sorry if already posted, but Wheeler is a fan of the Flames class. Had them listed as a "winner", alongside the Islanders, Sharks and Capitals. He used the categories "winners", "overtime winners", "overtime losers" and "losers".
Quote:
The Flames have shown a willingness over the last few years to take some swings on talent, and after finding some on the wing and particularly on defense, they needed to find a couple of centers this year and really leaned into that with the selections of Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter, my No. 15 and No. 16 prospects, in the first round. Reschny is a committed three-zone player with real playmaking sense who was one of the best players in junior hockey in the second half, and Potter is the best skater in the draft for me and has real puck skill. If one of them can become a 2C and a second-line winger for them, they’ll be thrilled with their Round 1 in 2025.
Swedish center Theo Stockselius was a second-round pick for me. He needs to improve his pace and skating, but he knows that, and he’s a very well-rounded player in every other area. I think he has bottom-six forward potential if he can take some steps.
Ethan Wyttenbach is another sign that they’re not particularly worried about size on draft day. Wyttenbach, a Quinnipiac commit, is a late bloomer who was one of the USHL’s most productive players as a rookie this season. He can play the game at different paces and I think he was a fine late-round flier.
The Mace’o Phillips selection at No. 80 was a head-scratcher for me. I’m sure they see a towering physical menace and special athlete who can move and think he could become a fearsome third-pairing option for them someday. But he really struggles to handle and move the puck and I’ve seen him have too many bad games and moments over the last couple of years to see it. He’s definitely different from the other D they have!
My favorite Day 2 Flames pick was the selection of St. Andrew’s College forward Aidan Lane at No. 176. They found good value in Aydar Suniev, another SAC player who had legit skill and scoring but needed to improve his skating. Suniev scored 20 goals as a sophomore at UMass last year and has already been signed. I think Lane, No. 74 on my board, could follow a similar path at Harvard. He just needs the skating to improve.
The Phillips pick felt out of place for me, but I liked what they did a lot.
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as for the other Canadian teams, he had the Senators, Jets and Canadiens as "overtime winners", the Oilers and Canucks as "overtime losers" and the Leafs as "losers".
Well worth the read, as pretty much every Wheeler piece is.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...landers-leafs/