Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashes
I think the priority for the next few weeks for Conroy is to do absolutely everything possible to move up in the draft - somewhere between 5-12 and get one of O'Brien, Martin, McQueen. Someone with 2C projection.
In my mind, coming out of this draft with one of those Center prospects is the best outcome we can ask for. The 18th/32nd overalls this year are likely just adding to our logjam of future 3rd liners.
IMO the Andersson trade has to happen first, then some of those assets combined with the 18th overall are in play. Something similar to the Hamonic return.. a mid first + two 2nd round picks for Andersson.
As for finding a top line.. hopefully this next season is the classic roller coaster reversal where the Flames go back down below expectations and we come out of next years draft with a 1C. I think top Wingers can be had in trades and through FA once we have a new rink and a top C/D/G in place.
Hate it or love it, the draft is the lifeblood of the NHL and if we ever want to be a perrenial contender we need to either be lucky, or agressive, or both IMO. Last year we got lucky that Parekh dropped to 9, this year we might need to make something happen if we want another potential home-run prospect.
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I 100% agree, but I think we can get 1 of those 3 centers at 8 - 10. I also really interested in McQueen or O'Brien. Martin is a safe pick, think the other 2 could be the home run picks.
I also think Conroy needs to take advantage of adding a high pick in a weak draft as the opportunity could be there vs trying to trade up in a stacked draft.
For my experience, I can say with near 100% confidence that scouts were saying the following:
2004 was much stronger than 2005 - 2005 ended up with more impact players
2008 stronger than 2009 - fairly even drafts
2013 was one of the best drafts in decades and much stronger than 2014 - end results were fairly even after the 1st OV pick
2015 much stronger than 2016 - 2015 was the much better draft, but 2016 eneded up being a very good draft.
2023 was also labeled to be very strong and much stringer than 2022 or 2024. Too early to say right now, but often weak drafts end up producing close to or as many star players as stromg drafts do.