Heading to the Draft

[Metro Gnome]

Steinberg and I are headed to the draft this season for the site. It's my first time down and I wanted to ask everyone here what you'd like to see out of draft coverage. Is there anything that you felt has been lacking in the past? Anything you'd want more of? We're going to be doing radio, writing and live chat type stuff, so we can cover a lot of bases.

Anyways let me know and we'll try to get it done.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Metro Gnome

Steinberg and I are headed to the draft this season for the site. It's my first time down and I wanted to ask everyone here what you'd like to see out of draft coverage. Is there anything that you felt has been lacking in the past? Anything you'd want more of? We're going to be doing radio, writing and live chat type stuff, so we can cover a lot of bases.

Anyways let me know and we'll try to get it done.

If I may offer a suggestion, try to keep interviews with draftees/prospects to a minimum - you just get cliches, and the kids aren't even very good at cliches.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Metro Gnome

Is there anything that you felt has been lacking in the past?

Yes, good news!

Just kidding ... I'm just morose.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Try to get some more interviews with the scouts if you can. Those are the guys that know the style the kids play best.

[Metro Gnome]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Try to get some more interviews with the scouts if you can. Those are the guys that know the style the kids play best.

That's a good suggestion. I'll definitely look into doing that.

[CofR]

If at all possible I'd love to know what the prospect interviews were like with the Flames, and if there was anything unique to the questions that the Flames were asking.

I also agree with Flames Draft Watcher as I'd really like to hear some comments directly from scouts.

[Da_Chief]

Yeah scouts and who else they had in mind with each pick, who they debated to take. Some inside scoop etc.

Every Flames newly drafted prospect's fav team growing up and if they only want to play for that team.

Interview other teams head scouts and ask who they think had the best draft.

Thanks

[flambers]

Interview Brian Burke for sure... The guy is liable to talk about how much trade talk there is etc..........

[Reggie Dunlop]

Give Dwayne Klessel a wedgie.

[Metro Gnome]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Give Dwayne Klessel a wedgie.

Best idea yet.

[dustyanddaflames]

I'd like to hear how the Erixon deal has altered the scouts approach into this year's draft. With Erixon and Aulie now out of the system, the once thought "deep" farm system in terms of blueliners, now appears to look awfully thin outside of Brodie. Does a deal this late (Erixon) in the season and this close to the draft, send scouts scrambling back to the boards - or were they prepared for something of this nature. Like others have said, a "behind the scenes" with the scouts would be much appreciated.

Also I'd like to hear from our scouts their views on our farm system - as we rarely ever hear from them, and it is usually our General Manager filling us in on their opinions. Who do they feel has made a jump they didn't see coming? Who took a step back? Where do they stand on our goaltending situation in the AHL?

These guys are the guys behind the scenes, but often mold what we see with the parent club.

[PeteLFan]

How deals are consummated at the table? Like prior to the pick how many calls do they get, and how close are they? I know you can't give details of nanes and things just some info thanks.

Thanks

[dustyanddaflames]

I'd also like to add, maybe touch on with scouts the difference in philosophy since the Sutter regime ended, and the Feaster era began. Was it difficult scouting under an interim GM, was there question marks on what they were supposed to targeting? With no GM in place, was there a cloud of confusion over the scouts heads? How does a change in General Manager alter their scouting approach?

So many questions for the scouts with the changes this team has undergone in the past year. Makes me want to get back into your industry Metro :-(

[Bezer]

Knee cap Glen Sather..

[Metro Gnome]

Thanks folks, lots of good suggestions. Keep filling this thread with stuff and we'll see what we can do.

[Freeway]

I'd really be interested in an interview with Tod Button discussing draft strategy. Is it more important to grab "the best player available" or to fill holes in your organizational depth chart or grab players that would be compatible with ones already in the system?

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would really like to hear Button's opinion on how much say scouts get at the draft table, vs what the GM says. I think it is a great opportunity in that Button has been here for 3 GM's (or is that 4 now? - not sure if he was around when Coates was GM).

I would love to hear how the Flames have changed philosophies with time and management (for instance, Darryl's seeming preference for WHL and Swedish prospects).

[icarus]

Would be interesting to ask some NHL scouts to what extent they think that Calgary's cupboards are indeed relatively bare.

[Metro Gnome]

I'm certainly hoping we can get to Tod Button. He's been around through 3 regimes now, so it would be interesting to ask him about how things change under each new GM.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I'd really be interested in an interview with Tod Button discussing draft strategy. Is it more important to grab "the best player available" or to fill holes in your organizational depth chart or grab players that would be compatible with ones already in the system?

He's answered that question in the past I think. They go for best player available with their high picks. You can then use the mid and late round picks to fill out holes in the system (forwards, defense, goalie, etc.)