Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would be all over the Nichushkin pick. RW is without a doubt the very weakest position in the organization. Some scouts rank him as the best forward in the draft - certainly the highest upside. He is big, fast and super skilled. Worth the risk in my opinion. This guy could be a franchise player.

Also, I don't think a team should build around anyone, at any position. You assemble the best team you can.

[Stanley]

While I'm usually on board with staying away from Nichushkin, if done the right way (development-wize), at #6 he could be a steal, a beast and star RW in the making...

But damn we need a #1C...just don't know if any of Monahan/Lindholm will actually ever become #1C in the NHL.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Stanley

While I'm usually on board with staying away from Nichushkin, if done the right way (development-wize), at #6 he could be a steal, a beast and star RW in the making...

But damn we need a #1C...just don't know if any of Monahan/Lindholm will actually ever become #1C in the NHL.

Monahan will for sure be a center in the NHL. He has all of the tools to be one. Lindholm however is the wildercard there. He played wing all year in Sweden. Anyhow i'm sure the Flames will get their franchise center next season (Sam Reinahrt )

[Caged Great]

I think if Monahan is gone by 5, and you're left with a choice of Lindholm and Nichushkin, I don't really see how you don't take Nichushkin. I like Lindholm a lot, but he seems like a quality 2nd line center, more than a 1st liner. Nichushkin looks like he could be an impact 1st line RW.

[howard_the_duck]

Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but kind of ironic that on the same day a couple significant draft nuggets come out involving 2 teams that were rumoured to be in trade talks.

1) Colorado comes out and says they're leaning towards taking one of 3 forwards (MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov) with the top pick rather than a defenceman.

2) Calgary rumoured to be very interested in Nichuskin

It's interesting. Colorado trying to drive up the price by saying they're going after one of the coveted forwards Calgary is after, but Calgary saying they're in fact looking at a different player.

Could be totally unrelated but ironic it happens on the same day.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Stanley

While I'm usually on board with staying away from Nichushkin, if done the right way (development-wize), at #6 he could be a steal, a beast and star RW in the making...

But damn we need a #1C...just don't know if any of Monahan/Lindholm will actually ever become #1C in the NHL.

Trade Glen and Stemp for 4th overall.
With 4th draft Barkov
With 6th draft Nichushkin

[Trailer Fire]

Barkov and Monahan off the table? Yes, take him. If Monahan is still on the board I'd be a bit more hesitant...

I still wouldn't cry if this was the kid they took. So long as it isn't completely off the board like Domi or Hovat taken at 6.

[sun]

Originally Posted by Muta

Well, didn't Feaster say they want someone at that pick who can step in right away? V-Nuts is the guy that can do that the easiest...

Thanked for awesome nickname.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Miniac

Trade Glen and Stemp for 4th overall.
With 4th draft Barkov
With 6th draft Nichushkin

Then that night attend the David Poile "dismissal party" in Nashville..

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I would be all over the Nichushkin pick. RW is without a doubt the very weakest position in the organization. Some scouts rank him as the best forward in the draft - certainly the highest upside. He is big, fast and super skilled. Worth the risk in my opinion. This guy could be a franchise player.

Also, I don't think a team should build around anyone, at any position. You assemble the best team you can.

The guy may have an attitude, he loves to score and skates up the ice like he is on a mission. He is big and strong and says he wants to play in the NHL. I think he is definitely worth the risk. Some things are worth waiting for if we had to wait a year but I bet he would rather be playing in the NHL right now.

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by Miniac

Trade Glen and Stemp for 4th overall.
With 4th draft Barkov
With 6th draft Nichushkin

I highly doubt Glencross would waive. Never mind the fact Nashville would never make that trade.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If the Flames do take Nichushkin, I hope they have a solid plan for acclimatizing him to Calgary.

I hope they learned their lesson with Cervenka (granted he had a wife and newborn back home) and I don't want to hear Hartley or Feaster explaining away Nichushkin in a slump or being healthy scratched because he is homesick.

IIRC Malkin was able to adapt quickly because Gonchar took him in with the Pens.

I am not saying the Flames go find a Russian player to mentor Nichushkin, but a Russian ex-pat that lives in Calgary would be good also.

Burmistrov?

[Bar-Down]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I think if Monahan is gone by 5, and you're left with a choice of Lindholm and Nichushkin, I don't really see how you don't take Nichushkin. I like Lindholm a lot, but he seems like a quality 2nd line center, more than a 1st liner. Nichushkin looks like he could be an impact 1st line RW.

Yup my order would be (assuming the big 4 of Jones, Nate, Drouin, Barkov are taken):

1. Monahan
2.Nichusckin
3.Lindholm

Monahan is underrated IMO. In a normal draft he could be a top 2-3 talent. He played on a terrible team this year along with a 10 game suspension.

No doubt in my mind hes a top 3 talent in a normal draft year. We'd be lucky to have him

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Bar-Down

Yup my order would be (assuming the big 4 of Jones, Nate, Drouin, Barkov are taken):

1. Monahan
2.Nichusckin
3.Lindholm

Monahan is underrated IMO. In a normal draft he could be a top 2-3 talent. He played on a terrible team this year along with a 10 game suspension.

No doubt in my mind hes a top 3 talent in a normal draft year. We'd be lucky to have him

I'm not sold on Nichushkin. The talent is there, the size is there but the risk seems to be huge. The guy has a comfy KHL exit plan mapped out before even being drafted by a NHL team.

The Flames need to hit a homerun very badly with this draft pick but perhaps more importantly we need to avoid a bust.

- Lindholm sounds like the kind of guy that could develop into either a franchise center or a second line player.
- Nichushkin could either be a franchise RW or he will be playing in the KHL if things don't go his way.

Between the two scenarios, I'll go with Lindholm.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, and soon as something goes off plan (as tends to happen with an 18 year old), then what? What if he needs to be sent to the AHL? Do you not send him down? What if he refuses to go, as he's stated?

AHL? I not a big fan of drafting this guy, but this guy would be a 1st line player with the Flames next season.

Long term is where I would be worried.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by Fire

AHL? I not a big fan of drafting this guy, but this guy would be a 1st line player with the Flames next season.

Long term is where I would be worried.

What makes you think that this guy, who I believe put up 6 pts in 18 KHL games last season is a shoe in for 1st line minutes in the NHL next season? Are we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I'm not sold on Nichushkin. The talent is there, the size is there but the risk seems to be huge. The guy has a comfy KHL exit plan mapped out before even being drafted by a NHL team.

The Flames need to hit a homerun very badly with this draft pick but perhaps more importantly we need to avoid a bust.

- Lindholm sounds like the kind of guy that could develop into either a franchise center or a second line player.
- Nichushkin could either be a franchise RW or he will be playing in the KHL if things don't go his way.

Between the two scenarios, I'll go with Lindholm.

Why is this exactly? Because a bust would take us longer to rebuild?

Fine by me, every post you make I get the impression that the rebuild is on a stop watch.

If it takes 5+ years then so be it, the end product is all that matters.

Potential Franchise RW > Potential 2nd line Center

[albertGQ]

If Barkov & Monahan are off the table & for some stupid reason Flames don't want Lindholm. I'd rather they take Horvat or Domi or Shinkaruk then V-Nuts.

Jay is stupid (or whoever it is that gave him the marching orders) for wanting someone to step in next year. Even if we pick Monahan, I would give him only a 9 game trial & if he doesn't excel (not just survive, but excel), I would send him back to Ottawa. You know he's going to play in the WJCs and eventually get traded to a contender. He can have a very good junior year culminating with a Memorial Cup win.

I'd rather our pick do that then get 15 minutes of ice time a game, be a healthy scratch for 10-15 games, play in a losing atmosphere & potentially lose his confidence

[Cheerio]

I think everything being reported by media is posturing leading up to the draft. I think Feaster and co. said they like Nichushkin to encourage a team around 8-11 that likes him to trade up to Carolina/Nashville's spot to allow Monohan/Barkov to fall to 6.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Why is this exactly? Because a bust would take us longer to rebuild?

Fine by me, every post you make I get the impression that the rebuild is on a stop watch.

If it takes 5+ years then so be it, the end product is all that matters.

Potential Franchise RW > Potential 2nd line Center

I see what you did there. The opposite comment is equally dumb and equally true:
Potential Franchise C >>>>> Russian playing in the KHL

However, the kicker for me is that if both players max out their potential:
Potential Franchise C > Potential Franchise RW.

Either way, Lindholm sounds like the better choice.