trade, or lost to waivers (though it is tough to claim players as all teams are trying to whittle their own team down), and if he makes it, back in Stockton (which is better for his career than being a 7th or 8th D).

As for the draft...

I love it. I absolutely loved it.

I love players like Gaudreau, Mangiapane, Phillips, Pettersen, Zavgorodniy, Francis, Pelletier and now Coronato (though not exactly undersized really), etc., - they are all skilled guys (and some even have that grit to their game too!!). Then you have guys like Tkachuk and Monahan - no real speed to their game.

I like the look of this draft. Coronato isn't big, but he is an absolute goal scoring terror with tonnes of drive and already relishes playing a 200ft game. That helps, especially at the weakest position organizationally.

Over the years, I have really disliked losing players like Ferland, Bennet and Brodie - players that added speed, some skill, and (except Brodie of course) a lot of grit. It isn't about getting or not getting value for the players you lose (that's a different topic IMO, and one I would rather not get into), but it is about what you are removing from the team. All players that help this team win with what they bring, and all players who have a history of being strong playoff performers.

I like adding Stromgren, Huckins and Ciona to Heinemen, Pospisil and Ruzicka. Obviously they will not all make it (but I bet Heinemen and Stromgren do!).

I look at that '89 team, and they could beat you any way you wanted to play, and anywhere on the ice. In the middle of the ice, that team could match-up with any other team in the NHL. Along the boards? Yep, they will hurt you along the boards. Want a finesse game? Flames could beat you there. Want to play a really aggressive and chippy game? Yep, Flames got that covered too.

The '04 team could beat you all day long along the boards, and almost (the did dammit!) with the cup that year.

This is not to say that you can just assemble a team of big guys and think you can win. It isn't to say that a small team can't win either. I think it gives a team more options by ensuring that they build a skilled, fast and large team overall. Let the undersized players thrive by giving them more room out there. Make it harder for the opposing teams to shut down your team, especially in the playoffs. Discourage other teams in taking runs at your star players by being the bigger and nastier team to begin with. Make other teams not look forward to playing the Flames again.

I was really pleased to see this. Flames (even under Feaster) have been trying to get bigger. Feaster said it was a weakness organizationally. Treliving has spoken about it. Flames have tried to address it in the past. I like how they drafted today.

If I was to bet, Coronato, Stromgren and Whynot make the NHL down the road - and maybe a couple of others. I think this was a really strong draft. I like Whynot a lot.

I usually like most of the picks most years. Still like a lot of the picks from previous years in the organization too. I don't really much care how other people/organizations/outlets rank these drafts, or even how they rank the prospect base. Flames are continually ranked fairly low, but they continually draft and develop NHL players.

This was a good haul this draft. There will be a few good players I would bet. Unless injuries happen (knock on wood) that derail development, I am high on 3 picks, and see 1-2 more with legitimate upside to be happy about (Beck is a total wildcard for me, but I like this mystery pick).

07-24-2021, 10:32 PM	#29
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I think the Flames go with the following D: UFA/Trade - Tanev Hanifin - Andersson Valimaki - Stone (would be shocked if he isn't re-signed) Mackey - Kylington I really like Kylington, but I don't feel he is an asset to the Flames any longer. I am betting he goes on to have an NHL career, but with the way the Flames are structured, and who Sutter seems to prefer, I think he will be gone as a throw-in on a trade, or lost to waivers (though it is tough to claim players as all teams are trying to whittle their own team down), and if he makes it, back in Stockton (which is better for his career than being a 7th or 8th D). As for the draft... I love it. I absolutely loved it. I love players like Gaudreau, Mangiapane, Phillips, Pettersen, Zavgorodniy, Francis, Pelletier and now Coronato (though not exactly undersized really), etc., - they are all skilled guys (and some even have that grit to their game too!!). Then you have guys like Tkachuk and Monahan - no real speed to their game. I like the look of this draft. Coronato isn't big, but he is an absolute goal scoring terror with tonnes of drive and already relishes playing a 200ft game. That helps, especially at the weakest position organizationally. Over the years, I have really disliked losing players like Ferland, Bennet and Brodie - players that added speed, some skill, and (except Brodie of course) a lot of grit. It isn't about getting or not getting value for the players you lose (that's a different topic IMO, and one I would rather not get into), but it is about what you are removing from the team. All players that help this team win with what they bring, and all players who have a history of being strong playoff performers. I like adding Stromgren, Huckins and Ciona to Heinemen, Pospisil and Ruzicka. Obviously they will not all make it (but I bet Heinemen and Stromgren do!). I look at that '89 team, and they could beat you any way you wanted to play, and anywhere on the ice. In the middle of the ice, that team could match-up with any other team in the NHL. Along the boards? Yep, they will hurt you along the boards. Want a finesse game? Flames could beat you there. Want to play a really aggressive and chippy game? Yep, Flames got that covered too. The '04 team could beat you all day long along the boards, and almost (the did dammit!) with the cup that year. This is not to say that you can just assemble a team of big guys and think you can win. It isn't to say that a small team can't win either. I think it gives a team more options by ensuring that they build a skilled, fast and large team overall. Let the undersized players thrive by giving them more room out there. Make it harder for the opposing teams to shut down your team, especially in the playoffs. Discourage other teams in taking runs at your star players by being the bigger and nastier team to begin with. Make other teams not look forward to playing the Flames again. I was really pleased to see this. Flames (even under Feaster) have been trying to get bigger. Feaster said it was a weakness organizationally. Treliving has spoken about it. Flames have tried to address it in the past. I like how they drafted today. If I was to bet, Coronato, Stromgren and Whynot make the NHL down the road - and maybe a couple of others. I think this was a really strong draft. I like Whynot a lot. I usually like most of the picks most years. Still like a lot of the picks from previous years in the organization too. I don't really much care how other people/organizations/outlets rank these drafts, or even how they rank the prospect base. Flames are continually ranked fairly low, but they continually draft and develop NHL players. This was a good haul this draft. There will be a few good players I would bet. Unless injuries happen (knock on wood) that derail development, I am high on 3 picks, and see 1-2 more with legitimate upside to be happy about (Beck is a total wildcard for me, but I like this mystery pick).