[News] Flames considering up to 8 guys for #4

[Yamer]

Extensive due diligence is fine by me. Consider every option and every scenario, and go in well equipped with all the information you could possibly require.

I still think they take one of the guys in the consensus top 4, but they have to look at this from all angles. There is an important transition for this club that started so well last June and they need to keep that momentum rolling.

[Badgers Nose]

Thanks sureLoss.

I expect drama at the draft.

This will be very entertaining as I am not deluded enough to think that I know better then the scouting staff. If they say there are 8 kids at about the same level of relent and potential, then who am I to argue?

[djsFlames]

Why guys, why? This was supposed to be a simple decision. You take whoever is left of the big 4 and you've got the bpa by most accounts. Why complicate that? We don't need any more experiments. This is the highest we've ever drafted... just go with the surest thing and snag one of these four kids.

This isn't 2003. You're very unlikely to find a Getzlaf outside of the consensus top 5 ranked players.

This team never makes it easy on themselves, I don't understand why. As a fan it's worrisome..

[Hackey]

I'm not really worried about it just yet. Due dilligence is essential in any decision. It would be foolish of them to not consider other players beyond who is left over of the big 4. Every single draft has players picked a few spots later that turn out better. It doesn't mean they are going to pick a lower ranked player but they at least have to consider it. I'll wait for the pick to be made before I get excited.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Why guys, why? This was supposed to be a simple decision. You take whoever is left of the big 4 and you've got the bpa by most accounts. Why complicate that? We don't need any more experiments. This is the highest we've ever drafted... just go with the surest thing and snag one of these four kids.

This isn't 2003. You're very unlikely to find a Getzlaf outside of the consensus top 5 ranked players.

This team never makes it easy on themselves, I don't understand why. As a fan it's worrisome..

I doubt the Flames are the only team that have more than a top 4. Just because TSN and CSS say there is a top 4 don't mean ####. People get too caught up in the top list, there are really good players after the supposed top 4. I've looked a draft results since 2000 and lots of players picked later ended up having better careers. It's up to the Flames scouts to decide, not us or TSN.

[Northendzone]

How can the flames pick 8 guys with one pick? Is this a magic pick or something?

Historically, each draft pick was one guy. Has some thing changed?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

So, in no particular order.....

1. Ekblad
2. Bennett
3. Reinhart
4. Draisaitl
5. Dal Colle
6. Ehlers
7. Ritchie
8. ?????

Assuming those are 7 of the 8 for their list, who would number 8 be?

Perlini? Nylander? Vrtanen?

I highly highly doubt Nylander's even on the Flames' radar. The kid apparently has attitude issues. He's a bit of an individualist on and off the ice. That doesn't sound like a Burke/Treliving prospect to me.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

How can the flames pick 8 guys with one pick? Is this a magic pick or something?

Historically, each draft pick was one guy. Has some thing changed?

This cracked me up.

[Geeoff]

I think it makes sense to tell the world that they are considering 8 guys. All of a sudden, teams below the Flames might get worried they will take "their" guy.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I think it makes sense to tell the world that they are considering 8 guys. All of a sudden, teams below the Flames might get worried they will take "their" guy.

Yes, I'm sure the Canucks are worried that the Flames will pick Virtanen only to have Draisaitl fall into their lap.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I highly highly doubt Nylander's even on the Flames' radar. The kid apparently has attitude issues. He's a bit of an individualist on and off the ice. That doesn't sound like a Burke/Treliving prospect to me.

I'd rather go with Kapanen than Nylander.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

How can the flames pick 8 guys with one pick? Is this a magic pick or something?

Historically, each draft pick was one guy. Has some thing changed?

With the fourth overall pick, the Calgary Flames are proud to select...

[Calgary4LIfe]

Not sure there is any real reason to freak out here.

There are many drafts where the scouting services throw out a fairly consensus 'top x' players, and time proves them to be wrong in the long run.

Read enough scouting reports on enough of the top 10 or so prospects, and you will see a fairly common theme in EACH of them: "Has the ability to become the best player in the draft."

I have seen it being mentioned about Ritchie, Ehlers, Nylander, Virtanen and perhaps even a couple of others that I am maybe forgetting off the top of my head.

I still prefer Reinhart as the first choice in this draft, but even if he is available, I will be anything but angry, as I do think the Flames have improved their drafting tremendously, and trust their judgement. Chances are they select one of the 4, but if they reach, count me as a fan who applauds the courage to draft outside this 'consensus' because they did their homework and are more sure of another prospect becoming a cornerstone of the franchise in the years to come.

I actually quite liked what Button said - no restrictions have been imposed by management, and the Flames are intending to draft the best long-term player in the NHL, not the quickest to the NHL. Two things that I completely agree with.

Am I the only poster that got a bit relieved after reading that?

[FAN]

Burke isn't much of a trade down guy. He doesn't like taking the risk of missing out on his guy so I won't be worried.

[Mike F]

People are overreacting, IMO.

First, what Button said was:

"It would be easy to say whoever is there at four we'll take at No. 4, but our group is bigger," Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button said. "We have six, seven, eight guys and we're still sorting that out and this is part of the process."

I.e. There's a consensus top 4, and we could easily stop there and do more analysis, taking whoever is available. Instead they've broadened the group as far as 8 and are re-running their analysis to see if they come up with the same results.

That's absolutely what they should be doing. One key tenant of approaching anything scientifically is repeating to see if the answer is the same.

Second, anyone who thinks there's no value in questioning consensus has ignored the whole history of NHL drafts. Alexander Daigle was the consensus #1, but had the Senators really dug in and seen the red flags of his work ethic and commitment to the game, they could have taken Pronger or Kariya. That's just one of countless examples.

[Table 5]

I dont think we'll pick him, but based on the (admittedly) few games that I saw him play in, and things I've read, I personally I think Virtanen would be a poor pick. His hockey IQ seems very low, and he has some pretty noticeable holes in his game. He's the only Top 10 guy I would be disappointed to get.

[May 25, 1989]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Draisaitl had more assists per game than Virtanen had points per game. And Virtanen played on a great team.

The only drawback in evaluating based on points per game between the two is that Draisaitl is a year older then Virtanen.

Not trying to say Virtanen is better, I don't follow much junior hockey but there is a big difference in junior between your 17 year old season and your 18 year old one.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Not sure there is any real reason to freak out here.

There are many drafts where the scouting services throw out a fairly consensus 'top x' players, and time proves them to be wrong in the long run.

Read enough scouting reports on enough of the top 10 or so prospects, and you will see a fairly common theme in EACH of them: "Has the ability to become the best player in the draft."

I have seen it being mentioned about Ritchie, Ehlers, Nylander, Virtanen and perhaps even a couple of others that I am maybe forgetting off the top of my head.

I still prefer Reinhart as the first choice in this draft, but even if he is available, I will be anything but angry, as I do think the Flames have improved their drafting tremendously, and trust their judgement. Chances are they select one of the 4, but if they reach, count me as a fan who applauds the courage to draft outside this 'consensus' because they did their homework and are more sure of another prospect becoming a cornerstone of the franchise in the years to come.

I actually quite liked what Button said - no restrictions have been imposed by management, and the Flames are intending to draft the best long-term player in the NHL, not the quickest to the NHL. Two things that I completely agree with.

Am I the only poster that got a bit relieved after reading that?

So you wouldn't feel a bit queasy when the Flames pass on Reinhart for Virtanen and New York picks up say Dal Colle and Reinhart falls into Vancouver's lap? Even Ritchie or Ehlers and I'd still feel sick to my stomach.. but I guess I'd eventually find reasons to be excited for the player.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

So you wouldn't feel a bit queasy when the Flames pass on Reinhart for Virtanen and New York picks up say Dal Colle and Reinhart falls into Vancouver's lap? Even Ritchie or Ehlers and I'd still feel sick to my stomach.. but I guess I'd eventually find reasons to be excited for the player..

I felt like defenestrating my laptop when we skipped over Shinkaruk last year, now there's no way that I would trade Poirier for that kid.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I dont think we'll pick him, but based on the (admittedly) few games that I saw him play in, and things I've read, I personally I think Virtanen would be a poor pick. His hockey IQ seems very low, and he has some pretty noticeable holes in his game. He's the only Top 10 guy I would be disappointed to get.

That coupled with major shoulder surgery. This would be a Feaster like gaffe to pick him.