Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[GGG]

This was posted in the trade speculation thread but after reading it I am sold on not picking Jones with our 1st

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

If I'm the Flames, and I'm drafting top 3 I would be very tempted to just go with the best forward left on the board. Forwards are more likely to reach their potential, and they are more likely to do it sooner. The Flames management group has proven that they are not the smartest guys in the room, so it would be for the best to keep it simple.

Here are the players picked top 3 2000-2010.
I've bolded the guys that I would consider disappointing returns thus far for a top 3 pick. I consider a good top 3 to be a star/superstar level player.
Forwards vs Defence

Heatley
Gaborik
Kovalchuk
Spezza
Svitov
Nash
Staal
Horton
Ovechkin
Malkin
Crosby
Ryan
Staal
Toews
Kane
Van Riemsdyk
Turris
Stamkos
Tavares
Duchene
Hall
Seguin

Bouwmeester
Barker
J.Johnson
E.Johnson
Doughty
Bogosian
Hedman
Gudbrandson

Pick a forward. Save yourself heartache.

[FlameZilla]

I'm surprised most people seem to completely rule out drafting Valeri Nichushkin. He's ranked ahead of everyone but Jones in the March ISS draft rankings. Most people seem to be apprehensive about drafting a Russian for many reasons, but what if we have the next Malkin on our hands here?

If we had the #1 pick this would be my preference:

Mackinnon
Jones
Drouin
Nichushkin
Barkov

[Da_Chief]

Nichushkin with the Blue spick if available. No way you gamble with the top 3/4 pick. We need the star for sure.

Some guys who should be available around Blues pick.

Adam Erne - RW

Strong, balanced skater who shows outside speed and an excellent shot. Plays a mix of a power-forward and sniper. Plays with power on the wall and wins puck battles there.

Anthony Mantha - LW

Tall left winger with physicality and scoring prowess, as well as willingness to stick up for his teammates.

Fred Gauthier - C

The big center was going to be counted on for his defensive prowess and size, but has shown surprising offensive abilities

Josh Morrissey - D

Plays an extremely mature two-way game, but you can't leave without feeling he has top-level offensive abilities, due to his skating, elite skill, and puck-moving strengths. Already pretty sound defensively and has a big cannon on the PP right point with his left hand shot.

Ryan Pulock - D

Has the size, tools and skill to be considered an early pick. Was strictly a forward until midget hockey, so there is a bit more polishing needed, but is a superb stickhandler, passer, shooter, skater and physical player.

Can you imagine getting Barkov and Gauthier then adding him to Jankowski. That sould be some big size up the middle.

[Vulcan]

Thanks Da Chief. Anthony Mantha sounds good too. He shoots left but is listed as a RW on his junior team. 6'3" and 200#s with 50 goals and 39 assists.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Nichushkin with the Blue spick if available.

Woah, hey now. No room for racism in draft talk.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by GGG

This was posted in the trade speculation thread but after reading it I am sold on not picking Jones with our 1st

I strongly agree re: Jones. Having seen him play a lot with the US Development Program, I was never that high on him. Definitely an NHL player but I do not see him with Doughty or Pieterangelo upside. That list reveals a trend of many many high picked defenseman not coming close to their projection. It happens with forwards to but less often in the top 3. MacKinnon is the guy with no one close in my mind.

The good news is that if Colorado picks ahead of Calgary and Jones is on the board, they will definitely take him. He will fit well with Erik Johnson who was extremely overrated in his draft year.

[indes]

My list so far :

Flames pick : Mackinnon or Drouin

Blues pick : Gauthier or Morrissey

Pens pick : Petan/Zykov

Ideally it would be awesome if we ended up with Mackinnon, Morrissey and Zykov

A Sven - Mackinnon -Zykov line would be sick, along with a Brodie, Morrissey pairing

[Ashasx]

My ideal draft:

Flames' pick: Nathan MacKinnon

Blues' pick: Adam Erne

Pens' pick: Shea Theodore

All fill desperate organizational needs.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Nichushkin with the Blue spick if available.

I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing. Here I am, thinking Nichushkin plays with some linemate that they call 'the blue spick' and that maybe you were hoping we would get them both. You know, like a poor man's Mackinnon and Drouin.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I want MacKinnon as well if possible, Drouin would be my second choice. This team is hurting up front when it comes to prospects, I'd steer clear of Jones.

I don't really know much of anything about the prospects rated later in the 1st round, but if it was up to me I'd pick forwards with the 3 first rounders. Load up on 'em.

[Poe969]

100% agree. Go all forwards with the first rounders, but my dream is still to package the Pens and/or Blues pick(s) with something to get another top 5 pick. I really think having 2 potential franchise players would make this team better sooner.

[rogermexico]

Valentin Zykov might be the awesomest hockey player name ever.

[Teroy]

Hopefully we get MacKinnon, Mantha and Rychel.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Poe969

100% agree. Go all forwards with the first rounders, but my dream is still to package the Pens and/or Blues pick(s) with something to get another top 5 pick. I really think having 2 potential franchise players would make this team better sooner.

I don't think you could get a top 5 for those picks, the Pens pick will be very low. Probably top 10, though. But I agree, if there's a stud sitting in there somewhere that the Flames really want I'd be okay with them trading up.

Huge draft for this team. They can't screw it up. They need to hit a homerun.

[Da_Chief]

Lets just get 3 forwards with the firsts...

Sven, 3 1sts, Gaudreau, Jank, our chances of re-loading the offence increase quickly.

[Bar-Down]

Mackinnon with our pick.

Then trade Pens and Blues pick to draft Monahan.

Getting Mackinnon and Monahan would be incredible.

Quality>Quanitiy right...

Hopefully trade some players at the draft to get some 2nd rounders and use those to draft dman.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I want MacKinnon as well if possible, Drouin would be my second choice. This team is hurting up front when it comes to prospects, I'd steer clear of Jones.

I don't really know much of anything about the prospects rated later in the 1st round, but if it was up to me I'd pick forwards with the 3 first rounders. Load up on 'em.

problem with Drouin is that we already have smaller wingers both on the team and coming up as prospects. Hudler, Sven, Gaudreau all project likely to be in our top six around the same time as this pick is making an impact. The flames would be getting pushed around like the oilers out there if you add drouin to that mix. I would like some bigger bodies in Mackinnon/Barkov.

[timbit]

It would be great if they were talented tough and tenacious.

[JurassicTunga12]

MacKinnon and Barkov would be my two choices.

Barkov seems to fit exactly what Feaster and co. are looking for. A center with size, skill, high hockey IQ, and great two-way ability.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I don't think you could get a top 5 for those picks, the Pens pick will be very low. Probably top 10, though. But I agree, if there's a stud sitting in there somewhere that the Flames really want I'd be okay with them trading up.

Huge draft for this team. They can't screw it up. They need to hit a homerun.

Agreed! This team will be defined years later by what we do in this draft. Feaster and the scouting staff need to nail the picks or they could be walking the plank.