[GDT] 2016 WJC: Round Robin Day 1. Tournament starts at 5AM. Canada vs USA 11AM. TSN

[Barca]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its interesting, I liked Virtanen in his draft year, but I was pretty adamant that he was a guy that would be a better late first round second round player because there were real concerns about his hockey IQ and discipline.

He's going to be a good physical player, but I doubt that he's ever going to be a consistent top 6 player in the NHL.

He really didn't look good in this game.

no Canadian forward not named Strome was good in this game...

MacDonald has looked awful in his starts, Blackwood needs to return asap.

That Carolina 2nd round pick looked solid in net, especially with like 4 mins left made a huge save on that 2 on 1.

[Barca]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

You are right.

Mcdonald hasn't stood out to me thus far. Am going strictly by his numbers this year and the small sample size of the prep games and today.

Hopefully I'm wrong on this. It was intriguing that the flames chose him over demkho who was ranked as the top keeper that draft.

exactly... not only that, he got drafted by a divisional rival lol

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Barca

exactly... not only that, he got drafted by a divisional rival lol

Demko could become the next Patrick Roy and I'm still sure the Canucks would find a way to screw it up.

[neo45]

Hickey was great today against tough competition. McDonald was alright, last two goals were terrible plays in front of him. Especially the Hicketts one

Was really impressed by Dylan Strome and really underwhelmed by Marner

[sureLoss]

I always found this article interesting. It was published after the 2014 draft combine. Pretty obvious now that the Flames were talking about McDonald and likely Demko:

http://olympic.ca/2014/05/30/mental-...uting-combine/

The grittiest moments of an NHL playoff game go beyond laying down in the path of a blistering slapshot or shoveling in a rebound.

Great hockey performance also happens on the bench. The player’s mind, once ignored by the sport, is now a top consideration. And hockey is catching up quick.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving takes a break from a day of interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine. He and his staff spent part of the day assessing two goaltenders. They are trying to figure out exactly what these young men are made of, mentally.

“I think it’s at the forefront for each team. It’s something we pay a great deal of time and attention to,” says Treliving who lists some of the character traits his group is looking to measure. Coachability, work ethic, response to success or failure, drive. Each trait forms the basis of excellent mental performance, which is critical in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “We do have some tools through sport psychology, through certain questionnaires, certain testing we feel gives us a clear picture. We’re constantly evolving, I say we’re closing the gap,” he says.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I always found this article interesting. It was published after the 2014 draft combine. Pretty obvious now that the Flames were talking about McDonald and likely Demko:

http://olympic.ca/2014/05/30/mental-...uting-combine/

Yeah and there was coverage of the draft that suggested they spent a lot of the time after the first round talking about McDonald vs Demko to try and make that decision if both were available when they selected.

Obviously the two goalies were super close and it was by the narrowest of margins they selected McDonald. I don't think anyone has cause or justification to be bemoaning that decision yet. Goalies are probably the worst position to try and judge at that age, we may not know for another 5 years or more which of the two will end up the best.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Barca

exactly... not only that, he got drafted by a divisional rival lol

Judging goalies 18 months after they were drafted is insane to do, even more than skaters

it's more likely than not that neither of them are a starter on an NHL team within anytime in the next 2-3 seasons and players develop at completely different times (i.e some make a jump at 17, some 18, some 21 etc.)

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

You are right.

Mcdonald hasn't stood out to me thus far. Am going strictly by his numbers this year and the small sample size of the prep games and today.

Hopefully I'm wrong on this. It was intriguing that the flames chose him over demkho who was ranked as the top keeper that draft.

CSS had McDonald as #1. And overall, it was a pretty even split.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Rejean31

The only real successful pick of a goalie by the Flames might be Mike Vernon.

Maybe Craig Anderson

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

CSS had McDonald as #1. And overall, it was a pretty even split.

Something people don't consider is the book the Flames developed on Demko as they watched Arnold and Gaudreau in their final years at BC. I wouldn't be surprised if those two players were interviewed about Demko before the draft. It doesn't make sense that they would leave that most obvious stone unturned.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Don't forget another Flames pick, JS Giguere. Had a lot of success for a few years.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by New Era

Don't forget another Flames pick, JS Giguere. Had a lot of success for a few years.

I think they traded for Giguere, rather than drafted him

[getbak]

Originally Posted by New Era

Don't forget another Flames pick, JS Giguere. Had a lot of success for a few years.

He was drafted by the Whalers.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I think they traded for Giguere, rather than drafted him

Yep, Drafted by Hartford.

Giguère was traded to the Calgary Flames, along with centre Andrew Cassels, in exchange for forward Gary Roberts and goaltender Trevor Kidd.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by New Era

Something people don't consider is the book the Flames developed on Demko as they watched Arnold and Gaudreau in their final years at BC. I wouldn't be surprised if those two players were interviewed about Demko before the draft. It doesn't make sense that they would leave that most obvious stone unturned.

Yeah, they would have seen plenty of Demko.

And as someone who watched a lot of BC games myself, I was happy we went with McDonald.

McDonald is not having a great year so far, but discussing who is the better prospect right now is premature - either way.

[Locke]

Well, that was interesting.

Unfortunately I think management made an egregious mistake with the entire McDonald/Blackwood scenario.

Those last two tipped in goals scream to me of a team that has inherent lack of confidence in their goaltender and are trying to do too much in front of him.

There is no reason for them to lack faith in McDonald and thus feel the need to over-compensate unless that is the feeling that the coaching staff and management have instilled.

It feels like it isnt an open competition but more that 'Blackwood is our man, we just have to survive until he gets here!'

That attitude, and I admit its only my perception, pretty much cost them this game.

Further, I really liked Hickey's game today, I thought he was solid but with a few brainfarts, but he was out there against the top opposition all the time. Simple but effective.

Hicketts is someone that didnt impress me, quite the opposite actually. I dont know if its trying to do too much or what the deal is but the guy is everywhere all the time but not actually accomplishing a whole lot.

And what the hell Finland? I'm talking with a friend who is over there and theres a law in Finland where you cant bring your beer back to your seat so you can watch the game and have a beer? I thought you were better than that Finland, so much better. For shame Finland. For shame.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yeah and there was coverage of the draft that suggested they spent a lot of the time after the first round talking about McDonald vs Demko to try and make that decision if both were available when they selected.

Obviously the two goalies were super close and it was by the narrowest of margins they selected McDonald. I don't think anyone has cause or justification to be bemoaning that decision yet. Goalies are probably the worst position to try and judge at that age, we may not know for another 5 years or more which of the two will end up the best.

Exactly! Go waaayyy down memory lane, the year the Flames drafted Kidd, there was this kid still on the board and the Devils drafted him. He went on to have a pretty stellar career and won several cups.

[dieHARDflameZ]

I really don't understand the love for Demko. I watched a handful of BC games when he was starting and he honestly let in a soft goal almost every game. I think he was more the product of having a great team playing in front of him.

Again though and as many other posters have mentioned, the Demko vs. McDonald debate won't be settled for years.

[madmike]

For me it wasn't so much a Demko/McDonald thing as why would you draft a goalie that high when you already have Jon Gillies. I still don't get the pick.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by madmike

For me it wasn't so much a Demko/McDonald thing as why would you draft a goalie that high when you already have Jon Gillies. I still don't get the pick.

Teams should be drafting a goalie every 2nd draft regardless, especially when they don't have a number one franchise currently playing for them like the Flames. Yeah, Gillies is a great prospect but he isn't a sure thing by any means. I like the Flames taking a goalie that season, I think they should again this draft.

Teams needs to have a pipeline of prospects, not one hopeful to crown goalie of the future, that never works.