Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I'll accept Shea Weber, but Gonchar?

Fine, take the 5-time All Star who's the 19th highest scoring defenseman of all time (ahead of Niedermayer and Pronger btw) off the list. You're still left with a handful of franchise d-men who were drafted in the 2nd round. Find me their equivalents in terms of Center.

My point is that you can find a Jones once in a while with a later pick. You can almost never find the Crosby or Stamkos without a Top 5.

[Phanuthier]

Challenge accepted (just for fun, not that I entirely disagree)

Keith 54th - Jamie Benn, 5th round
Webber was 49th - Patrice Bergeron, 2nd round
Lidstrom was 53rd - since he's older, I'm pulling the Adam Oates card (undrafted)
Chara was 56th - Brad Richards (3rd round)

I will agree forwards show their worth far earlier, as defense takes a long longer to develop. But just watching the WJC, its really hard to argue that Seth Jones is under developed - the guy looks like he's NHL ready. And thats nothing against MacKinnon. I wouldn't mind either.

[Vinny01]

I want a Canadian number 1C or franchise forward so my current list looks like
1- MacKinnon
2- Drouin
3- Jones
4- Barkov

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Challenge accepted (just for fun, not that I entirely disagree)

Keith 54th - Jamie Benn, 5th round
Webber was 49th - Patrice Bergeron, 2nd round
Lidstrom was 53rd - since he's older, I'm pulling the Adam Oates card (undrafted)
Chara was 56th - Brad Richards (3rd round)

I will agree forwards show their worth far earlier, as defense takes a long longer to develop. But just watching the WJC, its really hard to argue that Seth Jones is under developed - the guy looks like he's NHL ready. And thats nothing against MacKinnon. I wouldn't mind either.

Good effort, but outside of Oates, I just don't think the rest of those guys are at the same level as the d-men I listed. Those d-men are considered some of the best of their generation....can you really say that about career high 28-goal Richards, or 26-goal high Jamie Benn?

The equivalents of Keith, Lidstrom, Chara, Gonchar (yes him!) are guys like Stamkos, Crosby, Tavares, Sedin, Lecavalier.....just at a different level at their position than your list imo.

Btw, you should've included Datsyuk!

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Good effort, but outside of Oates, I just don't think the rest of those guys are at the same level as the d-men I listed. Those d-men are considered some of the best of their generation....can you really say that about career high 28-goal Richards, or 26-goal high Jamie Benn?

The equivalents of Keith, Lidstrom, Chara, Gonchar (yes him!) are guys like Stamkos, Crosby, Tavares, Sedin, Lecavalier.....just at a different level at their position than your list imo.

Btw, you should've included Datsyuk!

damn it missed the easy one

too late to mention Zetterburg? and Fedorov?

Either way, I don't really disagree anyways (not that I am anyways?). I'd perfer MacKinnon at No 1 too. Just creating discussion.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

All of that is 100% bang on.

The only thing that makes me wonder is exactly how good Jones will be. People are talking about him as being the best defensive prospect in 10 years. I have my doubts.. but having that horse in your stable can sure be something.

I do hope for a center though - you can't rely on teams giving up a Thornton.

Even if he is the best defense prospect in 10 years that only means he will be better than Jbo, Hamerlik and jovonoski.

At the top of the draft in the modern era I believe that Pronger is the only truely elite defensemen. The other guys are all number 2's on good teams.

[T@T]

Unless we win the draft lotterie chances are we finish behind Colorado (2 games in hand + tie breaker) so it's time to cheer for Florida,Carolina and even tampa/nashville to win.

With the first pick:

-Colorado would take Jones

-Florida would likely take MacKinnon (slight possibility of Barkov)

-Carolina would likely take Drouin.

-Tampo would likely take Drouin

-Nashville would likely take MacKinnon
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IMO this team needs MacKinnon, Natural center, speed, size, shot, instincts and leadership so do not finish ahead of Florida or Nashville. I'm nervous watching this team out play the opponent the last few games, so far we have been lucky and lost.

[kn]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

It's starting to look like there's a drop-off after the top 3 (Jones, MacKinnon and Drouin), and that the Flames will be drafting at 4, 5 or possibly 6

If that's the case, then I'd go for Lindholm or Monahan.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by T@T

Unless we win the draft lotterie chances are we finish behind Colorado (2 games in hand + tie breaker) so it's time to cheer for Florida,Carolina and even tampa/nashville to win.

With the first pick:

-Colorado would take Jones

-Florida would likely take MacKinnon (slight possibility of Barkov)

-Carolina would likely take Drouin.

-Tampo would likely take Drouin

-Nashville would likely take MacKinnon
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IMO this team needs MacKinnon, Natural center, speed, size, shot, instincts and leadership so do not finish ahead of Florida or Nashville. I'm nervous watching this team out play the opponent the last few games, so far we have been lucky and lost.

Florida has a tough run of games to close out the season, as do we. I could see Colorado overtaking us but Florida will be firmly 29th or 30th. Unless we go on an epic winning streak we should be down there with them.

Mackinnon is who I have my heart set on as well, followed by Lindholm, Barkov, Jones, Drouin & Nichushkin. On the bright side, we'll definitely get a really exciting prospect this year.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Basically at best the Flames will draft 1st, 16th and 26th

And at worst they'll draft something like 5th, 29th and 30th

Is that right?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Basically at best the Flames will draft 1st, 16th and 26th

And at worst they'll draft something like 5th, 29th and 30th

Is that right?

It's possible Tampa ends up worse than us and then someone lower wins the lottery which could push us to 6th. That's as extreme as plausible scenarios get. Technically if all went the worst it could go we could draft like 11th, but that won't happen.

My personal faves are MacKinnon and Lindholm, but man, really whoever we draft in the top 7 instantly becomes our best prospect.

[bucksmasher]

Avs need to beat edmonton and florida needs to win against the devils (2 best shots at winning)

[#-3]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Basically at best the Flames will draft 1st, 16th and 26th

And at worst they'll draft something like 5th, 29th and 30th

Is that right?

Assuming Pittsburgh finishes 2nd in the league.

The vary best that is possible is 15th and 21st. If St Louis, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and 5 teams that were better then Stl loss in the first round.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

Avs need to beat edmonton and florida needs to win against the devils (2 best shots at winning)

I can't see us being worst than the Avs

[kn]

After the season we've gone through, I'll be disappointed if we don't draft in the top 3. I'll be devastated if we don't draft in the top 5.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by nik-

It's possible Tampa ends up worse than us and then someone lower wins the lottery which could push us to 6th. That's as extreme as plausible scenarios get. Technically if all went the worst it could go we could draft like 11th, but that won't happen.

My personal faves are MacKinnon and Lindholm, but man, really whoever we draft in the top 7 instantly becomes our best prospect.

If we are drafting 6th, Monahan all the way. The guy has been compared to Toews and Couture, me likely. Also he's Canadian so 90% of the board won't hate the pick.

[Dagger]

I know the Russian factor is there but I really believe that if we don't get one of the consensus 3 that Nichuskin should be taken a hard look at. Kuznetsov is coming over after the Olympics, and has said he only stayed because of the lockout and to better his chances to play for Russia in Sochi. I mean even if he plays in the KHL for 2 more years after he's drafted he'll still be playing against men and filling out his frame. Tarasenko stayed in the K for two more years and until he got injured early in the season he looked like the best Blues forward by far and was basically PPG. And it's not like there's a rush or anything if we're gonna do this right.

[FlamesAddiction]

For those criticizing Barkov's skating (which to be honest, looks fine to me in the more recent videos), do you want to venture a guess as to what the following players have or had in common:

Tomas Holmstrom
Mike Knuble
Marc Savard
Wayne Gretzky
Joe Thornton
Luc Robataille
Ryan Smyth
Jason Arnott
Andrew Brunette
Scott Hartnell
Bill Guerin
(just to name a few)

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

If we are drafting 6th, Monahan all the way. The guy has been compared to Toews and Couture, me likely. Also he's Canadian so 90% of the board won't hate the pick.

Lindholm is compared to Forsberg, so if we're doing high end comparisons ... I'd still take Lindholm

[JiriHrdina]

I see the drop off points at 4 and 7 -
1. Jones
2. Mackinnon
3. Drouin
4. Barkov
5. Lindholm
6. Monnahan
7. The Russian

I'd like to see the Flames in the top 4, failing that the top 6, failing that at 7 - to get the Russian (at 7 only because of additional risk - could be a great home run pick).

A pick later than that would be disappointing - though the one kid I know nothing about is Nurse.