Who will the Flames select with their first pick?

[JurassicTunga12]

Yep, I'm on the Lindholm bandwagon as well.

Don't think we can be Mackinnon bad unless we win the lottery.

Lindholm seems like he can do it all.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Yep, I'm on the Lindholm bandwagon as well.

Don't think we can be Mackinnon bad unless we win the lottery.

Lindholm seems like he can do it all.

In Sweden some refer to him as the next Forsberg which is obviously over the top, but I see him as a Mike Richards with a little more skill.

[Enoch Root]

If we drafted 1st, MacKinnon
2nd, whoever is left of MacKinnon or Drouin
3rd, whoever is left of the big 3

After that, rank your centres and take who's left:

Barkov
Monahan
Lindholm
Nichushkin
...

Stright-forward: one of the big 3, or a C

[djsFlames]

Drouin has really taken off since the WJCs offensively, while MacKinnon has actually had a bit of a slow down. Dunno if that means anything but also on the big stage Drouin did prove to be a step ahead. May not matter at all, and center is what this team needs help with most. So if MacK is there, you take him. But if he's already taken maybe you do go with Drouin over the next few centermen on the list if available. He's probably the bpa over the rest (after jones and nate).

Regardless, I think the team needs to seek out another 1st round pick via trade. 2 picks in the top 25 or so would be a big component of a quick rebuild. You bring up Gaudreau next season, and add one or both of these boys in if they're good enough to make the jump right away, and a new core could be established pretty fast. But they absolutely have to do the proper thing for the team at trade deadline.

[Baaarrden]

I would be very happy if Feaster could get us another first round pick for this year. I know we need a center, but I would also really like to see Drouin in a Flames jersey, so maybe thats where a potential 2nd first rounder comes in to get us a decent center as well. What will really piss me off this year is if Feaster goes off the board like he did last year and takes a prospect that would probably be available with a later pick. Oh, a second rounder would also be nice if Feaster could get that done too.

[kyuss275]

To early to tell. Flames might not have a 1st round pick. Have to think that the flames 1st round pick is up for grabs if the right trade comes along.

Hope they don't trade it and add another.

[dammage79]

Wow,, ISS has Nichushkin ranked #2 and While THN has him at #13. Tons of centers in the top ten to grab this draft. Lindholm is relatively the same in both mid-season rankings. Size wise he isn't the biggest but he is apparently a good two way center.

[Parallex]

Hard to say: We'd be picking 5th if the season ended today and there was no change via the lottery... If that were to hold today we'd be taking one of Nichushkin, Barkov, or Lindholm. My preference among the three would be Barkov but I don't think the Flames will end up that low if we're running in 10ish territory then I think Shinkaruk looks like the most likely option... drift on down to the middle of the first round (14-16) where Calgary has finished recently then I think you're looking at Max Domi as a reasonable choice.

After that the Flames don't draft until round three where I think they might take a chance on Taylor Cammarata... Feaster has taken a chance on a smaller Collegiate bound player from the USHL before (Johnny G.) so maybe he'll go back to that well and take a 3rd round gamble on Cammarata having the same success.

[Burn13]

Tod Button = I'm scared.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Burn13

Tod Button = I'm scared.

I think when Button has been given a free hand he's been OK, and anyway I think Weisbrod has more of a say than him in the end. When you look at the difference in draft strategy from the Sutter to the Feaster regimes it becomes immediately evident that Button has not been consistently running the show.

For an organization to go from drafting more than half WHL players every year to a heavy emphasis on US and college bound players overnight... no proof but I suspect that Sutter wasn't really listening to Button, just using him as an adviser and going "with his gut".

[HighLifeMan]

In the 6-8 range as the OP has predicted my list would be as following.

1. Sean Monahan
2. ELias Lindholm
3. Ryan Pulock
4. Darnell Nurse

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Hard to say: We'd be picking 5th if the season ended today and there was no change via the lottery... If that were to hold today we'd be taking one of Nichushkin, Barkov, or Lindholm. My preference among the three would be Barkov but I don't think the Flames will end up that low if we're running in 10ish territory then I think Shinkaruk looks like the most likely option... drift on down to the middle of the first round (14-16) where Calgary has finished recently then I think you're looking at Max Domi as a reasonable choice.

After that the Flames don't draft until round three where I think they might take a chance on Taylor Cammarata... Feaster has taken a chance on a smaller Collegiate bound player from the USHL before (Johnny G.) so maybe he'll go back to that well and take a 3rd round gamble on Cammarata having the same success.

If we're in that range I'd rather draft Gauthier. Huge 2 way center putting up good numbers this year.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Some kid who will be years away from the NHL or ever helping this team.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Some kid who will be years away from the NHL or ever helping this team.

That's fine, this current iteration of the team isn't worth helping immediately.

[neo45]

A good indicator of who the Flames like is to look at Craig Button's rankings.

I would say three prime candidates for the Flames to take at 6th-8th would be:


1. Darnell Nurse #9 on Craig's List
D L 6'3/189
2. Sean Monahan #7 on Craig's List
C L 6'2/186
3. Max Domi (as an outside, off the board pick) #14 on Craig's List
C/LW L 5'9/193

For the record I called the Jankowski pick last year because of how high he was ranked on "Craig's List". Sieloff was up there too along with Matt Finn who the Flames reportedly wanted as well. I think Nicolas Petan is a guy to keep an eye on if the Flames pick up a second 1st rounder from a playoff team

[GreenLantern2814]

Best centre available. No question.

[Canada 02]

Any more RFAs to offer sheet?

[Trailer Fire]

Am I just late to the party or is TTC getting bitter? Never noticed it.before.

[you got PHANUEFED]

I have a feeling Feaster is going to trade away our 1st.

[the_only_turek_fan]

The more I read the more I like Elias Lindholm.