Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Walter Reed is an Oilers fan. They have drafted centres at #1 and #6 overall, wingers at #1, #1 and #10 overall. They haven't picked a defenceman in the top 15 since Plante (likely bust) with only Klefbom as a legit top prospect on defence. So them taking a defenceman seems obvious to everyone except Oiler fans apparently. Not like Nurse doesn't have a pretty huge upside either.

I would laugh if the Oilers take Nichushkin. Building from the wings in lol.

ISS now has Nichushkin 2nd overall after Jones.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...top-prospects/

I would laugh if the Oilers won the 1st overall again ...... LOL

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Walter Reed

Same senario .....

Not really. Nurse would fill an organizational need and their first round pick in this draft would be steep for what would essentially be their 2nd line center if they pick Lindholm or Monahan. They could try drafting the Russian but again they are missing size and grit which is what Nurse would provide. I just don't see another offensive player helping the team turn the corner as they are so lacking in defenseman and grit/role players.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Walter Reed is an Oilers fan. They have drafted centres at #1 and #6 overall, wingers at #1, #1 and #10 overall. They haven't picked a defenceman in the top 15 since Plante (likely bust) with only Klefbom as a legit top prospect on defence. So them taking a defenceman seems obvious to everyone except Oiler fans apparently. Not like Nurse doesn't have a pretty huge upside either.

I would laugh if the Oilers take Nichushkin. Building from the wings in lol.

Yeah I said it before I wouldn't be surprised if Lowe ignores their need for a defenseman and goes for a flashy forward. It's pretty obvious he doesn't have a clue how to build a team.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Walter Reed

ISS now has Nichushkin 2nd overall after Jones.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...top-prospects/

I would laugh if the Oilers won the 1st overall again ...... LOL

and pretty soon prospects are going to stop showing up for your garbage organization and sign KHL deals instead ....... LOL

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not really. Nurse would fill an organizational need and their first round pick in this draft would be steep for what would essentially be their 2nd line center if they pick Lindholm or Monahan. They could try drafting the Russian but again they are missing size and grit which is what Nurse would provide.

IMO the Oiler are not in any position to overlook the best player available regardless of forward, d-man or goalie, ... They are at or near the bottom of the league .....

[Wronskian]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I agree. I would actually say Drouin has more of a Forsberg sparkplug in him than MacKinnon.

I wasn't referring to the sparkplug aspect, just the taking the puck wide and driving the net aspect.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Walter Reed

IMO the Oiler are not in any position to overlook the best player available regardless of forward, d-man or goalie, ... They are at or near the bottom of the league .....

Yep they are continually at the bottom of the league for a reason. Their team isn't balanced and they keep using their top picks on the same type of player. It appears you and Lowe are on the same wavelength which goes to show just how rudderless the organization is.

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by keenan87

and pretty soon prospects are going to stop showing up for your garbage organization and sign KHL deals instead ....... LOL

If the organization is that bad, why would you care ....I'd think you would want that .... ?

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yep they are continually at the bottom of the league for a reason. Their team isn't balanced and they keep using their top picks on the same type of player. It appears you and Lowe are on the same wavelength which goes to show just how rudderless the organization is.

That might be, but if I were the head scout I'd still be pumping the BPA.
They could possibly trade one of those too similar players for one that fills a need ...

[Poe969]

because the oilers winning the draft lottery and/or getting a high draft pick just means that a good young player either has to go play for the oilers and possibly jepordize his career or go to the KHL.

[Wronskian]

I actually think the smartest thing Edmonton could do is trade the pick. That team needs veteren talent. It's almost like people are overvaluing you players and undervaluing older players these days. It's a solid mix that makes teams successful. We just happen to be missing the young component in Calgary..

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Walter Reed

That might be, but if I were the head scout I'd still be pumping the BPA.
They could possibly trade one of those too similar players for one that fills a need ...

If you are going to trade one why not just draft to fill the need? The fact is that a franchise defenseman will be worth more than one of those similar players on the trade market so you may as well draft your own. I can guarantee the Senators would not trade Karlsson for any player on the Oilers roster. You can argue that Nurse is the best player available when they pick anyway.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

I actually think the smartest thing Edmonton could do is trade the pick. That team needs veteren talent. It's almost like people are overvaluing you players and undervaluing older players these days. It's a solid mix that makes teams successful. We just happen to be missing the young component in Calgary..

I think they would be better off attaining those types of players with Gagner and Hemsky rather than their first overall pick but who knows. MacT said he was impatient....

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

I actually think the smartest thing Edmonton could do is trade the pick. That team needs veteren talent. It's almost like people are overvaluing you players and undervaluing older players these days. It's a solid mix that makes teams successful. We just happen to be missing the young component in Calgary..

I agree in so far as the Oilers don't have the right mix of youth and skilled experienced players with a certain dimension in their game but I wouldn't trade a high value pick with a low salary to do so ...

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If you are going to trade one why not just draft to fill the need? The fact is that a franchise defenseman will be worth more than one of those similar players on the trade market so you may as well draft your own. I can guarantee the Senators would not trade Karlsson for any player on the Oilers roster. You can argue that Nurse is the best player available when they pick anyway.

Fair question except d-man are generally slower to develop, but if Nurse is the BPA, then I'd pick him. Frankly there is no guarantee any draftee is going to automatically step into a lineup. By the time a team drafts a player and the time he is on a half-decent NHL team could be 2-3 years. The needs of the team could also change in those 2-3 years. Hall, RNH & Yakupov stepped right in largely because so deficient in skilled players.

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think they would be better off attaining those types of players with Gagner and Hemsky rather than their first overall pick but who knows. MacT said he was impatient....

I would agree, how many top 5 picks have been traded for a veteran player and prove it to be a good move?
Off of the top of my head I can't think of one.

[Wronskian]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think they would be better off attaining those types of players with Gagner and Hemsky rather than their first overall pick but who knows. MacT said he was impatient....

Fair, guess that makes sense. If I were MacT I'd be draft a Dman (Nurse), and moving Gagner and whoever else to get an estblished center like Mike Richards or someone. This is assuming that anyone would ever willingly waive to go to Edmonton..

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

I actually think the smartest thing Edmonton could do is trade the pick. That team needs veteren talent. It's almost like people are overvaluing you players and undervaluing older players these days. It's a solid mix that makes teams successful. We just happen to be missing the young component in Calgary..

I disagree. You never waste those high draft picks - especially in a year like this which can really mean a lot to a franchise picking high. Veterans as a supporting cast can be had for other pieces and lower draft picks. Having blue-chip talent year after year to come in can really set you up for years to come through play and for controlling salary. No smart team will give up a top 5 pick for a veteran presence. Other deals can be made for that.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yep they are continually at the bottom of the league for a reason. Their team isn't balanced and they keep using their top picks on the same type of player. It appears you and Lowe are on the same wavelength which goes to show just how rudderless the organization is.

You are right about the team needing balance, but you got to draft the best player when the team has a high pick. That's why Quebec drafted Lindros even though they had Sundin and Sakic. That's why Pittsburgh drafted Staal even though they had Crosby and Malkin. Sometimes you get lucky and the best prospect available happens to fill a need. But sometimes the deal isn't there (for a player or to move down) and you just got to pick the best player available and worry about team needs somewhere else down the line. Once you have those building blocks in place, you can move a Mats Sundin or a Brayden Schenn.

The key is to draft the best player available and turn those picks into NHL players.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FAN

You are right about the team needing balance, but you got to draft the best player when the team has a high pick. That's why Quebec drafted Lindros even though they had Sundin and Sakic. That's why Pittsburgh drafted Staal even though they had Crosby and Malkin. Sometimes you get lucky and the best prospect available happens to fill a need. But sometimes the deal isn't there (for a player or to move down) and you just got to pick the best player available and worry about team needs somewhere else down the line. Once you have those building blocks in place, you can move a Mats Sundin or a Brayden Schenn.

The key is to draft the best player available and turn those picks into NHL players.

But we're not talking about a Lindros situation here, where one player is clearly better - in those case, it's BPA every time.

But when you are talking Monahan/Nurse/Lindholm, talking about BPA is pointless. They are inter-changable with respect to likelihood of success.

Take the player that suits your situation.