The Other 1st Round Picks

[hansmoleman]

I have seen alot of discussion on our 1st pick, but not much on the other 2 picks we have in the first round. After looking at a few mock drafts, it looks like there will be some really good options available late in the draft. Some of the players these writers have us taking:

22nd overall (via St Louis)

Robert Hagg, D, Modo Jr. (SWE-JR.) - Talented blueliner opened eyes with strong WJC for Sweden, and play stayed strong all season
Zach Fucale, G, Halifax (QMJHL) - touted as the best goalie in this draft class
Joshua Morrissey, D, Prince Albert (WHL) - Calgary native has lots of offensive upside

29th overall (via Pittsburgh)

Curtis Lazar, C/RW, Edmonton (WHL) - Finished the season strong; led the Oil Kings in goals with 38
Samuel Morin, D, Rimouski (QMJHL) - The 6-6.25, 202-pounder rose 53 slots to No. 23 in Central Scouting's final rankings; long reach and good 1-on-1 player
Eric Comrie, G, Tri-City (WHL) - Hip surgery shortened season, but talent level remains high; should be ready for start of next season
Kerby Rychel, C, Windsor (OHL) - Kerby Rychel was extremely productive last season in the OHL and possess tremendous playmaking ability.




http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=667662

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...-will-play-out

[Ashasx]

I would be mad if we wasted another 1st round pick on a goaltender.

We really don't need anymore goalies right now.

[ah123]

I agree - no goalies with our first round picks. I would really like Calgary to load up on the centre prospects in the hope that one of them will pan out. We have been weak in our centre for as long as I can remember

[zukes]

I can only really comment on OHL guys and am not going to pine for others that I have never seen play, or have only seen a handful of WJ games, like so many others on here do.

I would love for the Flames to end up with Kirby Rychel, Bo Horvat or Max Domi.

Kerby Rychel, IMO, will be a better version of his dad. Think 3rd line grit, Brandon Prust type, with less fighting and a little more talent at minimum and Wendel Clark less the injures as a ceiling.

Max Domi could be Rob Schremp, but he could also be a star. His ceiling is so high as he has skills that are just ridiculous. Personally I think he will be a better NHL'er than junior player as he makes passes and plays where the other guys on the ice just can't grasp what he is doing. Ray Whitney with better defense and skating maybe?

Bo Horvat is a Rod Brind 'Amour type at worst IMO. Dude can play PP, PK, even strength, late in the game down or up a goal. He has taken on the role that Austin Watson had in London last year, Watson is another player who I think will excell in the NHL, was nice to see him get a shot at the end of the year.

[SuperMatt18]

No goalies.

Really like the sounds of JT Compher at 29 if he is still there. Agitating center that has drawn comparisons to Claude Lemieux and Ryan Kesler. Sign me up.

[kyuss275]

Some great prospects on that list. I drool at getting Lazar with the last 1st round pick.

My problem is that i think Feaster will trade one of those 2 picks for a NHL player. I really hope he doesn't, because i have way more faith with Weisbrod drafting rather than player trades.

[Imported_Aussie]

No goalies this draft unless someone scouts like slides into 5th round or later. Have a lot of guys in the pipeline.

I would like Rychel in there, looks good as another centre to have in the system.

[tomo]

I really hope we can package one (or both) of those picks & perhaps even a roster player to get another top 6 pick.

[zukes]

Also, watch for a kid named Remi Elie (not in the 1st round though). He has slowly moved up draft boards this year. He was given a chance early this year when the Knights had injuries and suspensions, but went back down to the 4th line when players returned. He has moved back up late in the season and the playoffs.

I bet next year he lights up the OHL when some of the players ahead of him on the Knights depth chart move on.

[Wolven]

Thing is, it is a lot easier to discuss the #6 pick than the other two. Depending on the outcome of the playoffs, the STL pick could be anywhere from 20-30 and the Pens pick could be anywhere from 25-30.

Personally, I would be willing to package up one of our two late first round picks to jump up the draft and acquire MacKinnon. The only way I see that happening is if Jones and Drouin go 1 and 2 and then Tampa may be willing to trade down and grab Nurse + someone in the 20s.

Having said that, I am assuming that we pick a C with our first pick. Our other two picks I would really like go toward finding a D and either another C or RW.

I like the looks of Lazar and Morin for those late picks. Mueller also sounds like a big Dman with fast feet.

Stay away from goalies.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by tomo

I really hope we can package one (or both) of those picks & perhaps even a roster player to get another top 6 pick.

Unless Sven is the player being packaged it's not going to happen.

[calumniate]

Apparently Edmonton is going to draft Lazar at 7

[nfotiu]

Yikes, hope we don't seriously consider using a 1st round pick on a goalie who already has had hip surgery.

[albertGQ]

Why didn't Warren name his kid Max like the rest of the former NHLers???

[Canada 02]

if Fred Gauthier is as good as some of the online descriptions, then add that to his monster size at center - he sounds like a very appealing package

[Freeway]

I want Ryan Hartman with one of these.

[moon]

Don't mind Fucale with the Pens pick, especially at 30. I think too much gets made about picking goalies first round and with 3 picks and a late pick that rarely turns out this could be time to take a shot at the top guy in the draft.

I would say I hope they stay away from American College kids but doubt that they can/will.

Would feel a lot better if Feaster and Weisbrod were canned before the draft but that seems unlikely so guess we will have to pray that they get lucky and don't f it up trying to be so much smarter than everyone else.

[albertGQ]

I want Nic Petan with the blues or pens pick

[Weiser Wonder]

The Flames shouldn't even consider a goalie with the first round pick. The Flames already have many decent goaltending prospects in the system. Along with that facts that goalies mature slowly and are extremely difficult to project, it's a no-brainer the Flames should avoid goalies.

I also have the more controversial stance that centers should be favored greatly in first round selections. It's nearly impossible these days to trade for a good two-way center, let alone a star center. You can get your hands on quality wingers, defensemen and goalies much easier.

[Robbob]

These lower picks are much more dependent on how things pan out. If the opportunity came up to grab a player that is falling a bit I think you do it. Wouldn't mind Shinkurak or Zadorov if they fell far enough (last year buffalo gave a second rounder to move up to 14 from 21. I know we don't have a second but maybe next years 2nd could be used).

Kind of like the approach of using all the picks on C's to see if between the picks this year and Jankowski we can find a couple top 6 C's. In the end it should probably just be BPA since we have a lot of holes to fill.