Flames 2013 Draft Hopes/Wishes And Fears?

[Freeway]

The draft is Sunday. Because of the long Flames tradition of awful, awful drafting (well, up until the last few years), I've become cynical, jaded and downright terrified of draft day.

I'm growing out of it, but I'm curious - what hopes and fears do you have for Draft Day?

I hope the Flames draft Elias Lindholm and/or Ryan Hartman.
I fear the Flames will draft a goalie, or trade away one of their first rounders for magic beans and/or a roster player.

[nik-]

I hope we take Lindholm at 6, but I'll be ok with Monahan. My fear is that Monahan gets taken by Carolina, or whoever trades into the #5 slot and then our management teams goes "clever mode" and bypasses Lindholm for someone meh.

[flylock shox]

Lots of picks in the first two rounds is what I'd like to see - particularly if they can move some of the dead wood to either move up or add picks. I am not keen to see them bundle first rounders to move up, but would love to see one of the later first round picks bundled with a roster player for another pick in the top ten.

They have so many options, I just hope they exercise them wisely and with a view to having a contender 5 years down the road.

[Henry Fool]

Hoping that they draft the unremarkable, wholly pedestrian Elias Lindholm and pass on the obvious superstar talent of Valeri Nichushkin.

[keenan87]

I really want the Flames to draft Lindholm, Zykov and Pulock (hoping the latter two drop)

[droopydrew19]

And just how is this any different from the thread that has 6200 posts in it already?

[doctajones428]

Hope: Monahan

Fear: Nichushkin

[jeffman]

Monahan Hartman and Pulock Pl0x

[dammage79]

Biggest fear of this draft? Going off the board at 6 for a guy like Horvat. Or taking a D-man with the 6th pick. Pretty open to most scenarios.

Hopes, A big trade up from 22 into 10-15 area. Hoping One of Nichushkin, Lindholm or Monahan end up in a Flames sweater. Also hoping for Ryan Hartman if they don't trade up from 22.

[Jacks]

Just pick the best center available, that's all I want.

[Cheerio]

Want:
6. Barkov/Monohan/Lindholm
22. Wennberg/Pulock/Mueller/Lazar/Zykov/Morrissey
28. Mueller/Theodore/Compher/Petan/Fucale

3rd round: Bjorkstrand/Dano/Diaby

Do Not Want:
6. Shinkaruk/Horvat/Nurse
22/28. Heatherington/Bigras/Klimchuk/Dickinson/McCarron/Bowey/McCoshen

[Dx54]

Hope:
MacKinnon

Fear:
Drafting anyone else

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Want:
6. Barkov/Monohan/Lindholm
22. Wennberg/Pulock/Mueller/Lazar/Zykov/Morrissey
28. Mueller/Theodore/Compher/Petan/Fucale

3rd round: Bjorkstrand/Dano/Diaby

Do Not Want:
6. Shinkaruk/Horvat/Nurse
22/28. Heatherington/Bigras/Klimchuk/Dickinson/McCarron/Bowey/McCoshen

Any of those combinations would be a pretty nice draft, but I'm not a fan of drafting Fucale. However at 28, meh, fine.

[browna]

Fear is Feaster getting an itchy trigger finger on some trades...getting talked into something that he really shouldn't do just because everyone is there in the same room.

Or, hear some rumor that someone may be available through buyout and clearing the decks as he did with Richards and Regher a couple years back...but missing out on the prize when all is said and done and in the mean time, taken a crappier return.

Hope is we move up to get McKinnon and Feaster gets started on the rebuild with some quality return for some of our available players..but I have doubts in both cases.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Dx54

Hope:
MacKinnon

Fear:
Drafting anyone else

Hate to break it to you but you're going to be in for a world of disappointment on Sunday.

[ClubFlames]

Hope: We draft Monahan/Hartman/Morrissey.

Fear: We trade assets to acquire post-apex players.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I hope for players in the following order
1. MacKinnon
2. Barkov
3. Jones
4. Drouin
5. Monahan
6. Lindholm

I used to think Lindholm was our best chance at a #1 centre but the more I read the more it looks like Monahan is a bit under the radar and has some pretty great offensive skill. The size, offense, Canadian, hockey sense, etc all adds up for us IMO. Would prefer trading up for MacKinnon, Barkov or even Jones or Drouin. But I'm feeling fairly comfortable now about the idea of landing Monahan at #6. Big wildcard is obviously what will Carolina do at #5. Will they deal away or take a player. Lindholm seems a decent consolation if Monahan is gone or you could take Nurse. I'd even entertain dealing back a few spots for a high 2nd or flip-flopping several picks with BUF who has #8, #16. #6 + #28 for #8 + #16?

I'd hope we could really get a nice win in a trade or two this draft as well. Seems like we should be peddling Tanguay and/or Cammalleri, perhaps others. Even a sweet deal down from #28 for a couple high 2nds could be good. Or a trade up into the teens to grab another guy we had around our top 10.

My fear? Drafting Nichushkin. He is very appealing and yet IMO has a lot more risk associated with him due to the "return to KHL at any point" factor. We really need this draft to land a franchise guy and one that can be counted on to stay for most of his career. So my fear is that he's clearly the best guy left at #6 and we're forced to take him despite the risk.

My other fear would be some sort of bad trade. Not super worried on that front.

[Ashasx]

See sig.

[trackercowe]

I hope Feaster is active on draft day. Trade guys signed to longer term deals (Tanguay and Giordano) for picks in this (or next) years draft, or prospects.

I fear Feaster will instead trade one, if not both of our later picks for players signed to long-term deals that would not benefit the true future outlook of the Flames. Also I'll lose my mind if he even considers moving next years first rounder.

As for drafting, take a forward with the first pick, and also make sure at least one center is taken (one that will potentially be a top two center). I also wouldn't hate trading one of our other first rounders for a couple of second rounders, as the difference in falling back a few picks that late in the draft could be negligible.

[VaporTrail]

Hopes: Lindholm/Nichushkin or trading up to grab MacKinnon or Barkov
Fears: we draft Monahan who never fills the shoes of true no 1 center

We do need 'Wow!'. 'OK' is not enough.