2015 NHL Draft

[mile]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

Meier and Connor will be gone. Yet you think Merkley and Konecky have less bust potential than Svechnikov? I think the complete opposite. Svechnikov is skilled but has true NHL size. He is the safe pick!

When we call a 5 ' 8" 170 pound guy a safe pick as a first rounder? Not bad mouthing Konecky just stating facts. Drafting a guy that size in any round is a big risk. In the first round its borderline stupid. Not saying your stupid, or the Flames if they pick him.

You would have to really love Konecky and think he is twice the player the others are to take that risk. He is definitely not the safe pick! Same can be said for Merkley!

It could very well be that scouts think Svechnikov's upside may simply be not be as high as Konecny's, despite difference in size and injury history. Konecny is consistently ranked in the top 15 and ahead of Svechnikov by most publications - if the bust potential was as high as you say it is and the difference in talent between Konecny and the rest of the forwards in that range was close enough that teams could simply pick the bigger, "safer" guy I doubt he would be ranked this high. Any hockey player period is at risk to get concussed, it sounds like his size hasn't affected his on-ice performance at all, and he actually could turn out to be a safe pick.

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

I just don't see Calgary picking either of those players based off Burke Treliving and Hartley. If we want those guys we should seriously consider trading down in the draft. Pick up another asset to lessen the gambe we would be taking.

Burke isn't the GM. Treliving has said they will pick best player available and Button has said they prioritize offensive skill when they scout. Doubt Hartley has much of a say but I know he values character very highly and that is something Konecny and Merkley both reportedly have (not saying Svechnikov doesn't, he very well could). Point is, with all this recent talk about Calgary liking these guys and their approach to the draft, there is a very real chance Calgary could pick them. Personally my wish is one of the top 13 drops to our pick. But it's always interesting to see who the Flames pick and see where they ranked on their board compared to others.

Unlikely both Merkley and Konecny are available if the Flames trade down past 20.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by mile

It could very well be that scouts think Svechnikov's upside may simply be not be as high as Konecny's, despite difference in size and injury history. Konecny is consistently ranked in the top 15 and ahead of Svechnikov by most publications - if the bust potential was as high as you say it is and the difference in talent between Konecny and the rest of the forwards in that range was close enough that teams could simply pick the bigger, "safer" guy I doubt he would be ranked this high. Any hockey player period is at risk to get concussed, it sounds like his size hasn't affected his on-ice performance at all, and he actually could turn out to be a safe pick.



Burke isn't the GM. Treliving has said they will pick best player available and Button has said they prioritize offensive skill when they scout. Doubt Hartley has much of a say but I know he values character very highly and that is something Konecny and Merkley both reportedly have (not saying Svechnikov doesn't, he very well could). Point is, with all this recent talk about Calgary liking these guys and their approach to the draft, there is a very real chance Calgary could pick them. Personally my wish is one of the top 13 drops to our pick. But it's always interesting to see who the Flames pick and see where they ranked on their board compared to others.

Unlikely both Merkley and Konecny are available if the Flames trade down past 20.

There's also a solid chance neither of them are on the board if we stick at 15.

I think we're going to end up with a very solid RW prospect this year. So many good ones to choose from, and they can't all be gone by 15.

[Trailer Fire]

I'm OK with taking a few guys with our first rounder, but holy Jeebus I hope we pick up Nick Meloche with #45. I would do many, many horrible things to get him in Flames silks.

[Rick M.]

Merkley appears to be a very smart player. My concern is that his shot seems to consist of shovelling the puck at the net.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhAdo0aFg_0

[sureLoss]

3 days... is it just me or are the days getting longer?

[Komskies]

Saw this interesting graph on reddit this morning. Games played and goals scored by draft round since 2001. It just shows that scouting has been getting better and better and you really need to make those first and second rounders count.

https://twitter.com/NHLtoSeattle/sta...45129788944385

Spoiler!

[AC]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Merkley appears to be a very smart player. My concern is that his shot seems to consist of shovelling the puck at the net.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhAdo0aFg_0

He definitely fits the bill as an aggressive playmaking winger. Hard nose for the net too and a mean streak.

Jeff Marek seems to think he's what the Flames want.

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Saw this interesting graph on reddit this morning. Games played and goals scored by draft round since 2001. It just shows that scouting has been getting better and better and you really need to make those first and second rounders count.

https://twitter.com/NHLtoSeattle/sta...45129788944385

Spoiler!

But then you look at the increase in how many games undrafted players are playing...seems like they're still missing a sizeable percentage of players who can make it to the show.

[SuperMatt18]

My concern with Merkley is that he is a physically smaller guy that doesn't have great skating.

In order to be small in the NHL you better be able to skate.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

3 days... is it just me or are the days getting longer?

Holy crap, I didn't realize it was only three days away. Living in this bubble of ignorance around this draft has been amazing

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

I'm OK with taking a few guys with our first rounder, but holy Jeebus I hope we pick up Nick Meloche with #45. I would do many, many horrible things to get him in Flames silks.

I think he'll be gone by #45. Probably early in the 2nd round.

I would really like him too.

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

Meier and Connor will be gone. Yet you think Merkley and Konecky have less bust potential than Svechnikov? I think the complete opposite. Svechnikov is skilled but has true NHL size. He is the safe pick!

When we call a 5 ' 8" 170 pound guy a safe pick as a first rounder? Not bad mouthing Konecky just stating facts. Drafting a guy that size in any round is a big risk. In the first round its borderline stupid. Not saying your stupid, or the Flames if they pick him.

You would have to really love Konecky and think he is twice the player the others are to take that risk. He is definitely not the safe pick! Same can be said for Merkley!

Not saying I would be disappointed with any player really! I can not tell the future. Guys that size though are hard pressed to become NHLers. We got lucky with Gaudreau, lets not forget he was a fourth round pick.

I just don't see Calgary picking either of those players based off Burke Treliving and Hartley. If we want those guys we should seriously consider trading down in the draft. Pick up another asset to lessen the gambe we would be taking.

I personally think the safer pick out of Konecny and Svechnikov is Konecny, but everyone has their own definition of what a bust actually constitutes. Any player whether they are small or big can be a bust really.

I'm sure whatever decision the Flames make will be based on all the information they can possibly get their hands on. I also don't think either of Konecny or Merkley will be available if we traded down. If we trade down we will probably have a really good idea the player we want is available, which means it's probably 1 in a group of 4 or 5. In that case, just stay at 15.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

My concern with Merkley is that he is a physically smaller guy that doesn't have great skating.

In order to be small in the NHL you better be able to skate.

His skating seemed fine to me. It's his shot that I am worried about.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

His skating seemed fine to me. It's his shot that I am worried about.

This. He seems to have the speed to burn defensemen in Jr. so translate that to the NHL and he likely is adequately fast to keep up, even if he does lose that element to his game before adjusting. But it doesn't seem like he took a single shot all year.

I think he projects to be a top 6 winger, and the Flames have spoken a lot about getting bigger in the top 6, so Im not sure how good of a fit he is.

[JohnnyT]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

This. He seems to have the speed to burn defensemen in Jr. so translate that to the NHL and he likely is adequately fast to keep up, even if he does lose that element to his game before adjusting. But it doesn't seem like he took a single shot all year.

I think he projects to be a top 6 winger, and the Flames have spoken a lot about getting bigger in the top 6, so Im not sure how good of a fit he is.

One thing with the Bruke/Treliving is that they're not as "intellectually honest" with the fans as the Fester was. I'm sure they want to get bigger, but they also want to get faster, and adding that size can come in a number of different ways including or not including the draft and their 1st round pick.

[PeteMoss]

Konecky is a bit of a Sam Bennett type guy in terms of how he'll put himself in harm's way to make a play. Being a smaller guy that doesn't always go well, but could also see the Flames liking his tenacity.

[dammage79]

I have this really weird feeling Matthew Barzal falls into the Flames' lap on Friday.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I have this really weird feeling Matthew Barzal falls into the Flames' lap on Friday.

What makes you think this? I'd be shocked if New Jersey didn't take him. Maybe San Jose at the very latest, but I really think he's a Devil.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by codynw

What makes you think this? I'd be shocked if New Jersey didn't take him. Maybe San Jose at the very latest, but I really think he's a Devil.

Jersey could just as easily Take Rantanen. SJ could go with the bigger and equally skilled Guryanov. With the amount of risers and fallers this year, I think the only ones that are safe locks for the top half of the draft are Hanifin, the wonder twins at the top, Provorov, Marner and Strome. Kyle Connor can go to NJ for all we know, I don't really see a big difference in that tier.
Svechnikov can go Higher, Any one of a few D men like Roy or Zboril can as well.

The talent grouping being so close it may come down to NHL ready size. Pushing an average sized player like Barzal down.

[shutout]

Really cool tool to see where the general draft consensus is for the players
Easier to see in a graphical form than viewing on a consolidated spreadsheet.

http://donttellmeaboutheart.blogspot...lity-tool.html