I think it might be better for the Blues to finish 5th and have to face the Kings, than 6th and face the Canucks.
I would take the Blues over the Canucks in that series and have big doubts on them beating the Kings.
So we lose a draft spot or two if they lose in first round but gain a better chance of them losing in the first round if they finish 5th instead of 6th.
Would also be nice in the scenario if 5th/6th weren't seperated by a Eastern team so the pick would be basically the same.
I thought it didn't matter if the Blues lost in the first round or the second. The main thing is that they do not make it to the Conference Finals as that is when their draft pick would change to bottom 4.
Even if the Blues beat the Canucks in the first round, odds are they will be playing the Hawks or the Kings in the second round which should see their playoffs end prior to making the Conference finals.
The best thing that can happen for the Flames' first round pick from the Blues would be for the Blues to sink 3-4 slots in the standings. The Leafs, Caps and Islanders could helps us out in that regard by jumping over the Blues and driving their draft pick down to 19 area instead of 22 where they are now. After that we would hope that one or two teams below the Blues make it to the Conference finals so that our pick falls into the 18 area.
I hope the Flames are a little more intelligent than to pass on a top 5 talent with a 20 or later pick.
If the Flames were in a different position (they had lots of young talent already or had an off year) I would be more inclined to gamble with a guy that may not come to North America for a couple years, if ever. However, the Flames aren't and the draft is stocked with more reliable high-end picks.
I haven't seen much of Lindholm other than a 3min video on youtube. But if he's projected to be anything or even close to Peter The Great, i'm all for drafting him. I just hope he also plays with a chip on his shoulder and isn't injury prone.
Can't pass on Nichushkin at the St.Louis pick. Too talented of a player. Just my opinion though. Zykov is another I would take the the St.Louis pick though. Big Natural RW with a Right hand shot. If not Zykov, Wennberg is crawling up on my list as well. Love his skating style, very shifty and looks like he likes to work down low like Lindholm. Ryan Hartman has been on my list at the Pittsburgh pick. But Mirco Mueller looks like he can develop into something good as well. Add the swiss factor and its a shoe in he becomes a flame lol. I jest but there is a swiss uprising happening right now and it wouldnt hurt to get in on the action.
Plenty of quality picks in the first round this year.
Outside of the first round is where no one has really touched yet. but with three first round picks I feel the Flames can Gamble a little with the later round picks. would be interested to hear who would people prefer with their third round pick.
The fourth, two fifths, sixth and two sevenths will be very interesting as well.
For the Flames third round pick I would like to see them take Bogdan Yakimov. 6'4" 200 pound russian natural center who seems to be developing late. CSS has him ranked 11th for international skaters.
If the draft were to happen today, I would see this:
1. Florida - Seth Jones
2. Colorado - Jonathan Drouin
3. Tampa Bay - Nathan Mackinnon
4. Nashville - Aleksander Barkov
5. Carolina - Elias Lindholm
6. Edmonton - Darnell Nurse
7. Calgary - Nichushkin or Monahan
The Flames would really benefit if they could move up 2 spots to be guaranteed Lindholm. Otherwise, they will have to either risk Nichuskin or take a non-elite talent in Monahan.
The top 4 picks are guaranteed. After that, the draft alters by who takes the risk of drafting Nichushkin.
If the Flames were in a different position (they had lots of young talent already or had an off year) I would be more inclined to gamble with a guy that may not come to North America for a couple years, if ever. However, the Flames aren't and the draft is stocked with more reliable high-end picks.
A good number of these 'reliable high end picks' are still going to turn out to be busts, it would be foolish to pass on Nichushkashinukin at the 20 spot, but IMO there is 0 chance that he falls that far.
We have holes throughout our future defence, kinda silly to be upset about drafting one. Especially since D-men take longer to develope, and it would be prudent to get them early in a rebuild as opposed to later.
I could see Florida surprising people and taking Drouin. I don't think that Tallon ignores how he built the Blackhawks by getting two offensive superstars with his top picks.
Could Huberdeau and Drouin be his Toews and Kane....the potential is there.
Especially if he feels that Gudbranson and Kukilov are comparable to Seabrook and Keith.
I've watched a lot of FLA this year (why?) and Gudbranson has been terrible!. How he went 3rd overall is beyond me (in retrospect of course). But honestly, he has been really really bad. FLA needs a legit #1 dman more then a top end forward. Campbell carries the mail there now but he needs help.
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If the Flames luck out and win the lottery we may be able scout Jones ourselves as the Hitmen are up 2-1 on the Oil Kings and may end up facing Portland in the WHL finals.
Can't pass on Nichushkin at the St.Louis pick. Too talented of a player.
Yes you can, if Nichushkin is available at the St. Louis pick then that can only mean that he flubbed his interviews at the combine. If he doesn't flub the interviews then he goes way higher and if he flubs the interview then I don't want to burn a pick on him.
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If the draft were to happen today, I would see this:
1. Florida - Seth Jones
2. Colorado - Jonathan Drouin
3. Tampa Bay - Nathan Mackinnon
4. Nashville - Aleksander Barkov
5. Carolina - Elias Lindholm
6. Edmonton - Darnell Nurse
7. Calgary - Nichushkin or Monahan
The Flames would really benefit if they could move up 2 spots to be guaranteed Lindholm. Otherwise, they will have to either risk Nichuskin or take a non-elite talent in Monahan.
The top 4 picks are guaranteed. After that, the draft alters by who takes the risk of drafting Nichushkin.
I can't see Carolina taking Lindholm, they already have the Staal brothers, more likely they'd take Nurse or Nichushkin.
Because he's a defence man? If he's BPA when we're picking I hope we take him. And only way we end up anywhere near him is if we win the lottery
As happy as I would be to walk away from the draft with Jones, I think I would offer him up to both the Panthers and the Avs and see if they will give up their 2nd round pick in order to secure him. Ideally the Panthers would jump on the offer in order to prevent the Avs from taking him. Then we can pick MacKinnon and have another pick at the 31 mark from Florida.
Of course this is pretty much a pipedream from the 7th spot. If we could get back into 4th then that would double our chances of winning.
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