Who will the Flames select with their first pick?

[Zulu29]

The Shanko Lando jokes are getting old.

[Trailer Fire]

I don't know much about Lindholm, anyone wanna sell me on him? I'd like to know more.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Top centres available as ranked by Button:

1. MacKinnon (2nd overall)
2. Barkov (3rd overall)
3. Monahan (6th overall)
4. Lindholm (7th overall)
5. Shinkaruk (12th overall)(Also C/RW)
6. Domi (14th overall)(Also C/LW)
7. Wennberg (18th overall)
8. Gauthier (19th overall)
9. Klimchuk (21st overall)(Also C/LW)
10.Horvat (22nd overall)(Also C/LW)
11. Lazar (24th overall)
12. Compher (27th overall)
13. Hartman (29th overall)(Also C/RW)

Thirteen centres currently have first-round grades. Taking anything but a centre in the first, given where we will likely draft and who will be available, is inexcusable.

Centre depth in hockey is like having a franchise quarterback in the NFL. They hide most of the weaknesses on a team. The Patriots secondary might as well be called a tertiary, but the Patriots are always Super Bowl contenders because Tom Brady is one of the three best people in the world at what he does.

To contend for a championship, you need two number one centres. Much like in the NBA, you need a big 3, or you aren't winning anything. You need those centres because they can play with anyone; they keep your winger salaries down. You can play a great centre with Lee Stempniak and all will be well.

There are eight players on the Calgary Flames who make more money than any centre on the roster. That's why the team won't make the playoffs for a fourth straight year. Until we fix this issue, the ending is going to be the same.

So go forth and git er done, Feaster. Or whoever is in charge at the draft.

I would take any of those top six centers if available where we pick.

It's likely that at least one of Monahan, Lindholm, and Shinkaruk are available when the Flames pick.

I would also like the Flames to try and add an early second to hopefully get a shot at Nic Petan.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

A lot of those c/w players will end up as wingers in the NHL IMO. Converting junior centres to wingers is a frequent phenomenon as we know from tanguay, cammalleri, horak, etc.

If we're drafting top 5-6 then I say yes, force a centre this year. Otherwise it still makes sense to draft the best player available. No point turning down a top pairing defencemen to force drafting a 2nd/3rd line centre. Don't get me wrong I'm desperately hoping like every year that we finally find our franchise centre. But you can't ignore the other positions if we're drafting outside the top 5. We need to get the best asset available.

If we got a 2nd line centre in the middle of the first round, that would be huge. I just can't stand the thought of drafting another winger.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

This team needs franchise type players regardless of position. Center depth is important, but so is defence, goaltending and wings. I hope the best player available is a center when the Flames draft, but more importantly a guy that could potentially be a franchise-type player.

Centres are more important than every other position on the ice. The Pittsburgh Penguins are decidedly average at every position except centre, James Neal, and Kris Letang. Yet they're a championship threat.

Wingers are nice luxuries. They're shiny toys. But if I had four $7 million centres, a $6 million defence man, a $3 million goalie, and a smart coach, tell me where I'm finishing every year.

Now give me eight guys that make more money than my highest paid centre, and then tell me why that's not the reason I have a 16% chance of making the playoffs a month before the trade deadline.

[North East Goon]

I would still take Seth Jones @ #1.

[ComixZone]

I have trouble understanding why fans of THIS team would pick anything other than a center.

If the last (nearly) 20 years have taught us all anything, it's that you can't get 1st line centers outside of drafting and developing them yourself. And if the last 4 years have taught us anything, it's that this team refuses to rebuild - meaning it's unlikely we'll get to draft in the top 10 two years in a row because this team will spend to the cap to ensure they draft between 10th and 14th.

So if we get a gift of a season like this one, where picking in the top 10 is almost unavoidable - we NEED to draft a center.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

If we got a 2nd line centre in the middle of the first round, that would be huge. I just can't stand the thought of drafting another winger.

Between Backlund, Horak (if we converted him back to C), Granlund and perhaps Reinhart, Street and Jankowski we should have the 2nd line C role covered for many years. And perhaps Jankowski will blossom into the 1st line centre we need. Add in potential checking centres in Arnold, Deblouw, etc and C is arguably one of our deeper positions in terms of prospects/young players.

IMO taking a 2nd line centre over a 1st line winger or top pairing D-man would be counterproductive. For top line young wingers we have Gaudreau and Sven and both are below average in size. Getting a young powerforward who could replace Iginla would be more valuable than another 2nd line centre IMO. Outside of Brodie none of our young D-men really look to be top 3 guys so that is another area we are arguably as weak or even weaker. People aren't as concerned about D because we currently have Bouwmeester, Wideman, Giordano signed longish term but our D prospects aren't crazy exciting.

I don't think people should be complaining if the Flames take the best available C, W or D. Forcing a centre in Sven's year would have resulted in us taking Mark McNeill who is worth significantly less as an asset right now than Baerstchi is. And even if we took another winger it would give Feaster the option of dealing one of Baertschi, Gaudreau or the new winger in a package for a 1st line centre. The Flames need as many high value assets as they can get.

[PeteLFan]

Regardless of need there's no way I take a center if drouin is in the board, you don't pass up elite talent like that and take a player based in need.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I have trouble understanding why fans of THIS team would pick anything other than a center.

If the last (nearly) 20 years have taught us all anything, it's that you can't get 1st line centers outside of drafting and developing them yourself. And if the last 4 years have taught us anything, it's that this team refuses to rebuild - meaning it's unlikely we'll get to draft in the top 10 two years in a row because this team will spend to the cap to ensure they draft between 10th and 14th.

So if we get a gift of a season like this one, where picking in the top 10 is almost unavoidable - we NEED to draft a center.

Simple, take the best player available. Never sway from that.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Regardless of need there's no way I take a center if drouin is in the board, you don't pass up elite talent like that and take a player based in need.

And then we'll have 20 more years of searching for a number 1 c to play with Drouin

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I have trouble understanding why fans of THIS team would pick anything other than a center.

If the last (nearly) 20 years have taught us all anything, it's that you can't get 1st line centers outside of drafting and developing them yourself. And if the last 4 years have taught us anything, it's that this team refuses to rebuild - meaning it's unlikely we'll get to draft in the top 10 two years in a row because this team will spend to the cap to ensure they draft between 10th and 14th.

So if we get a gift of a season like this one, where picking in the top 10 is almost unavoidable - we NEED to draft a center.

Sure but if all the potential #1 centres are already drafted then its silly to draft a 2nd or 3rd line centre if higher potential prospects are still sitting there at other positions.

I'm not convinced its unavoidable that we'll draft top 10. If we do draft top 8 I will definitely be hoping that we nab one of the potential franchise centres.

[dammage79]

Center should be the first option, With a high priority of taking one that is as close to being NHL ready now than one that is say a couple years off. We have one of those kind of centers now in Jankowski. So if we are in the 4-8 range and Barkov, Linholm or Nichushkin can make the jump as early as next season you have to take him. Drouin would be nice if Jankowski was less than three years off. But thems the breaks I guess.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Between Backlund, Horak (if we converted him back to C), Granlund and perhaps Reinhart, Street and Jankowski we should have the 2nd line C role covered for many years. And perhaps Jankowski will blossom into the 1st line centre we need. Add in potential checking centres in Arnold, Deblouw, etc and C is arguably one of our deeper positions in terms of prospects/young players.

IMO taking a 2nd line centre over a 1st line winger or top pairing D-man would be counterproductive. For top line young wingers we have Gaudreau and Sven and both are below average in size. Getting a young powerforward who could replace Iginla would be more valuable than another 2nd line centre IMO. Outside of Brodie none of our young D-men really look to be top 3 guys so that is another area we are arguably as weak or even weaker. People aren't as concerned about D because we currently have Bouwmeester, Wideman, Giordano signed longish term but our D prospects aren't crazy exciting.

I don't think people should be complaining if the Flames take the best available C, W or D. Forcing a centre in Sven's year would have resulted in us taking Mark McNeill who is worth significantly less as an asset right now than Baerstchi is. And even if we took another winger it would give Feaster the option of dealing one of Baertschi, Gaudreau or the new winger in a package for a 1st line centre. The Flames need as many high value assets as they can get.

On a Stanley Cup challenging team, Backlund and Horak are third line centres at best.

Street is an AHL lifer. Who knows what Reinhart is.

I am concerned with the defence, we have four NHL defensemen on the roster.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

And then we'll have 20 more years of searching for a number 1 c to play with Drouin

The flames draft watcher just gave a perfect example of why you don't draft based on need. Would rather have mark McNeil or Sven ?

Top line centers are a rare commodity in the NHL. So instead of forcing the issue in the draft I rather we take the best player available and build depth up the middle.

I think we all would love a top line center, but if we can't get one then the next best thing is to have 3 solid centers

[StrykerSteve]

Center or bust.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

And then we'll have 20 more years of searching for a number 1 c to play with Drouin

Better to have a 1st line winger than a 3rd line center.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Preference if we're in the top 10

1. MacKinnon
2. Drouin
3. Barkov
4. Linholm
5. Shinkaruk
6. Nichuskin
7. Monahan
8. Nurse

Really liking Shinkaruk if we're in the 7-12 range, guy seems like a clutch C and a strong leader. And home-grown talent is awesome to have. Only issue is he's a bit smaller at 5'10. But i'm guessing we'll be drafting no higher than #5, so it is likely Nate, Seth, and Jon are automatically out the window. Nurse could be taken at #3 or #4 if a team there is seeking D. So I could see us landing Barkov if we end up where are are now (#5 position). But it's impossible to predict this management/drafting staff when it comes time. They tend to surprise... But I really hope that, for once, they take the obvious choice and the bpa, no matter who Weisbroad may feel is a darkhorse. When you're top 10, you've gotta shoot straight.

Redline sees Shinkaruk as more of a winger. Not sure why'd you have him ahead of a big centre in Monahan.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...eport/1955773/

You missed Jones in your list.

If we end up drafting high I'll definitely be hoping for one of MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Lindholm or Monahan. Those guys look like the potential franchise centres (excepting Drouin).

Nichuskin is a risky Russian and I'd hope we stay well away unless his character is off the charts.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

On a Stanley Cup challenging team, Backlund and Horak are third line centres at best.

Street is an AHL lifer. Who knows what Reinhart is.

Don't think we've seen the top end of Backlund's career yet. He looks like he'll end up as a solid 2nd line centre IMO or even as high as a #1b type centre. I'm still a big believer in that kid. Despite our depth at centre problems it looks like they like Horak on the wing and he does bring some size and strength there that Sven and Gaudreau do not.

All I'm saying is that forcing a centre doesn't really make sense. You take the best player available. And your best player available list should have potential #1 centres and #1 d-men at the top of it. I totally agree with your notion that centres are more vital in general than wingers. But drafting a 2nd/3rd line centre over a 1st line winger still doesn't make any sense from an asset perspective. And GM's can use their assets to trade strength in one area into a position that they are weaker.

[StrykerSteve]

There's something about Barkov that doesn't sit right with me.... not sure what it is.