With the Flames staying put at 9th after the draft lottery the stars are really aligning for them to take Tij. The only question remaining is will he make it to 9th? I think there’s a very real chance he goes anywhere from 5-9.
From the Flames perspective, you ignore his last name and he still looks like an amazing prospect. One of the youngest players in the draft, has taken big strides every season, and very well rounded.
As an Iginla, you know he has been around professionals his whole life and obviously comes from good bloodlines. His situation reminds me a bit of the Tkachuk brothers. Scouts really picked apart parts of their game, but they were both instantly very good NHL players, no doubt partly because of how they grew up.
I get that the Flames really need to build up their center and defense prospects, but this is basically the very start of the rebuild. They need help everywhere.
I say don’t reach for position and if Tij is there then take him. The reality is the Flames will likely be in the lottery mix for the next 3-4 seasons and will have plenty of cracks and top center and defense prospects.
Who knows, maybe they get some luck and walk away with one of Hagens/Mckenna.
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