[Rumour] Boomer: Flames are kicking tires to trade up to #2. Draisaitl might be the target.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

No Eklblad still might be #1, (or #5 after Seth Jones) but this crop of top picks would have been going somewhere around 7-12.

Redline does an unbiased evaluation:

Bennett's report card has the following:
Size/Strength: B-
Skating: A-
Shot/Scoring Ability: B+
Puck handling: A
Hockey sense: A
Competitiveness: A
Physical play: A-
Composure/poise: A-
Defence: B



Monahan Report Card
Size/Strength A
Skating B+
Shot/Scoring ability B+
Puckhandling A
Hockey Sense A+
Competitiveness A
Physical play B
Composure/Poise A
Defence B

so Monahan is 4 grades higher on size/strength
1 grade lower on skating
1 grade higher on Hockey sense
2 grades lower on physical play
and 1 grade higher on composure and poise.

Redline had Bennett at #1

Ritchie Report Card

Size/Strength A+
Skating B
Shot/Scoring ability B+
Puckhandling B
Hockey Sense B+
Competitiveness A
Physical play A
Composure/Poise B
Defence C+

Redline had Bennett at #1

How about Draisaitl?

[Freeway]

I hate to say this: NOBODY does an unbiased evaluation. It doesn't exist.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHockey

I just dont see the upside of moving up a couple spots in this draft. IMO 1-4 have basically the same value so why give up anything to move up? It only makes sense to me to move up and grab 2 of the top 4 skaters.

I still would rather stay put and play with the later picks.

Burke et al want to get bigger, they see we have some nice smaller skilled players, we need beef as Burke put it. It would make sense for the Flames to go after Draisaitl. He is big, extremely skilled and could go up against the bigger centres in our division. Reinhart and Bennet are better suited for the east style of play imo. If we want to compete in our division we need to do everything we can to get bigger and more skilled, check two when it comes to the German kid.

[Wolfman]

Is there any way Flames could move to #2 without giving up #4? Buffalo has a lot of picks in the 1st and 2nd rounds in the next 2 years. Depends what the Sabres are after for roster players. They can't wait forever waiting for their draft picks to develop.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

you wouldn't want to give a lot (defined by prospect), but you'd give up a bonafide top 6 forward?

ok then

Yes? We have young players coming up that I would like to see play more, and hopefully can step in and play top 6 mins for us.

It's not a nock against Hudler or Glencross, but they are worth less to me than someone like Grandlund or Reinhart.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Is there any way Flames could move to #2 without giving up #4? Buffalo has a lot of picks in the 1st and 2nd rounds in the next 2 years. Depends what the Sabres are after for roster players. They can't wait forever waiting for their draft picks to develop.

Only if we give up some prospects and guys already in our lineup. I think Buffalo will want that #4 however as they probably see Bennet or Reinhart better for the eastern conference so a move down two spots wouldn't hurt them. If they can get a guy to step in rights away and #4 I think they will be happy.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Let's be clear
- He said that he has heard that the Flames want to move to #2.
- He speculated that they like Leon

So this commentary was in part rumors and in part speculation.

People want inside information and then rip guys apart when they provide it.

Tough crowd to please.

This may have already been said ... but he also said something about how the Flames were demonstrative in bringing in both Sams and Ekblad and didn't bring in Draisaitl. But then met with Draisaitl on "numerous occassions"

Almost seemed like the Flames were trying to keep the Draisaitl favourtism quiet.

[Buck Murdock]

Perhaps they have heard a forward is going #1, and want to get Ekblad....

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

5) Maybe the Flames don't want Draisaitl but are putting extra pressure on Edmonton to pick him rather than one of the Sams.

This is exactly what I'm thinking. But Flames will likely take Draisaitl if both Sams have been picked.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Perhaps they have heard a forward is going #1, and want to get Ekblad....

that could be, one never knows for sure, Ekblad would be good for the Flames too!

[Freeway]

It's possible, albeit unlikely, that Dale Tallon told Treliving that he was going forward at #1 and to talk to Buffalo instead.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

How about Draisaitl?

Draisaitl was not part of the for free sampler.

http://www.redlinereport.com/draft-spotlights-2013-14/

[JohnnyHockey]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I would swap 2 and 4 with Hudler, or Glencross (yes I know he has a NMC) to be in control of who we pick instead of taking whoever is left.

However I wouldn't want to pay a lot, and I wouldn't want to give up on a prospect to move up 2 spots.

Which of the top 4 would you be upset with if the Flames drafted? I asked myself this question and I cant seem to find an answer, therefore I see no reason to to give up anything. If you were willing to move Hudler, why not package him with a later pick thus keeping whomever we land with at 4 and getting in return another late first rounder.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Shrug. All year we heard that this year's draft was significantly weaker than last year's. Maybe it's lusty Flames fans that think that there are now 4 guys better than what we got last year and we're going to get one.

I can't say either way, but just because we're picking at 4 this year doesn't mean we automatically get someone better than Monahan.

When scouts talk about weaker years it usually is referring to depth. How quickly the first round starts to thin out. Often times fans assume it refers to the top end but that usually isn't the case. This year I believe it is considered a weak draft because after the decent top end it drops off pretty quickly.

My feeling is that the top end is pretty good this year but without any superstars. Very appealing top 6-8 guys.

[BigNumbers]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

It is amusing reading everyones love for Sven. If we offered Sven and #34 for the Islanders #5 pick all we would hear is laughter prior to them hanging up the phone. The bottom line is Sven is an average prospect, a shifty small player with an arsenal of average skills, and not terribly tough in his own zone or on the puck in general. Of course a lot of these skills can be acquired and thats what we need to hope for.

Bottom line, no one is giving us a first round pick for Sven. Not sure if anyone is giving us a second round pick for Sven. If we can peddle him to acquire a stronger prospect being either a potential power forward winger or a potential 1-2 defensive prospect we need to take it.

Would you say then that the islanders wouldn't be over the moon with such an offer?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by lanny9

I also feel that Bennett's game will not translate as he will always be too small to play his game against men.

Bennett is taller than Mike Peca. Peca was one of the most devastating hitters during a lot of his tenure in the league. And obviously Bennett is faster and more skilled than Peca.

Bennett should be fine as long as he adds strength and isn't rush too quickly.

[Buff]

All this speculation is fun. Anything can happen and hearing about all the scenarios makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop.

All I'll love the player the Flames pick and I'll hate the player the Oilers pick.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHockey

Which of the top 4 would you be upset with if the Flames drafted? I asked myself this question and I cant seem to find an answer, therefore I see no reason to to give up anything. If you were willing to move Hudler, why not package him with a later pick thus keeping whomever we land with at 4 and getting in return another late first rounder.

I wouldn't be upset drafting any of them at #4, as I said though if management has someone they really want then I would be fine with them moving up to #2. I wouldn't want them to give up somone young with potential though, but I am fine giving up someone like Glencross or Hudler since they won't be here in a couple years anyway.

[Enoch Root]

talk about Bennett being an eastern conference player because he is small is simply ridiculous

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

talk about Bennett being an eastern conference player because he is small is simply ridiculous

He isn't small either. Average sized and pretty close to Reinhart in terms of size.