For what it is worth, Craig Button has Barbashev VERY high, just outside of the top 10. I'll take him as my guess....
Edit: he also has Kamenev, who isn't on the list but is another Russian, even higher than Barbashev
I realize we are thin on solid D prospects but Barbashev looks like a skilled player with a lot of compete. I'd be hard pressed to pass on this guy if he's available. Looks like BPA if he's still around at 34. Doesn't seem to be soft at all, even drops the gloves at 0:40.
I really just hope we don't go Oilers and make a pick like Mitch Moroz early in the 2nd.
Well the good news is on precedent the flames have never shown any bias towards hitmen, let alone the way the oilers have been with the oil kings.
Some really good players left there. Hoping for the russian kid a little more based on some of the posts but happy with the draft regardless after today.
Hoping for McKeown or Demko in that order but fully realize that once you hit the 2nd round and beyond, teams lists all vary wildly and there's really no consensus so any pick can't really be judged for a couple years.
Especially considering how weak this draft is, a guy picked in the 7th round could end up as good as the guy that goes 34th. Going to be interesting to see who Treliving and co. have their eye on.
Never saw the Kanzig pick coming last year and hated it (still do) but you won't know for years whether it was bad or not and you want your scouts taking a swing for the fences when they aren't leaving a surefire NHL player on the board to do so.
It gets repeated ad nauseum this time of year but it remains true: it's a crapshoot at this point.
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Barbashev has impressive stats. May be the BPA, but likely gone 31-33.
I'd say wait until the late second to take a shot at MacInnis. He may just drop that far and I don't think he's worth jumping on with our early second. McKeown, Dougherty and Glover would be solid choices. I think we should take a d-man at 34.
My guess is that Barbashev goes to Buffalo (highest ranked player left, and they already have some Russians from the CHL in the system, which should reduce their fear of the "Russian factor"); Demko to Florida (their goaltending depth is pretty shallow right now, and he's the perfect age to step in when Luongo retires); and MacInnis to St Louis (not too many chances for them to pick a hometown kid); leaving the Flames their pick of one of the big d-men or Lemieux.
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I voted for McKeown, but then I went and read about Barbashev and became very excited about the prospect of getting him, though with the teams in front of us I'd be surprised if we got him, but man ... that would be awesome.
McKeown is the guy for me if he's still available. Has top 4 potential which we still desperately need in the organization.
If he's gone I'd be fine with Barbashev but I don't think he'd be in the team's long term plans (JMO) so it'd be more about taking the best player available.
Thatcher Demko could be a good selection failing any decent defenseman prospects being available. With Berra's departure there really only is Gillies and Ortio that have NHL potential as a goaltender. We could use some more depth at goalie.
Marcus Petterson is the guy for me after that on defense. He's huge and has a lot of upside. Needs to fill out still.
Anton Karlsson could project to be a good 3rd line RW, so he's on my short list as well.
Andreas Englund would be a great later 2nd round pick, so hopefully he's available. He's 6'3" and already plays a physical game on D, but can still move the puck well. Similar projection to Nik Kronwall? I hope so.
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