[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Steve's Stick

I could be misunderstanding the OP, but I think I see the concern - as a hypothetical:

Let's says the Flames are expecting to end-up 2-5 OV, are certain about Lawrence - see him as a future elite center, it's a premium position which they desperately need - but then end up 1 OV

Does an org in that situation then go McKenna/Stenberg because of they are BPA (at least by consensus)? Do they concede from drafting need and their belief in Lawrence to take BPA?

Could they be better off taking the arguably lesser player in a premium position, but feel pressured given it's 1 OV to take the BPA?

We've seen teams prioritize need recently over BPA: MTL passed on Michkov for Reinbacher, CHI Levshunov over Demidov. But not to my recollection at 1OV.

This would be very difficult to do at 1OV.

However, as others have said, the Flames scouts have been outstanding under Conroy, so I will trust they have this thought through. The org can probably weight the value of the position relative to the skill and make the best value choice.

It is an interesting question though - you'd hate for the Flames to Yakupov this.

I think most of your concern depends greatly on the idea that clubs review and rely somewhat on the "consensus" list and an assumption that those picks you mention were picked for position rather than BPA. Is it not just as likely that they viewed those as the best picks? Similarly, if the Flames think Lawrence is the best pick, they should pick him. I get that positional need may influence the pick to some degree (if 2 players are in a tier, they may prioritize one over another), but I would think picks are almost always BPA - according to that team's list.