2015 NHL Draft

[Da_Chief]

Lol, I've wasted your time yet you want to continue through PM? No thanks. Enjoy the Jets in the 2nd round! Oh wait! You have a good night.

Back on topic.

I'm thinking we go all out on D this year. The first 6 picks, take the best available D. Overload the position and see who breaks through the fastest.

[FlamesAddiction]

Any chance that Svechnikov could fall to us, assuming we are drafting around 15th? He sounds like exactly what we could use in our forward group of prospects.

From what I read, he said he only has plans for the NHL and the KHL isn't on his mind at all.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Lol, I've wasted your time yet you want to continue through PM? No thanks. Enjoy the Jets in the 2nd round! Oh wait! You have a good night.

Back on topic.

I'm thinking we go all out on D this year. The first 6 picks, take the best available D. Overload the position and see who breaks through the fastest.

We are already somewhat overloaded with D prospects.

Wotherspoon
Morrison
Kulak
Culkin
Sieloff
Kanzig

All signed and playing NA pro next season (Ramage and Acolatse are RFAs as well)

Roy might be signed to an ELC too

Rafikov
Ollas-Mattsson
Gilmour
Hickey

That's 13 legit D prospects and a full compliment of them already battling for ice time in the AHL

Just take BPA with all our picks

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

That's an overstatement. No chance Bennett would be going around 15 if he was in this draft. Would still be a top 5 pick in this draft.

slightly worse in my books refer to the players that were taken in the 5 picks after Bennett as there wasn't a huge disparity between the top 4 and the next 5 at this point last year. Svechinkov, Sprong, Meier, Barzal, Zboril and Merkley all would have easily gone anywhere from 5-9 last year and one at least will be available at 15.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

We are already somewhat overloaded with D prospects.

Wotherspoon
Morrison
Kulak
Culkin
Sieloff
Kanzig

All signed and playing NA pro next season (Ramage and Acolatse are RFAs as well)

Roy might be signed to an ELC too

Rafikov
Ollas-Mattsson
Gilmour
Hickey

That's 13 legit D prospects and a full compliment of them already battling for ice time in the AHL

Just take BPA with all our picks

Wow, we aren't as shallow on D as I thought we were. Plus, it can be hard to give reasonable amounts of time to all of the defense prospects on the AHL.
It might be wise to draft D who will be playing in Europe or the NCAA rather than drafting from the CHL (where they go to the AHL at younger ages).

None of the flames' D prospect are really blue chip prospects. Hopefully they use their first round pick on D. At the same time, I'm pretty sure that the second round is generally a great round for drafting defense.

Like you said, it almost never hurts to draft BPA. You fill organizational holes with trades and signings, not the draft. Especially when development takes several years.

[Jets4Life]

Would anyone know for sure the order of the Draft picks for teams? I've been told two different things:

1. I was told teams eliminated from Round one, will be ranked #15-22, depending on performance during the regular season

2. I was also told that teams are ranked by regular season performance (#15-26), regardless if they lose in the first or second round, and only the teams making the Conference Final and beyond are ranked #27-30.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by jets4life

would anyone know for sure the order of the draft picks for teams? I've been told two different things:

1. I was told teams eliminated from round one, will be ranked #15-22, depending on performance during the regular season

2. I was also told that teams are ranked by regular season performance (#15-26), regardless if they lose in the first or second round, and only the teams making the conference final and beyond are ranked #27-30.

#2

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by getbak

#2

Damn...

[dammage79]

My fanboy preferential list of players I hope the Flames take this draft.

1. Evgeny Svechnikov. No brainer for me. I was a huge fan of Nichushkin in his draft year and I am honesty glad the Flames passed on him for Monahan. This year, the Flames do not need a Monahan and Svechnikov is Nichushkin lite. A large NHL ready frame who can snipe skate and make plays. A bit of development on defense but Hartley can do that.

2. Oliver Kylington. Sneaking suspicion his slip is going to cost a team or two a star player moving forward. If he is there at the Flames pick and they think they need a D man, He should be their guy.

3. Brandon Carlo. You cannot teach size and he is a really good skater for a man that big. Long term development curve but could pan out in a big way. RH shot addresses a big time weakness on the depth chart.

[ForeverFlameFan]

There are so many players I like in this draft, so I would be fine with whoever the scouts pick. My top 3 I want the Flames to pick (at 15) are Roy, Konecny and Meier.

If we pass the Ducks, that's when I look at Carlo, Sprong and Harkins.

[Gaskal]

Jérémy Roy is my 1st rd pick. Physical right handed defenceman who can jump in on the rush with great skating. Great vision and hockey sense.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Jérémy Roy is my 1st rd pick. Physical right handed defenceman who can jump in on the rush with great skating. Great vision and hockey sense.

The main things that I don't like about him is that he's only 6-0 and he doesn't have a very good shot, otherwise you're basically drafting Kris Russell.

[sureLoss]

Corey Pronman - ESPN NHL Draft expert on the World U18s
May 2nd - TSN 1260
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/edmonton-126...our-2-1.273231

C Dennis Malgin - Central Scouting 20th Euro Skater
played with Kevin Fiala and Timo Meier
had a really strong showing
was Switzerland's only true offensive line
eliminated Team Russia
Pronman has him in his top 60
small guy only 5'8'' but dynamic skater and puck handler
size is against him but has shown he can play at professional level in Switzerland

D Jonas Seigenthaler - Central Scouing 11th Euro skater
6'2'' 215ish lbs
thinks Seigenthaler can go top 45 - lots of NHL teams like him
big and strong, moves the puck well, plays the body - not outstanding in the aforementioned area but does it well
played in top 4 for Switzerland at the U18s and played in all situations and was effective
one of the best d-men in the tournament (U18s) - had very strong showing

G Ilya Samsonov - Central scouting 1st Euro goalie
Ilya Samasonov, Felix Sandstorm, Daniel Vladar and McKenzie Blackwood are all in the mix for the top goalie prospect for this year's draft

C Mitchel Stephens - Central scouting 112th NA Skater
wore the C for Canada had 10 points in 7 games
every year at the U18s we see one guy who pushes up his draft stock because of outstanding play, last year it was Sanheim, 2 years ago it was McCarron
Stevens he had such a strong tournament - one of the better forwards
big strong, plays hard, plays in all situations
thinks he will go top 45 now, but can make a case he will go top 30

C/RW Matt Barzal
if it wasn't for Auston Matthew's fantastic performance - could make the argument that he was the 2nd best forward in the tournament
in September could have had a debate about which of Barzal, Strome or Marner was the 3rd best forward in this draft. Barzal got hurt and the other two went on to have fantastic seasons
Barzal showed at this tournament when he was healthy and was able to play his game (high skill and great vision) he is among the best forwards in this draft class
won't get to the top 5 but has shown he is one of the very best outside that top 5 (i.e next tier)

C Jansen Harkins (when compared to Barzal)
Barzal is more dynamic offensively
Harkins played a more reliable 2-way game - always first guy over the boards on a PK
Barzal first guy over on the PP, when they needed a goal - so shifty
Harkins definitely has offensive skill but he didn't stand out that way at the tournament
Harkins is a 1st rounder but wouldn't be a top 10 pick in Pronman's opinion

C Colin White - Central scouting 29th NA skater
talked to scouts in September and they universally said Colin White was a top 15 pick
had an outstanding USNTDP at 16
had a couple of injuries along the way that has slowed down his progression
wonders if there is a little Dylan Larkin aspect (saw Larkin's production similarly stall in his draft year because he was playing behind Eichel)
White is playing behind Matthews and not getting top line opportunites
White is not flashy
good skater, skilled skater, smart 2 way player - can play against opponents top players and PK well
saw at the tournament he has offense as well
not sure if he is a top 15 pick but definitely 1st round

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Barzal would be sweet

[Caged Great]

My own top 20, ranked in order of what I consider to be their potential.

1. McDavid
2. Eichel
3. Marner
4. Crouse
5. Hanifin
6. Strome
7. Provorov
8. Rantanen
9. Werenski
10. Zacha
11. Barzal
12. Meier
13. Sprong
14. Harkins
15. Zboril
16. Svechnikov
17. Kylington
18. Roy
19. Merkley
20. Carlo

1-13 I think have potentially 1st line upside (1-7 are almost definitely headed in that direction, 8-13 are more likely 2nd line with potential to hit the max upside)

14-20 would be really good selections although I think they're more 2nd line guys that would be 40-50 points forwards if they make the NHL or 2nd pairing D-men

If you were going on raw offensive skills, Sprong is right up their with Strome and Zacha. The only reason why he will fall is attitude and that is a wild card that I cannot predict. Much like Hunter Shinkaruk, he might stall in his development because of his attitude. We will have to wait and see, and at least the Flames would know him better than any other team in the league.

My order for the Flames to select if we pick at 15

1. Sprong (with reservations based on attitude)
2. Harkins
3. Zboril
4. Kylington
5. Svechikov
6. Carlo
7. Roy

That's assuming that everyone 1-12 is off the board before we go and pick. If any of them fall, it would be hard not to take them. The guys ranked from 10 through 17 are about the same quality as the guys that went from 5-9 last year.

[littlereddevil]

I think the series against the Ducks clearly shows that we need to get bigger up front. We don't seem to have a physically imposing forward at the moment. Hopefully Monahan and Bennett develop into that, and Ferland continues to improve.

I hope the Flames draft someone like Svechnikov, Zacha or Meier.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

My own top 20, ranked in order of what I consider to be their potential.

1. McDavid
2. Eichel
3. Marner
4. Crouse
5. Hanifin
6. Strome
7. Provorov
8. Rantanen
9. Werenski
10. Zacha
11. Barzal
12. Meier
13. Sprong
14. Harkins
15. Zboril
16. Svechnikov
17. Kylington
18. Roy
19. Merkley
20. Carlo

1-13 I think have potentially 1st line upside (1-7 are almost definitely headed in that direction, 8-13 are more likely 2nd line with potential to hit the max upside)

14-20 would be really good selections although I think they're more 2nd line guys that would be 40-50 points forwards if they make the NHL or 2nd pairing D-men

If you were going on raw offensive skills, Sprong is right up their with Strome and Zacha. The only reason why he will fall is attitude and that is a wild card that I cannot predict. Much like Hunter Shinkaruk, he might stall in his development because of his attitude. We will have to wait and see, and at least the Flames would know him better than any other team in the league.

My order for the Flames to select if we pick at 15

1. Sprong (with reservations based on attitude)
2. Harkins
3. Zboril
4. Kylington
5. Svechikov
6. Carlo
7. Roy

That's assuming that everyone 1-12 is off the board before we go and pick. If any of them fall, it would be hard not to take them. The guys ranked from 10 through 17 are about the same quality as the guys that went from 5-9 last year.

Looks like there is a bit of a drop off after the 11 spot. Would be really nice if Treliving can move into the top 10.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

My own top 20, ranked in order of what I consider to be their potential.

1. McDavid
2. Eichel
3. Marner
4. Crouse
5. Hanifin
6. Strome
7. Provorov
8. Rantanen
9. Werenski
10. Zacha
11. Barzal
12. Meier
13. Sprong
14. Harkins
15. Zboril
16. Svechnikov
17. Kylington
18. Roy
19. Merkley
20. Carlo

1-13 I think have potentially 1st line upside (1-7 are almost definitely headed in that direction, 8-13 are more likely 2nd line with potential to hit the max upside)

14-20 would be really good selections although I think they're more 2nd line guys that would be 40-50 points forwards if they make the NHL or 2nd pairing D-men

If you were going on raw offensive skills, Sprong is right up their with Strome and Zacha. The only reason why he will fall is attitude and that is a wild card that I cannot predict. Much like Hunter Shinkaruk, he might stall in his development because of his attitude. We will have to wait and see, and at least the Flames would know him better than any other team in the league.

My order for the Flames to select if we pick at 15

1. Sprong (with reservations based on attitude)
2. Harkins
3. Zboril
4. Kylington
5. Svechikov
6. Carlo
7. Roy

That's assuming that everyone 1-12 is off the board before we go and pick. If any of them fall, it would be hard not to take them. The guys ranked from 10 through 17 are about the same quality as the guys that went from 5-9 last year.

No Konecny?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

No Konecny?

He's 21st on my list, Conner is 22.

The main reason I have him lower is that he's short. Him and Merkley are interchangeable, but I gave Merkley the edge because of his physicality.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He's 21st on my list, Conner is 22.

The main reason I have him lower is that he's short. Him and Merkley are interchangeable, but I gave Merkley the edge because of his physicality.

Hmm... Mines a bit different.

1. McDavid
2. Eichel
3. Hanifin
4. Marner
5. Strome
6. Provorov
7. Barzal
8. Werenski
9. Rantanen
10. Crouse
11. Meier
12. Zacha
13. Connor
14. Merkley
15. Konecny
16. Roy
17. Svechnikov
18. Chabot
19. Sprong
20. Zboril

HMs (Next 3)
21. Harkins
22. Carlo
23. Kylington