Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by $ven27

With MacKinnon I think it's a cause of him being scouted for so long that people are nitpicking over every little thing about his game. Drouin may end up having a more productive career points wise but I feel that Mac will be the better all around player to be thrown out in key situations.

I don't think so. I can't recall hearing or reading a single slight about his game. It seems like all the scouts like him a lot, it's just many think others have passed him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The Bolded sold me. Marleau with Lankows defensive abilites? That would make a darned excellent NHL player for years to come.

I definitely agree. I would take such a player with a top 5 pick in any year.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

That's a big thing to consider.

I'm aging myself a little, but I remember back when Pat Falloon was drafted 2nd overall, there were some people that said he was benefiting from Whitney and not the other way around (Whitney went early in the 2nd round). This just reminds me too much of that draft.

I also think Mackinnon gets more benefit of the doubt because he was once hyped as a phenom. Hockey fans in Canada have been looking ahead to the MacKinnon sweepstakes of 2013 for the past 3 or 4 years. Now that 2013 is here, he is on par with his peers, but I think many people still think of the hype and are expecting that.

I do like that some people are comparing him to Toews. When I hear descriptions of him, he sounds like a Langkow/Marleau hybrid to me.

Thing is this is Drouin and MacKinnon's first season together as linemates, before Drouin came in MacKinnon was still well over a PPG. Last year he had 1.4PPG, this year 1.6 PPG, not that huge of a difference and probably more so his increase is just him getting more used to the league and getting stronger. Although Drouin doesn't hurt.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I also think that for all his weirdness, Kuznetsov is still going to come over to Washington and do really well (when he does come over).

Yeah they just need to be patient - because if/when he comes over he could be even better than Tarasenko.

There is a rumor over on HF (so take it with a grain of salt) that BOTH Kuznetzov and Forsberg were may available by GM GM during the year.

If true - I would try and take a run at Kuzy if I were the Flames.

[djsFlames]

I don't think Langkow or Marleau possessed his explosive speed. Gotta consider that element of his game, too.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by MikaelBacklund

The highlight videos of Mackinnon I've see remind me of Sam Gagner. I just read this article that someone posted on hfboards and apparently 12 of 14 gm's said they'd pick Drouin over Mackinnon and that Mackinnon is benefiting from Drouin's play and not the other way around.

to be clear, they were QMJHL GMs, not NHL GMs

[nik-]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yeah they just need to be patient - because if/when he comes over he could be even better than Tarasenko.

There is a rumor over on HF (so take it with a grain of salt) that BOTH Kuznetzov and Forsberg were may available by GM GM during the year.

If true - I would try and take a run at Kuzy if I were the Flames.

That rumour originated with Garrioch though so that grain should be a pound. However, it would have been pretty amazing if Feaster could have got in on that Forsberg action with one of our forwards. And yes, Kuznetsov please, but it was likely one or the other. Granted Kuznetsov might be more likely to come to the Flames since there is more opportunity for him here.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I don't think Langkow or Marleau possessed his explosive speed. Gotta consider that element of his game, too.

Prime Marleau was one of the fastest players in the league. If MacKinnon becomes a Marleau/Langkow hybrid that'd be a huge success.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by nik-

That rumour originated with Garrioch though so that grain should be a pound. However, it would have been pretty amazing if Feaster could have got in on that Forsberg action with one of our forwards.

Ah yes - I knew there was a reason to doubt it.
The Forsberg thing is interesting - there was a blog posted by someone about Forsberg and how the organization had soured on him.

There were concerns even before the draft of how Forsberg's game would translate to the NHL level - probably why he dropped. That coupled with him being dealt less than a year later for underwhelming return makes me believe there's something to it.

The 2012 was very weak on offensive players so if Forsberg had offensive upside for the NHL I don't think he would have dropped.

The 2012 draft is going to turn out to be really cruddy IMHO.

[Wronskian]

Originally Posted by $ven27

With MacKinnon I think it's a cause of him being scouted for so long that people are nitpicking over every little thing about his game. Drouin may end up having a more productive career points wise but I feel that Mac will be the better all around player to be thrown out in key situations.

Agree 100%. This happens every year.

[CliffFletcher]

Flames pick: MacKinnon/Barkov

Blues pick: Mantha/Ristolainen

Here's an interesting option at 32 (Penguins pick) with a bullet:

Samuel Morin D 6'7/200

I'm worried about all the undersized WHL forwards that may tempt the Flames (Klimchuk, Petan, Lazar).

[CaramonLS]

I haven't been able to find out a ton of info about Morin, but he looks to just be a brute. Like drafting Dingman in the first round.

[Dorkmaster]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Flames pick: MacKinnon/Barkov

Blues pick: Mantha/Ristolainen

Here's an interesting option at 32 (Penguins pick) with a bullet:

Samuel Morin D 6'7/200

I'm worried about all the undersized WHL forwards that may tempt the Flames (Klimchuk, Petan, Lazar).

Draft the best player. If you need to move out bodies at a later time to make room or need to trade the player at a later date then so be it.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yeah they just need to be patient - because if/when he comes over he could be even better than Tarasenko.

There is a rumor over on HF (so take it with a grain of salt) that BOTH Kuznetzov and Forsberg were may available by GM GM during the year.

If true - I would try and take a run at Kuzy if I were the Flames.

He also strikes me as a guy who wants to be "the guy" on the team. I'm not sure if playing with Ovechkin is as big a draw to him as we might think.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I'm worried about all the undersized WHL forwards that may tempt the Flames (Klimchuk, Petan, Lazar).

Yeah why would we take undersized forwards that fall due to their size.

Not like we would want another Claude Giroux...or a Jordan Eberle...or a Tyler Ennis...or a David Perron....or a Jordan Schroeder....or a Marcus Johansson...etc.

I am no draft guru but I have a feeling that late in the first round teams have had more success taking skilled guys who drop due to their size over taking the guy with size that has less upside (see Kris Chucko, Greg Nemisz).

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah why would we take undersized forwards that fall due to their size.

Not like we would want another Claude Giroux...or a Jordan Eberle...or a Tyler Ennis...or a David Perron....or a Jordan Schroeder....or a Marcus Johansson...etc.

I am no draft guru but I have a feeling that late in the first round teams have had more success taking skilled guys who drop due to their size over taking the guy with size that has less upside (see Kris Chucko, Greg Nemisz).

5'11, 6'0, 6'0

Petan is 5'7.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Would they have any interest in Cammy?

Doubtful they'd want a guy Cammy's age and with his cap hit when they already have a aging St Louis as well as Vinny and Stamkos making big money.

I would think they're looking for a d-man (or goalie depending on Bishop's performance the rest of the way) if they're truly dangling their 1st rounder.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

5'11, 6'0, 6'0

Petan is 5'7.

And he also listed Klimchuk who is 5'11" and Lazar who is 6'0". (Also everywhere I look Petan is listed at 5'9") Also Eberle was listed at 5'10" 174 in his draft year, or a whole 8 lbs heavier then Petan is listed at and Giroux still is listed at only 172.

I am just saying don't overlook players because of their size if you think they are the best player available.

That was the reason guys like Giroux, and Eberle got passed up until late in the first round and they seemed to work out alright. In today's NHL 5'11" or 6'0" isn't that small.

My point is at 28 (Pens pick) if Petan is still there I would take a chance on him. A guy who put up 120 points in his first season getting top 6 minutes in the WHL. My biggest worry with Petan is not his size but the fact he played on a stacked team, however he is putting up better numbers then Rattie, Nino, and Sven did as 17 year olds playing on similarly stacked Portland teams.

[Red John]

Would like to chime in on Petan as someone who has managed to scout him a bit.

Hope the Flames would grab him. First 17-year old to lead the WHL in scoring since Pavel Brendl.

Like his skating, has a nice crossover and takes good angles to the puck when he senses an offensive opportunity. Wins races to the puck that you don't expect. Doesn't have blazing top end speed but not a bad skater either...despite his lack of size and shut down defensive ability he could potentially be useful as a penalty killer as he anticipates well and would be a SH threat. One word: shifty.

Offensive instincts are great. Sees the ice well and delivers a nice pass, easy to control. Nice finishing ability as well, but really like his ability to beat defenders 1 on 1 with a great change of pace and has crafty instincts - will score from a bad angle catching a goalie off guard who wasn't expecting a shot or beat a defender with a change of direction that no one saw coming.

Obviously benefitted from playing on a great team and great linemates so his shortcomings obviously are insulated and masked a bit but as mentioned 17-year olds don't win the WHL scoring title without some serious offensive skill - and how often do you get the chance to grab that kind of player at the bottom of the first round?

Draft him.

[Dagger]

How do people feel about maybe moving up a few spots to get Shinkaruk?