[stemit14]

Hypothetical scenario:

Flames enter the draft with 4 first round draft picks and 2 second round picks (after trading Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev, and Markstrom). Post-draft lottery, the flames are set to pick 6th, 22nd, 25th, 30th, 38th and 57th overall in the first two rounds. Let’s say the picks follow what the draft rankings from upside hockey say right now. And I’ll assume no changes in draft order outside of the flames dropping to pick 6th overall:

Chicago: Macklin Celebrini
San Jose: Ivan Demidov
Anaheim: Cole Eiserman
Columbus: Zeev Buium
Ottawa: Sam Dickinson
Calgary: Cayden Lindstrom
Minnesota: Aartyom Levshunov
Montreal: Berkeley Catton
Buffalo:

This is where my hypothetical question comes up… Tij Iginla is ranked to go right here in this scenario. What do you think the flames could/should give up amongst their picks or players to get this pick from Buffalo to draft Iginla? Or draft someone else instead of Iginla? What could Buffalo need that would tempt them to do it? Would it be a good idea at all? Would you rather the flames just keep the picks and players they have instead of giving up assets to make a second pick in the top ten of the draft?

I’ll throw in some trade proposals for fun (no idea if any of them are even close to reasonable as it’s rare for any team to pull off a trade to get a pick in the top ten):

A) Flames trade 22nd overall + 25th overall + Coleman (50% retained) for 9th overall + Connor Clifton
B) Flames trade 22nd overall + Andersson for 9th overall + Connor Clifton
C) Flames trade 22nd overall + 25th overall + 30th overall for 9th overall
D) (Three team trade) Flames trade 22nd overall + 25th overall to the Islanders for 15th overall; Flames trade 15th overall + 30th overall + Coleman (50% retained) to the Sabres for 9th overall + Connor Clifton