2025 Draft: Who SHOULD the Flames pick at 18

[Jiri Hrdina]

Going to set up a couple polls.
This assumes the Flames stay at 18.
It leverages the consolidated rankings from Bingo for players in the range.

And I'm asking not who you think the Flames WILL take. I am asking who they SHOULD take.

[RyZ]

Id be shocked if Bear is there at 18, which is why I didnt choose him, but all the other guys on the list have a pretty strong chance.

[bigrangy]

Of this list, Bear, if only so that Bear and Wolf can be teammates

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Id be shocked if Bear is there at 18, which is why I didnt choose him, but all the other guys on the list have a pretty strong chance.

Yeah I wrestled with including him or not.

[savardandjokinen]

If Bear is there, Bear.
If Cootes is there, Cootes.
If Reschny is there, Reschny.
If those 3 guys are gone, BPA.

I want them to take a C but I'd rather take a guy like Lakovic than a Nesbitt just based on talent.

[CalgaryFan1988]

You just know that Montreal is going to take Bear with the pick they got from Calgary and Carbonneau immediately afterwards.

[JTech780]

I wanted to choose Bear, but his achilleas injury is scary, not many players come back the same after that injury.

If everything is equal (talent, upside, intangibles, size, etc) you take the center, but with Carbonneau he is far and away the most talented player on this list so you have to take him if these are the choices at 18.

Cootes and Hensler would be next after that.

[Canada 02]

Would not be surprised if the Flames select Nesbitt

[circle]

Voted for Bear as I think he's in the tier above the rest.

If Bear isn't in the poll, I think Reschny has the highest upside and plays C, so him.

[topfiverecords]

No "other" option?

[indes]

I went Cootes because I don't think Bear will be there

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

No "other" option?

I can add any missing names.

[Toonage]

Chose Reschny as my understanding is Vancouver loves Cootes. My concern (?) would be if Montreal loves Reschny for whatever reason and Kindel is off the board. Curious who the Flames take then. Trade back I guess.

Also can't recall where I read it but I believe Reschny was one of only a few C that project to stay in that role at the NHL level.

[Sec214]

Ben Kindel or Cole Reschny.

Ben motors like few players.

Cole has the Hockey IQ and Offensive game to boot.

Late round wish - Bill Zonnon, Puck possession monster.

[fotze2]

Bear, he will help us get Dupont too! Heard he's a bit under appreciated according to other players in the league. Like Ridley Greig was.

[ComixZone]

Reschny is probably where I'd land. Upside is there, he's shorter but he's not puny.

Kindel if not Reschny.

[ForeverFlameFan]

My top 4, in no order:

Reschny
Cootes
Aitcheson
Kindel

[FanSince'01]

Like others I don't think Bear is there at 18. Went Reschny as I think he's got the higher ceiling over Cootes. But would be happy with both.

If we didn't need centre prospects so badly, Aitcheson would be a tantalizing player at our pick, if still there.

[rogermexico]

The Reschny profiles all remind me a lot of Zary. Is that a good comparable?

[TheIronMaiden]

Bear dropping to the Flames would be Huge.