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Originally Posted by HitterD
I’m on the “get a second top 15 pick if you can” train for sure. I’m also reminded that the last time a team had 2 picks in the top 15 was Columbus, in 2022 with #6 Jiricek and #12 mateychuk, both D and it’s likely too early to tell much.
2021, again Columbus this time with #5 Johnson and #12 Sillinger, that’s looking a bit better but again 3 years later and Columbus is drafting top 5 again most likely. It hasn’t helped them turn the corner yet
Ottawa in 2020 went #3 stuztle and #5 Sanderson. Great picks, but Ottawa is still terrible 4 years later and again drafting top 5-7 this coming draft.
If the Flames are going to speed up the rebuild it’s going to take more than multiple top 10 picks, even combined over multiple drafts of multiple first round picks, the Flames will still need to be great at development, roster building, free agent signing and get done luck to be back in the playoff picture in the next 3-5 years. And if they botch this, they end up the next Columbus, Buffalo or Ottawa, rebuilding their rebuilds for 2 or 3 times after
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Good point. I really only have Dallas as the only recent example of a quick retool that was sparked mostly by 3 guys out of a single draft so it’s obviously not that easy when you look at those teams you mentioned that have struggled despite having multiple picks in the top 10-15 of a draft. Would love to see Conroy pull it off somehow though. I don’t see any of his top potential trade pieces (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman) ever returning a top 15 pick in any other drafts after this one so, if he was to do it, I think this draft would be his best chance for the following reasons:
1. Andersson has multiple years left on his deal at a very reasonable cap hit and right-hand shot top-four defencemen are very tough to find this offseason. Ottawa especially are looking for exactly what he brings.
2. Markstrom has restored his value as a starting goaltender and New Jersey seems to have a strong interest in him (hopefully they still do).
3. Coleman is coming off a career best season and he brings a lot of intangibles that teams want for taking a step in the playoffs. It would almost certainly need to include retention in order to maximize the return though. A team like Buffalo might be a fit… they are loaded with young talent but could use his veteran leadership and winning pedigree to take that next step,
4. Unique group of teams with picks in the top 15 that are “desperate” to make the playoffs next year - New Jersey, Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa. There is a chance their desperation to finally become perennial playoff teams after long rebuilds could make these teams consider trading their pick this year for the right package.