[Rumour] Buffalo's and Florida's 1st round picks are in play

[Jacks]

It will be fun to laugh at their fans when they have 4 x 1st overalls and still suck.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

If it is 4OV+Sven - I pass
If it is 4OV+2nd - I probably do it.

Depends how much management buys into Gaudreau's game translating to the NHL. Not sure a heavy hockey management team sees both in the lineup.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

If the Oil move up I'm sure it will be to grab Ekblad

Except that if Gagner is the return they no longer have a 2nd line center which means that Draisaitl would look awfully tempting. Maybe the Oilers could do Gagner + their 2015 1st so they could take both Ekblad and Draisaitl. IMO that would probably help them a lot this season. Personally I'm not a big fan of Gagner but Talon is kind of hard to read and one of those guys I don't have a lot of faith in making great moves.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Depends how much management buys into Gaudreau's game translating to the NHL. Not sure a heavy hockey management team sees both in the lineup.

There is room for at least two smaller skilled forwards in the top-6, if not more, considering Monahan is expected to be a top-6 center and has size/ strength...

We need top-end skill in the top-6 and supplement them with some size..

I don't see a problem of potentially having a top-6 as follows:

Gaudreau-Monahan-?????
Baertschi-??????-Poirier

Most of the size throughout the lineup needs to be added in the bottom-6 and on the backend, with one or two more guys with size/grittiness sprinkled at the top...

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

There is room for at least two smaller skilled forwards in the top-6, if not more, considering Monahan is expected to be a top-6 center and has size/ strength...

We need top-end skill in the top-6 and supplement them with some size..

I don't see a problem of potentially having a top-6 as follows:

Gaudreau-Monahan-?????
Baertschi-??????-Poirier

Most of the size throughout the lineup needs to be added in the bottom-6 and on the backend, with one or two more guys with size/grittiness sprinkled at the top...

I think Colborne was getting a little gritty and using his size towards the end of the season. I would like to see how he does this year. I think Toronto didn't show him how to use his size to his advantage. With a full season as a RW, I am curious to see what he can do.

Draisaitl/Bennett would be a great fit for the Flames 2nd/3rd line.

Any of the top 4 will do. Ekblad imo would play 5/6 minutes and then work his way up to the top 4.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I was looking at the past draft history, and the 2006 one looks very similar. Was EJ the clear #1 before Staal, Toews and Backstrom? I was a little too young to care about the draft at the time. However, the 2006 draft looks very similar to the 2014 draft because of one defenseman being in the top ten and the next defenseman getting picked at #16.

And if I ranked the top 4 in 2006:

#1 OA - D Erik Johnson (4)
#2 OA - C Jordan Staal (3)
#3 OA - C Jonathan Toews (1)
#4 OA - C Nicklas Backstrom (2)

I know Ekblad and Johnson are different, but maybe drafting a center would be best?

[mile]

Originally Posted by smalltownref

With that said, and looking at the projected draft lineup for next year, 11 of the top 15 players are forwards. This is off of draftsite.com. But, in the top 8 (which is where I assume the Flames will be drafting next year), 3 of them are defensemen. The site even lists Noah Hanifin at #2 overall, sandwiched between McDavid and Eichel. So there will be quality D men available at that time, but there is also going to be some franchise altering players like McDavid and Eichel.

If the Flames management were mapping out a plan on where they want to be in the next three to five years, the 'smart' move right now would be to draft Ekblad and give him the extra year to develop before we draft another forward. If we land in a spot next year to draft McDavid/Eichel, AND we take a forward at this years draft, it would be a bit of overkill would it not?

We can't make our picks for this draft under the assumption that we might take player A or player B next year, and it's for the same reasons you stated - there are going to be top players at each position available every draft. We can't count on the possibility of picking McDavid/Eichel next year because anything can happen in the standings. Also, there is usually a slew of players who are highly touted the year or two before they are drafted and end up falling out of the conversation completely (I'm not saying at all this will happen to McDavid or Eichel - they are definitely top 5 next year, but the group of forwards after them could be completely forgotten by this time next year and it so wouldn't be a good idea to rely on that)

The best thing to do right now is pick the best player available and handle the situation one year at a time. If we don't trade up to get Ekblad this year, it is not a worry to me because there will be defensemen in the future who will be just as good or even better than Ekblad available to us.

As far as the concerns about Reinhart/Bennett/Draisaitl not being true top line centers, they don't have to be true top line centers for us - Put one of them with Monahan and that appears to be a solid 1a/1b combo. Having two solid 50-70 point centers has proven to be just as successful in recent years (if not more) than the 80-90+ point centers (ie. Krejci/Bergeron, Kopitar/Richards in 2012 outplaying the likes of Malkin, Crosby, Getzlaf in recent playoffs.) In the case of Malkin/Crosby/Getzlaf, they seemed to have their best playoff success in the first few years after the lockout where there was higher scoring, more open ice, and could rely on their sheer talent alone - but since then they have been neutralized by the tighter checking and team play seen in recent contenders. Today teams like Pittsburgh and Anaheim are no longer at the same tier as an LA or Boston - It doesn't have to be an absolute must that the next forward we draft has to be a true top line guy. While it would be nice to get a McDavid/Eichel next year, we shouldn't bank on that happening and it's not an absolute must that we get Ekblad this year and one of them next year, especially now since the #4 pick looks like the perfect opportunity to secure the outlook at center. Of course, if the opportunity to draft one of them next year arises you can always shift other centers to the wing, and the surplus in wingers we gain from this can be used to acquire defense as well.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I was looking at the past draft history, and the 2006 one looks very similar. Was EJ the clear #1 before Staal, Toews and Backstrom? I was a little too young to care about the draft at the time. However, the 2006 draft looks very similar to the 2014 draft because of one defenseman being in the top ten and the next defenseman getting picked at #16.

And if I ranked the top 4 in 2006:

#1 OA - D Erik Johnson (4)
#2 OA - C Jordan Staal (3)
#3 OA - C Jonathan Toews (1)
#4 OA - C Nicklas Backstrom (2)

I know Ekblad and Johnson are different, but maybe drafting a center would be best?

I could counter that with the 1993 draft where Pronger was picked 2nd after Daigle. Maybe drafting a defenseman would be better? Can't take the results of one draft and come to conclusion that drafting a defenseman 1st overall is a bad move.

I still prefer drafting a center over a defenseman but I wouldn't be upset with Ekblad by any means.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

For some reason, after Doughty being picked at an such an early spot, the best defenseman being picked at every draft have turned out quite well.

Starting with Doughty:

2008 - Drew Doughty (#2 OA), behind Stamkos
2009 - Victor Hedman (#2 OA), behind Tavares
2010 - Erik Gudbranson (#3 OA), behind Seguin, Hall
2011 - Adam Larsson (#4 OA), behind Huberdeau, Landeskog, RNH
2012 - Ryan Murray (#2 OA), behind Yakupov
2013 - Seth Jones (#4 OA), behind Drouin, Barkov, MacKinnon
.

Larsson and Gudbranson have yet to turn out well.

They may yet, but not right now.

[nik-]

https://twitter.com/hfialkov/status/476080668636504064

@hfialkov
Panthers source tells Sun Sentinel if they don't like offers for No. 1 pick then most likely they'll go for D Aaron Ekblad #FlaPanthers

If that happens, and the Sabres take Bennett ... Reinhart might be ours

[albertGQ]

I don't think I'd even want to give up #34 & #4 to move up to #1. I'd do it for the Avs 2nd rounder though

[ForeverFlameFan]

Lol, 4th OA + Berra for 1st OA just sounds wrong .

[The Fonz]

Trade up, draft Ekblad June 27, sign UFA Niskanen July 1 (4?).

Gio Brodie
Russell Niskanen
Smid Ekblad
Wotherspoon Butler

[Gaskal]

I'd love Niskanen and he'd command quite a lot on the UFA market but we're a team who can shell out. Unfortunately we're not much of an attractive location so more likely to acquire defensemen through trade.

Sven for Larsson!

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by mile

We can't make our picks for this draft under the assumption that we might take player A or player B next year, and it's for the same reasons you stated - there are going to be top players at each position available every draft.

Yes you can. You might not assume that we get Mcdavid specifically but you can definitely plan on addressing our hole in our D prospects now and plan on addressing additional depth at forward in the future. In fact, most would argue that long term plan is the whole point of upper management and they would be smart to factor in basic concepts like development time.

Also, conroy has already put it out there that next season will likely be worse for the flames. At the time that comment seemed related to the high chance that cammi goes elsewhere as an UFA, but management could definitely be looking into their crystal ball and think of a top 2 pick next year and allowing that to sway their plan for this draft.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Yes you can. You might not assume that we get Mcdavid specifically but you can definitely plan on addressing our hole in our D prospects now and plan on addressing additional depth at forward in the future. In fact, most would argue that long term plan is the whole point of upper management and they would be smart to factor in basic concepts like development time.

I think you are slightly confused with what Mile said and you two are talking about different things. Mile is saying "you can't" in support of the theory that you draft the BPA regardless of positional needs. You are saying "you can" from an ability standpoint where teams can and likely often do draft someone based on positional needs.

Let's face it, positional needs and overall blueprint do factor into the draft. Treliving has said that he will continue to draft BPA instead of drafting based on position, yet he also believes in building from the back out and having strength down the middle.

Personally, I still see the cupboard as still pretty bare and the team is in no position to be looking at positional strength right now. You draft the BPA available and if Ekblad happens to be who scouts think as the BPA in this draft and he fills a positional need then ya you look into trading up to get him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I don't think I'd even want to give up #34 & #4 to move up to #1. I'd do it for the Avs 2nd rounder though

As weak as the top end of the draft is this year, there seems to be some reasonably good depth through the late 1st and into the 2nd round.

I would resist the temptation to use our 2nd rounders to trade up this year. The difference between the top 4 or 5 this year does not seem to be worth it IMO.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

As weak as the top end of the draft is this year, there seems to be some reasonably good depth through the late 1st and into the 2nd round.

I would resist the temptation to use our 2nd rounders to trade up this year. The difference between the top 4 or 5 this year does not seem to be worth it IMO.

Teams often draft BPA in the first round and employ positional need in subsequent rounds.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Trade up, draft Ekblad June 27, sign UFA Niskanen July 1 (4?).

Gio Brodie
Russell Niskanen
Smid Ekblad
Wotherspoon Butler

Where did Wideman go ?

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by nik-

https://twitter.com/hfialkov/status/476080668636504064



If that happens, and the Sabres take Bennett ... Reinhart might be ours

i think after all is said and done, all the movement of guys throught the year up and down the prospect rankings, things will boil down to who ranked highest ,longest. Not based on recent jumps..

My money is still:

Ekblad
Reinhart
Bennet
Draisatl

The only question mark is if ekblad drops. Even if he does, i still feel the forward order won't change (Reinhart, bennet, draisatl). In my mind, i have basically settled with the fact that Draisatl will be a flame.