Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
5 years of 1st round picks leading into the rebuild
2012- Jankowski 21st was drafted as a project player that needed years to make an impact. Sold as a top player if the org remained patient. They waited 5 years to get him in the show. He was okay peaking at 17 goals but fairly meh player overall
2023- Honzek 16th was an older player drafted who can turn pro next year. Team is excited but he is hurt in his draft+1 season
2011- Baertschi 13th. Highly skilled prospect that had a monster draft +1 year scoring 2ppg and lighting it up with 3 goals in 5 games on an emergency recall. He fizzled super quick and ended up busting. At least the flames capitalized and got the Andersson pick for him in a deal
2022- NO PICK (toffoli trade)
2010- NO PICK (Jokinen trade)
2021- Coronato 12th he looks to be a legit top 6 winger prospect. He had to be sent down but has been really strong on the Wranglers. He will be back later this year
2009- Erixon 23rd. Appeared to be a good prospect but threatened to re-enter the draft rather than sign with the Flames do Calgary was able to trade him for a couple of 2nds and a prospect. Erixon said need up busting
2020- Connor Zary 24th. Bright spot of the Flames season with 6pts in 6 games and looks like a legit NHL forward. Really nice numbers in his last few games as a pro
2008- Neimsz 25th overall. 15 NHL games a complete bust
2019- Pelletier 26th overall. An injury derailed what should have been his rookie year. Great numbers in the A so hopes are he can still be a player
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The comparison is interesting, but the key here is that we have hit on quite a few players outside the first round in this current iteration that have the potential to become really solid NHLers. Morin, Poirier, Pospisil, Kuznetsov, Solovyov, and of course, Wolf.
There are also players on the team right now drafted outside of round 1 from before this timeline too: Andersson, Mangiapane, Dube, Ruzicka, and Kylington would be here if not for an unexpected mental health issue.
There are only two guys that made the show with this team from our draft picks outside of round 1 in those earlier years (Gaudreau notwithstanding): Brodie and Ferland, and Ferland didn't last long.
I guess I'm saying that I have a lot more confidence in the drafting and development now compared to back then, which is exactly what you want if you're rebuilding. Beyond the high first round picks you earn for sucking, the key in making a strong team is trading your current assets for a lot of late 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks, and turning that into your secondary talent. I think the Flames are currently in a great position to do this.
So, go and trade all the expiring UFAs for picks this year or next, and use that to supplement the current prospect base and any other high end elite talent player that you get for sucking really bad. Do this effectively and you'll have a very good team in just a few years.