2015 NHL Draft

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Question: We know that McEichel have franchise, top center potential as players, which would answer any questions about scoring for this team for years to come.
Does Hanifin have that same potential on the back end? Does he look to turn into a Weber-like player that can lead the team at both ends of the ice?

Right now I think we need the former two more if it came down to choosing. Unless Hanifin is really that spectacular of a defenceman.

Yup some people say Hanifin is also a once in a generation defenceman. How he does in Boston College this season will probably help define how much of a gap there is between him and McDavid/Eichel.

His style is more comparable to Ryan Suter from what I have read (he also gets comparisons to S. Niedermayer), but he does it at both ends of the ice.

Almost every scouting report says he is better than Seth Jones at the same age.

[djsFlames]

^ Awesome. Thanks, that's good to know. Honestly there's no way we can lose if we end up as any one of the bottom three teams. If Hanifin can be a more offensive Ryan Suter or a slightly better Seth Jones for us, then that's good enough for me (if we are to pick 3rdOA). He'd be an excellent Giordano replacement in a few years on our first pairing.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by atb

This draft is sounding really good. Are there any pieces the Flames can move during the season to get another first round pick? Maybe Glencross?

The only one that would most likely have any sort of 1st round pick value at the trade deadline is Hudler.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

The only one that would most likely have any sort of 1st round pick value at the trade deadline is Hudler.

Even then I think there is no way Hudler gets a first unless he is having a ppg season which is unlikely for him to sustain over 60 games

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Even then I think there is no way Hudler gets a fest unless he is having a ppg season which is unlikely for him to sustain over 60 games

Yeah, I agree. He would only fetch a late 1st if he has 45-50 points in 60 games (which will most likely not happen). Every team is holding onto their 1st round picks as prized possessions (for those that do have one at least). I'd be more willing to shoot for another early 2nd round pick instead where they might not be valued as much. Every year, you get a couple of those 1st rounders that manage to get passed up by other teams. This is the year where I think we should grab another 2nd rounder, preferably a 31-45 range one.

[sureLoss]

One eyebrow raising thing about Hanifin was that he was left off the US World Junior Summer camp roster and no one is quite sure why (at least no one is publicly saying why).

What makes it more strange was that 2015 draft eligible Brandon Carlo was invited and Hanifin who is projected to be the top dman of the 2015 draft wasn't.

[CliffFletcher]

From what I've heard, in a normal draft (without generational talents McDavid and Eichel), Hanifiin would be the consensus first overall. Clearly number #1 d-man potential.

So yeah, if the pick top-3, the Flames are guaranteed a blue-chip superstar prospect.

As for acquiring another 1st, the only way I can see that happening is if we trade our 2nd as part of the deal. For example, 33rd overall + Glencross for 18 overall.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Yeah, I agree. He would only fetch a late 1st if he has 45-50 points in 60 games (which will most likely not happen). Every team is holding onto their 1st round picks as prized possessions (for those that do have one at least). I'd be more willing to shoot for another early 2nd round pick instead where they might not be valued as much. Every year, you get a couple of those 1st rounders that manage to get passed up by other teams. This is the year where I think we should grab another 2nd rounder, preferably a 31-45 range one.

Why would a bottom feeding team that has an early 2nd rounder want to give it up? Its not like they'll be making a playoff push.

I guess the teams in the 40-45 might but I would consider that an early 2nd round. Those are mid 2nd rounders.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

^ Awesome. Thanks, that's good to know. Honestly there's no way we can lose if we end up as any one of the bottom three teams. If Hanifin can be a more offensive Ryan Suter or a slightly better Seth Jones for us, then that's good enough for me (if we are to pick 3rdOA). He'd be an excellent Giordano replacement in a few years on our first pairing.

We can if a team that finished 27th overall or better wins the lottery.

[CliffFletcher]

nm

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Why would a bottom feeding team that has an early 2nd rounder want to give it up? Its not like they'll be making a playoff push.

I guess the teams in the 40-45 might but I would consider that an early 2nd round. Those are mid 2nd rounders.

Well, I guess what I meant in regards to Hudler is that his value (assuming he plays great hockey for another season) is he can get us a late 1st round pick (which no team will probably trade), or he can get us a 2nd round pick and maybe a decent prospect. I'd be fine with a late 2nd as well since the top 60 in this year's draft are talented prospects. Such a deep, deep, deep draft.

[sureLoss]

ISS released it's top 30:
http://www.isshockey.com/iss-top-30/

Biggest surprise is 6'4'' RW (shoots L though) Mikko Rantanen at #6. Must be very high on him

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

ISS released it's top 30:
http://www.isshockey.com/iss-top-30/

Biggest surprise is 6'4'' RW (shoots L though) Mikko Rantanen at #6. Must be very high on him

Interesting that Chlapik makes it in at #30. I expect he'll be a riser.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

ISS released it's top 30:
http://www.isshockey.com/iss-top-30/

Biggest surprise is 6'4'' RW (shoots L though) Mikko Rantanen at #6. Must be very high on him

Read this as Isis' top 30 - had to do a double take.

Just hope whovever we take doesn't have Kurt Overhardt as their agent.

[Poe969]

I'm surprised that the oilers signed "Vladdy Hockey" over some of these guys.....

Where is "Vladdy Hockey" going to be? Is he a top 30 guy or a second round kind of guy?

The oilers are no good crossover!

[ForeverFlameFan]

Depending on his performance, I would think he'd be a late 1st (imo), that's if he stays consistent.

[PeteMoss]

I have no knowledge of any of these guys, but most of these lists have a tremendous amount of American players. I'd guess that will drop as the year goes on. So many of the Americans play on the same team at 16/17 so they get more viewings as underagers.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I forgot to mention that he possibly could be overlooked due to size, much like Johnny. However, 29 other teams will have a stab at him, maybe in the 2nd/3rd round to be more realistic.

[Spinach]

Obviously it's preferable to get McEichel. Still, there's a bunch of players who should be of interest to the Flames, and that's based solely on position/size:

Hanifin, D (shoots L) 6'3

M. Barzal, C/RW (R) 5'11

M. Marner, RW/C (R) 5'11

O. Kylington, D (L) 6'"

C. White, F (R) 5'11

D Strome, C (L) 6'3

P. Zacha, F (L) 6'3

R. Andersson, D (R) 6'"

N. Roy, RW (R) 6'4"

D. Sprong, RW (R) 6'"

J. Roy, D (R) 6'"

There are lots of options outside of the top three, and that's not even considering the likelihood of the team just taking the best available player. Wow!

[sureLoss]

New York Times article on Eichel:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/sp...ckey.html?_r=0

If you are not a hockey fan, you may not have heard of Eichel. Those who have seen him, though, already compare him to players like Mike Modano, Patrick Kane, Evgeni Malkin and even Mario Lemieux.

“His first two strides are as explosive as I’ve ever seen at this level,” said Jim Johannson, a USA Hockey executive since 2000.

Kevin Prendergast, an N.H.L. scout and front office executive for 30 years, said: “It’s not just his speed; it’s his skill, his hockey sense. It doesn’t even look like he’s trying, but the puck comes to him. He makes things happen.”

Ed Olczyk, who won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994, said, “His reach — I haven’t seen anything like it since Mario.”

Eichel, a Massachusetts native, is not old enough to vote, but he is being called the new face of American hockey.

“I try not to think about it,” he said last week. “Obviously there’s going to be pressure, but you can’t let that get into your head.”