Quote:
Originally Posted by Spinach
I kind of agree with the premise that the Flames don't particularly emphasize speed, even if Coronato & Pelletier don't really corroborate that notion. Mind you, I've seen conflicting reports on Pelletier's skating, so I'll just go by what I've seen on video and tv, and he's quick albeit not really a burner. Sam Bennett was also a strong skater taken early.
Andersson (his issues were more to do with conditioning, and he's since improved), Tkachuk, Zary were high picks all had questionable skating on draft day. I'd bet there are others, but it's hardly worth evaluating until we know whether they're even NHL material.
I'd like to see more burners up front for sure. Treliving has taken some strong-skating blueliners, though, in Kylington, Poirier, Whynot & Valimaki, and maybe a couple of others.
Now, a number his signings and guys he's traded for are either slow or average: Neal, Toffoli, Brouwer, Schwindt, Lucic, Hamonic and Chiasson.
Hanifin, Coleman, Kadri, Frolik & Gustafsson are probably the only speedsters Treliving's acquired (players like Huberdeau & Lindholm are fine skaters but aren't really speedsters).
|
Generally outside the very top of the draft you are going to have to compromise on something. Guys who have skill, speed, size and good hockey sense go in the top 5 or even higher. So once you get into the mid and late part of the 1st, you are looking at players who have a gap in one area or another.
To me i would prioritize hockey sense above all else, because it's the x-factor that can allow a player to over come a weakness elsewhere.