Calgary Flames Draft 15th Overall in the 2015 Draft

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by flameswinthecup

I would be more then happy to give up a second to move up for Rantanen. I think he's going to be a stud.

A thought just occurred to me. I'm not sure if there's much basis for this but thought I'd throw it out there.

Any risk with taking a highly-ranked Finnish forward? The last few Finnish forwards selected in the first round are Mikael Granlund, Lauri Tukkonen, Petteri Nokelainen, and Lauri Korpikoski. Granlund, while a good player, has arguably not lived up to his potential, though he's still young. Tukkonen was a total bust (and, interestingly, fell from being highly ranked in many top 5s to 11). Nokelainen played 200+ games but bounced from team to team and struggled to put up any offence. Korpikoski is a pretty good 3rd/4th liner, but that's obviously not what we'd be trying to draft in Rantanen.

Julius Honka (14th overall to Dallas) and Kasperi Kapanen (22nd to Pittsburgh) were drafted last year and the jury is obviously out on them.

Two of the top-10 highest scoring Finnish players of all time are Teppo Numminen and Kimmo Timonen, defencemen, and they didn't exactly light the world on fire for points. Mikko Koivu is 10th all time with 500 points.

So what gives? Why does Finland produce very few high-octane forwards?

[littlereddevil]

If anyone is to fall to 15 for the forwards, I hope it's Barzal or Connor. I think these two are going to be very good for a long time. But it's highly unlikely, considering New Jersey and Los Angeles are likely to take them if they're available.

[Robbob]

Barkov is also Finnish. He isn't too shabby.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Barkov is also Finnish. He isn't too shabby.

Sort of. He's the son of two Russian athletes but happened to be born in Finland. Not really a great example of an exception to the norm.

[Poe969]

Finns make goalies and defensemen. On occasion they'll make a scorer but for the most part, a lot of good Finnish players are goalies, defensemen or defensive forwards.

[Yoho]

Germans don't make great NHLers and Draisiatl went 3rd overall last year. Don't read to much into nationality stereotypes, trust the scouts.

[Funkhouser]

I think if we move up, it is because we have a shot at Provorov or Werenski.

Most likely I think we stay put at 15, in which case I think we should go for the BPA, which would likely be a forward. The D prospects projected around this range have a lot of question marks and i think it would be safer to go for an impactful forward. IMO the following players would be ideal:
-Travis Konecny
-Nick Merkley
-Evgeny Svechnikov
-Colin White

I could also see us trading for a lower first-round pick to take a swing at a D-man like Kylington, Carlo or Chabot.

In the second round, I think we have an opportunity to grab some additional D like Spencer, Juulsen, Sompel

Third round just swing for the fences and try to find those gems like Gaudreau, Hickey which for some reason are undervalued.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

You missed Joel Armia and Teraivainen although jury is still out on both of them as well.

[FFF]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

You missed Joel Armia and Teraivainen although jury is still out on both of them as well.

Yeah, and Honka is a defenceman.

Anyway, I'd say Rantanen along with Barkov, Puljujärvi and Laine (2016 eligibles) is part of a new wave of Finnish high-octane forwards. Could be the result of some tweaking in our junior system. Rantanen I would bet the farm on.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Germans don't make great NHLers and Draisiatl went 3rd overall last year. Don't read to much into nationality stereotypes, trust the scouts.

I believe the reason Kopitar fell in the draft was cause of his nationality

One guy relevent to the Flames is Timo Meier, I doubt he would fall to us and it would be an easy choice to pick him if he does fall, but I am a little weary of Swiss players after all the comments on Nino (relating to Sven) and then Sven's "entitlement" ...

[868904]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I believe the reason Kopitar fell in the draft was cause of his nationality

One guy relevent to the Flames is Timo Meier, I doubt he would fall to us and it would be an easy choice to pick him if he does fall, but I am a little weary of Swiss players after all the comments on Nino (relating to Sven) and then Sven's "entitlement" ...

If Meier has the same agent as Sven and Niederatter, Flames will stay clear. Nothing but trouble.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

A thought just occurred to me. I'm not sure if there's much basis for this but thought I'd throw it out there.

Any risk with taking a highly-ranked Finnish forward? The last few Finnish forwards selected in the first round are Mikael Granlund, Lauri Tukkonen, Petteri Nokelainen, and Lauri Korpikoski. Granlund, while a good player, has arguably not lived up to his potential, though he's still young. Tukkonen was a total bust (and, interestingly, fell from being highly ranked in many top 5s to 11). Nokelainen played 200+ games but bounced from team to team and struggled to put up any offence. Korpikoski is a pretty good 3rd/4th liner, but that's obviously not what we'd be trying to draft in Rantanen.

Julius Honka (14th overall to Dallas) and Kasperi Kapanen (22nd to Pittsburgh) were drafted last year and the jury is obviously out on them.

Two of the top-10 highest scoring Finnish players of all time are Teppo Numminen and Kimmo Timonen, defencemen, and they didn't exactly light the world on fire for points. Mikko Koivu is 10th all time with 500 points.

So what gives? Why does Finland produce very few high-octane forwards?

I don't know....wasn't Granlund a 2 rounder? I think he's right where he supposed to be.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

I don't know....wasn't Granlund a 2 rounder? I think he's right where he supposed to be.

Mikael Granlund

[mile]

Redline just released a top 10 list of prospects not too long ago...and they have a Russian player, Denis Guryanov ranked #8 in that list. Has already seen KHL action for his hometown team.

I've been reading scouting reports on him and he plays RW, he's big, powerful, skilled, fast and shows effort in playing a 200 foot game...I haven't seen him ranked this highly anywhere else. I wouldn't use our first on him but if he does indeed have top 10 talent it would be tempting to move up in the second round and get him if he is still available. Anyone have an idea if he wants to play in the NHL? The reports on this guy sounds very intriguing.

Would he likely go before or after Svechnikov?

[Ashasx]

There's a lot of flight risk with Guryanov and I would be surprised to see him go in the 1st round.

[Gaskal]

LastWordOnSports has a glowing review of him but with flight risk Guryanov is ranked at their #45 overall.

[SuperMatt18]

With 3 2nd rounders the Flames should take a flyer on Guryanov.

[66Dukester]

I would love to see the Flames get Barzal, I can see him dropping that far though. Werenski would be a solid choice, but again, can't see him still being available. I have become a big fan of Brandon Carlo, he has Burke size and truculence. Check out what the hockey writers say about him, http://thehockeywriters.com/brandon-...spect-profile/

On another note why hasn't Treliving signed Dakota Mermis to an entry level contract, that kid is in his third Memorial Cup and is a free agent, he is playing huge minutes for the Generals. Brendan Ross says, "He’s an excellent skater, proven powerplay contributor and downright determined defender who was one of the key fixtures of the Gens blueline."

[flaming_potato]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

A thought just occurred to me. I'm not sure if there's much basis for this but thought I'd throw it out there.

Any risk with taking a highly-ranked Finnish forward? The last few Finnish forwards selected in the first round are Mikael Granlund, Lauri Tukkonen, Petteri Nokelainen, and Lauri Korpikoski. Granlund, while a good player, has arguably not lived up to his potential, though he's still young. Tukkonen was a total bust (and, interestingly, fell from being highly ranked in many top 5s to 11). Nokelainen played 200+ games but bounced from team to team and struggled to put up any offence. Korpikoski is a pretty good 3rd/4th liner, but that's obviously not what we'd be trying to draft in Rantanen.

Julius Honka (14th overall to Dallas) and Kasperi Kapanen (22nd to Pittsburgh) were drafted last year and the jury is obviously out on them.

Two of the top-10 highest scoring Finnish players of all time are Teppo Numminen and Kimmo Timonen, defencemen, and they didn't exactly light the world on fire for points. Mikko Koivu is 10th all time with 500 points.

So what gives? Why does Finland produce very few high-octane forwards?

Teemu Selanne?

I don't think nationality should play a role in drafting a player, history is one thing but if they are not deemed a flight risk and are the BPA or worth trading up for it you do it.

[Gaskal]

This thread could really use a poll on who to take at 15th overall.

EDIT - Oh I apparently just missed out on it