How are the other top picks doing?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I dont even know why we don't like this guy. If I was a teenager and I got drafted by my most hated team and passed over by my favourite home town team twice id be pissy to. Same with Hall, I can't hate either of these guys, you just play the hand you're dealt.

Much of the disdain likely comes from the fact that many media types bashed the Flames for skipping him, despite the fact that 10 or 12 other teams did as well.

Then there were the Nuck fans who were extremely chirpy about how they got the better player between him and Poirier.

Finally, there was some talk that he never liked the Flames and didn't want to be drafted by them (pure speculation as far as I have seen, but when does that stop people?)

Edit: written before I saw your post

[sureLoss]

Shinkaruk will have hip surgery and miss the remainder of the season

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Shinkaruk will have hip surgery and miss the remainder of the season

Hmmm too bad. Explains why his stats just tanked this year (does not explain why Hockey Canada decided to take a guy over to Europe despite his stats tanking however)

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Poor kid. Not only does he have to wear an Orca of shame but his own fellow Flames fans throw him under the bus and actively campaign against his success.

His parents may have had season tickets, but I'm pretty sure Hunter himself said that his favourite team growing up was actually the Stars during his draft day interview with TSN. I wish I could find the full clip but that's what I am remembering anyways...

EDIT: Actually what he said was that his family grew up in Calgary but they cheered for all different teams. I don't really think he was a big Flames fan unless he was downplaying it for the interview.

[sureLoss]

^
http://thehockeywriters.com/hunter-s...raft-prospect/

“Kind of my favorite team growing up was Dallas,” Shinkaruk says. “I wear number nine because of Mike Modano so if I went there that would be cool, obviously I couldn’t wear nine but that would be pretty neat. But I’d be happy going any where.” - See more at: http://thehockeywriters.com/hunter-s....ZuZClU01.dpuf

[Ashasx]

lol he thought he was going to dallas at 10

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

lol he thought he was going to dallas at 10

Wasn't a stretch to think that pre draft. He was top 10 in several mocks

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Much of the disdain likely comes from the fact that many media types bashed the Flames for skipping him, despite the fact that 10 or 12 other teams did as well.

Then there were the Nuck fans who were extremely chirpy about how they got the better player between him and Poirier.

Finally, there was some talk that he never liked the Flames and didn't want to be drafted by them (pure speculation as far as I have seen, but when does that stop people?)

Edit: written before I saw your post

A number of people commented on not wanting him on the Flames because of his father being one of the worst hockey dads anyone had encountered.

I have no first hand knowledge of this, but there were numerous comments about it on here and on that other board at the time of the draft.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Nichushkin is really coming on. I think he fits on that Dallas line so well. I wanted the Flames to draft him as it seemed like he would be the best power-forward coming up in quite a long time, and it seems he is starting to do just that. Think he is a really, really special player.

Of course, I am more than happy with Monahan. His offence and the way he just fit into an NHL lineup makes me think this was a better pick (and much safer, and a more valuable position). I see Monahan as the future leader of this team in every regard - such a mature player and individual already. I am glad the Flames chose him over Nichushkin.

Nichushkin is going to be a very special player though. Some of his assists have been just cashing off of the play of Benn and Seguin, but he also drives some offence that Benn and Seguin cash in off of as well. You can see that defenders are having a tough time containing his speed, skill and size already. Wait until he fills out more - he is going to be lethal.

[Volica]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Nichushkin is really coming on. I think he fits on that Dallas line so well. I wanted the Flames to draft him as it seemed like he would be the best power-forward coming up in quite a long time, and it seems he is starting to do just that. Think he is a really, really special player.

Of course, I am more than happy with Monahan. His offence and the way he just fit into an NHL lineup makes me think this was a better pick (and much safer, and a more valuable position). I see Monahan as the future leader of this team in every regard - such a mature player and individual already. I am glad the Flames chose him over Nichushkin.

Nichushkin is going to be a very special player though. Some of his assists have been just cashing off of the play of Benn and Seguin, but he also drives some offence that Benn and Seguin cash in off of as well. You can see that defenders are having a tough time containing his speed, skill and size already. Wait until he fills out more - he is going to be lethal.

Yeah, Niki was my hope as the Flames went into the draft this year. I knew Calgary wasn't getting the 5 guys who I considered having higher top-line/top-pair potential (MacKinnon, Jones, Drouin, Barkov and Lindholm) with less bust potential than Valeri. In a few years, you can really see a big time scorer in the making out of this kid. When you mix speed, skill and a size that most defenders will just have a horrid time dealing with... you really see Dallas was running all the way to the bank with a big grin on their face with this pick so late.

As for Monahan, I can see him being a leader similar to Toews (hate making this comparison), where he's vocal, leads by pure example and has an incredibly high work-ethic. I don't see him as a physical leader on the team, because that's not his game... but he'll be wearing the C in 5-6 years probably.

Overall you can't really hate on what Calgary did at the draft. They got a future leader, I don't know if I'm sold on him being that top line center we've needed forever, but a definite 1B/2 Center for this team for many, many years... In addition to two wingers that truly have some great potential. Emile Poirier is fantastic, Calgary has no one in their current ranks (and not many other teams do either) that can score and plays on the edge. And Klimchuk... I personally see a Zach Parise type player in the making. He works exceptionally hard, has great hands, is a leader on the ice in a medium sized frame... If these three work out; Flames might have made out really, really well at the draft.

[jg13]

Mackinnon is definitely the favourite for the Calder at this point.. currently 1+2 in a 7-1 game against Buffalo.

40 points in 53 games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by jg13

Mackinnon is definitely the favourite for the Calder at this point.. currently 1+2 in a 7-1 game against Buffalo.

40 points in 53 games.

Well there was a reason more than a few teams convieniently quit being competitive down the stretch last year. He's the best player available via the draft since Tavares. Expect a few teams to tank next season the moment they feel they aren't going to make the playoffs and a similar race to last year in hopes for winning the McDavid sweepstakes.

[$ven27]

The amount of people that continuously think Colorado tanked is pretty amusing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by $ven27

The amount of people that continuously think Colorado tanked is pretty amusing.

I haven't seen any evidence that organization attempted to do anything other than pick 1st overall but if you feel otherwise please don't hesitate fill us in on why you think they tried their best to ice a competitive team. All I see is a team that went into the season with a lame duck coach they knew they were going to replace. Didn't bother even trying to sign one of their top forwards until they were forced to. Not even half way into the season when it was evident the locker room was a mess they didn't even try to fire the head coach and let an assistant try and turn things around. They just turned a blind eye to the issues and looked straight ahead to the prize in June. Can't argue with the results. They get the coach they always wanted and the stud forward they coveted. I don't like what they did but you can't argue with the results.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I haven't seen any evidence that organization attempted to do anything other than pick 1st overall but if you feel otherwise please don't hesitate fill us in on why you think they tried their best to ice a competitive team. All I see is a team that went into the season with a lame duck coach they knew they were going to replace. Didn't bother even trying to sign one of their top forwards until they were forced to. Not even half way into the season when it was evident the locker room was a mess they didn't even try to fire the head coach and let an assistant try and turn things around. They just turned a blind eye to the issues and looked straight ahead to the prize in June. Can't argue with the results. They get the coach they always wanted and the stud forward they coveted. I don't like what they did but you can't argue with the results.

I'll just cover the bolded. Before this season the Avs very much had a similar situation to Edmonton with Pierre and Eric LeCroix, they were their version of Kevin Lowe. And a lot of their fans were surprised to see Pierre dismissed as they thought for sure he was there until he died, literally. Eric and Sacco were good friends and him not willing to fire him was ultimately what got him fired iirc. Also, Colorado has been after Roy for years, they first tried to get him in 2009 and he rejected their offer, pretty much he was #1 in the race for their new head coach and nobody else was even close. And considering Roy was the coach and GM of the Remparts he couldn't exactly leave in the middle of their season.

Again, the old management (Pierre LaCroix) was set in the old ways and was a hard negotiator and didn't take any BS from young players (eg. Drury). So it wasn't really surprising that he refused to come down on his ridiculous demands (wanted ROR to sign for 3M or something?). Which is what ultimately got him fired. They had Denvers' version of Kevin Lowe, wasn't really tanking, just incompetent management.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by $ven27

I'll just cover the bolded. Before this season the Avs very much had a similar situation to Edmonton with Pierre and Eric LeCroix, they were their version of Kevin Lowe. And a lot of their fans were surprised to see Pierre dismissed as they thought for sure he was there until he died, literally. Eric and Sacco were good friends and him not willing to fire him was ultimately what got him fired iirc. Also, Colorado has been after Roy for years, they first tried to get him in 2009 and he rejected their offer, pretty much he was #1 in the race for their new head coach and nobody else was even close. And considering Roy was the coach and GM of the Remparts he couldn't exactly leave in the middle of their season.

Again, the old management (Pierre LaCroix) was set in the old ways and was a hard negotiator and didn't take any BS from young players (eg. Drury). So it wasn't really surprising that he refused to come down on his ridiculous demands (wanted ROR to sign for 3M or something?). Which is what ultimately got him fired. They had Denvers' version of Kevin Lowe, wasn't really tanking, just incompetent management.

You still haven't provided any evidence that they tried their hardest to ice a competitive team. Playing hardball with an RFA while your team struggles isn't IMO trying to ice the best team possible. If the Eric and Sacco were such good friends why the lame duck status? Holding on to a coach that lost 22 more games than it won the season before with whispers the coach lost the locker room doesn't sound to me like they had expectations of improving especially given the ROR fiasco.

Doesn't sound like a recipe for success to me in fact it looks like the organization just decided they were going to ride the strike shortened season out hell or high water and hope for a good draft pick.

[mhsyyc]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

A number of people commented on not wanting him on the Flames because of his father being one of the worst hockey dads anyone had encountered.

I have no first hand knowledge of this, but there were numerous comments about it on here and on that other board at the time of the draft.

Just what the Canucks need, another jerk like Gillis and Torts aren't enough.

[PlayfulGenius]

How would the top of this last draft look if it were held today?

Monahan might move up as many as 2 spots, no?

Mackinnon would go #1 still, for sure... But I think Drouin moves down, as does the Swede.

How has Barkov looked relative to Jones and Monahan?

[Mass_nerder]

Based on what they've done I'm the nhl to date, I would say 1)MacKinnon, 2)Jones, t3)Monahan, barkov, 5)lindholm, 6)druin.
Who knows how it looks in a few seasons once everyone had had a significant chance at meaningful minutes.

[Sylvanfan]

Colorado came into Calgary the day Iginla was going to be traded, and lost to a team whose players were literally crying on the bench that game. If thats not an embarassing tank job what is?

As for Barkov, I still think he would be the 2nd player taken in the draft. He was one of the youngest players in the draft, and has size that can't be taught. Keep in mind that he is nearly one full year younger than Monahan. Pretty solid looking top 10 though based on year one. 7 players played in the NHL, looks like 2 of them could score 20 goals