2015 NHL Draft

[Wingman17]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Adam French has an interesting story on some lesser known players who will be drafted in 2015:


http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Adam-...Good/155/61200

Wow it would be nice to pick up a guy like Rasmus Andersson with a later first round pick. Not sure where he is going to be ranked but something we could definetly use. Hope we can grab another first rounder.

[4oh3]

Hanafin > Ekblad?

[Money Baer]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

Hanafin > Ekblad?

I think so. Better skating and more polished at the same age.

[FlameZilla]

There are so many great reasons to tank this year.

McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin/Strome/Sprong... With the lineup we currently have in the NHL you have to think we'll get one of them.

[FlamesAddiction]

It's still too early for accurate predictions, but with Buffalo and Edmonton around, getting a top 2 pick is still a longshot for us.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Well think about it; Edmonton gets top picks when the drafts aren't that deep... They are no good at sucking (which I thought it was the only thing they are/were at, depending on how you look at it). I think they have a decent year and pick #8 (6-10 range) because they pick the wrong year to at least surpass the top 5. 2013 for example, I think one of the top 6 could have helped them a lot more than Nurse.

I think you should be more worried about Buffalo and Ottawa.

[Poe969]

I think the oilers improved enough to get better than us this year. The sabres don't look too terrible but they'll be right there with us, the sens are a big question mark though IMO. I still think the Flames end up with a top 3 pick this year and I think at 3 if they took Hanafin it would be ok. It would be ideal to get Eichle or McDavid but Hanafin on the back end would really help the rebuild out.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I go with Eichel first and then Hanifin. Like others have said, you can always sign defenseman FA's.

My top 5 in this draft I'd want the Flames to draft:

1. Eichel (or McDavid if possible)
2. Hanifin
3. Kylington
4. Sproul
5. Werenski

It just depends on where we slot.

[icecube]

Eichel would fit like a glove on this team. If we could land a guy like that I would truly believe we had a chance at a Stanley Cup some day.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by icecube

Eichel would fit like a glove on this team. If we could land a guy like that I would truly believe we had a chance at a Stanley Cup some day.

Agreed. He would mesh well. We would still be missing an elite talent on the backend though.. and all the stanley cup winners have AT LEAST 1 top notch defenceman. a la Doughty/chara/keith/seabrook

[Monahan23]

I want Hanfin or Kylington still. If not Barzal or Konecny because Gaudreau - Konecny

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Poe969

lol at Eichel "if he made the team" comment. The kid is a stud. Both Eichel and McDavid's roles were the same; they are the go to #1 guy on their respective teams. They may play the game differently but the fact that they are both viewed as the best prospect by some shows that they are both good at what they do, they just have different approaches at doing it. At the WJC it looked like Eichel was motivated more and was trying to prove himself on a large stage. I don't know which one I'd want out of the two though because it looks like McDavid has more talent but Eichel has almost as much talent but makes up for it with more drive and determination.

Both of them look amazing and any team would be better with them.

Is it fair to say that McDavid vs. Eichel is similar to Reinhart vs. Bennett in terms of skill vs. drive?

[ForeverFlameFan]

I was looking at 2015 draft, and as usual, there are loads of centers/defenseman and little RW's in the top 90. The good news is a lot of those centers and defenseman are right handed.

[thethumwood]

Buffalo will tank again, their line up is just terrible. As much as I hate to say it the Oilers should finally do better and would wager they do... Flames lineup IMO got worse with losing Cammy and replacing with Raymond. Especially in the western conference... we could be in for some tough games this year... Florida should do better too.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by thethumwood

Buffalo will tank again, their line up is just terrible. As much as I hate to say it the Oilers should finally do better and would wager they do... Flames lineup IMO got worse with losing Cammy and replacing with Raymond. Especially in the western conference... we could be in for some tough games this year... Florida should do better too.

I'd honestly say Buffalo's roster is a fair bit better than ours. With how the West is built, and how wide-open the East is, I think it's pretty fair to say the Flames will get absolutely buried in the standings this year. I just hope we fight and scratch for every bit of ice like we did last year. Results were painful, but the quality of the entertainment was fantastic. I imagine we'll see a similar season and end up with one of Eichel/McDavid/Hanifin, depending on the lottery.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

Posted over in Backburner section of CP, but for those who don't venture into those parts,

To kick off THW's coverage of "The Next Big Things" Draft Class here is:

2015 NHL Draft Rankings War Room: First Look - Top 60 as compiled by E-Mac includes honourable mentions, sleers and other players of interest.
- Includes stats, commentary on the top 30, demographics, Future Considerations Top 30 + the rest of the Top 60 with sleepers, honourable mentions, other players to watch, links to Elite Prospect profiles & more:

For full article/rankings, click here

The "First Look" War Room rankings now updated and features 180 prospects to watch this season for the "The Next Big Things" 2015 draft class.

[sureLoss]

Name to keep an eye on is Nicolas Roy.

6'4'' 168lbs RW shoots R
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=151361

From what I read likes to battle along the boards and plays a "power forward" type game. Projected 1st rounder. Was the 1st overall pick in the QMJHL 2013 draft.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports...d-No.-1-pick/1

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont revealed this week he’ll be selecting Nicolas Roy with the first overall pick in Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft, calling the native of Amos, Que., above and beyond the best player available.

Nicolas Roy
But Dumont isn’t the only one high on Nicolas Roy’s talents.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Central Scouting also believe the 6-4, 168-pound forward is tops among this year’s draft class, and that’s despite missing eight weeks of the season due to an injury. They describe him as a very fluid skater despite his height, with good hands, efficient both offensively and defensively and is very good at reading the game.

A fierce competitor, the only real area that he’ll need improvement is his explosiveness in his first few strides. Central Scouting believes Roy has the potential to be a key player in the QMJHL and perhaps at higher levels in his career.

“He’s a playmaker, he’s a shooter, he does a lot of things,” said Pierre Leduc, QMJHL director of hockey operations and head of Central Scouting. “With his size, he goes deep into the corners and battles for pucks.

“Even if he missed two months, we weren’t able to rank him at No. 2, because for me, if he does all the right things, he’ll be an NHL pick for sure.”

Sounds like the type of player Burke likes. Don't think he is a lock for the top 10 in 2015 yet, but he should be a first round pick if something drastic doesn't happen.

[calgarywinning]

I hope they don't tank but expertly develop the players at the right time in all the right circumstances. Let's get these guys some good ice time and experience to develop while getting some more top picks!

[dammage79]

That Andersson D man intrigues me.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

That Andersson D man intrigues me.

I've heard he will jump the rankings as the #3 best defenseman in the draft behind Hanifin and Kylington.