How Would the Flames Handle a 2016 Top 3 Pick Next Season?

[Vinny01]

Crazy that people prefer the Fins to Matthews as I think he is clear by and far the top prospect in the draft ready to make significant impact right away.

As I said in another thread I would be interested to see just how much Arizona would give up to get Matthews. If they are serious about keeping that team in the market nothing sells tickets like a homegrown superstar. is Strome+their 2 1st round picks enough?

Either of the Fins would be awesome as well. Personally I could see one of those picks paired with Bennett on the second line while Monahan Gaudreau stay together on the top line (at least to start the season)

[Ozy_Flame]

Draft lottery ensures we aren't guaranteed anything. I think with that said, we have to be prepared to pick anywhere from 1-10, and come up with a scenario in each case as to how the Flames pick. There are clear gaps to fill on the forward ranks and the Flames have to adjust accordingly.

I believe the strategy in how they pick their 1st round draft pick this year - which should be a good one - will determine how we populate the team for the next season. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flames stay absolutely quiet until they pick, then the trade winds pick up with all of those 2nds we acquired.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by polak

What?

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Puljujärvi
.....
.....
The rest.

Is this not the consensus?

No, not everybody sees it that way.

"Let’s focus on the positive for now. The top tier is probably a two-man group of Auston Matthews (who we all knew heading into the year would be in this discussion) and Patrik Laine (who has seemingly overcome his maturity and coachability issues from previous years to let his wondrous natural gifts take over).

It can certainly be argued that any of the three members of Red Line’s second tier — Jesse Puljujärvi, Matthew Tkachuk, and Jakob Chychrun — should be included in with that top pair. Each has been impressive enough at times to be considered among the elite."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...c2d51df83a39fd

Redline sees it as a top tier of 2 with a slight drop off to the other 3. Basically that top 5 is great.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Crazy that people prefer the Fins to Matthews as I think he is clear by and far the top prospect in the draft ready to make significant impact right away.

I'm with ya. Johnny deserves the Toews to his Kane.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Table 5

How is Tkachuk in terms of pure goal scoring? I admittedly haven't seem him much, but whenever I see hilights, he always comes across to me as primarily a playmaker, which, BPA reasoning aside, Im not sure really fills a huge hole for us considering our roster of young guys. I think we already have a couple of great playmakers on this team (Gaudreau and Brodie), some all-around solid forwards (Monahan/Bennett), but we're missing that shoot-first sniper up front.

For me ideally this year we draft the guy Gaudreau can consistently feed for 35-40 goals a year. I see the two Finns filling that slot of course, but I'm hoping that guy would be available at 5 as well.

I think Tkachuk can definitely finish from what I've read/seen. He loves being in around the crease. I think his power forward style would compliment on our top two lines quite nicely if we can't land a Finn.

I disagree that he doesn't fill a hole because we badly, badly lack skilled wingers with size and that is exactly what Tkachuk is. Wouldn't surprise if we picked him that we play him on the off side as a RWer. I think he fits our needs quite well although not quite as ideally as the Finns.

[Ozy_Flame]

I hate that we are seriously in the consideration for Matthews to play on our team which implies Edmonton level of bad, but at the same time my heart does get excited for it.

[Caged Great]

This draft is more like 2014 where 1-4 were all pretty close between the Sams, Ekblad and Draisaitl. 1 and 2 are slightly better, much like Ekblad was that year, then 3-4-5-6 are close this time. All of the top 6 have equal or more potential as Bennett did is his draft year. No complaints on which player gets picked as long as one of them does get taken by Calgary.

[dino7c]

Flames aren't really in 29th though...they have games in hand and one point back of the Oilers

[dino7c]

Matthews is the best player in the draft and going first overall...there are some other good players but I think some are just passing over him because he has been ranked #1 for so long. Should we be so lucky we take him every time

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames aren't really in 29th though...they have games in hand and one point back of the Oilers

Crazy that it took 6 losses in a row to do that...

[Locke]

If we're drafting in the Top 3 we cant lose.

[Poe969]

Yes, the Flames are in 29th... the season isn't over so games at h and don't mean anything to points right now. The Flames have played fewer games so they have a higher winning %. Point wise, the Flames are in 29th.

I really like Pull-an-RV and think he'd be great on the Flames. That being said, I would take Matthews 100% of the time if given the chance. Matthews is by far the BPA in the draft and it's not really close. I think he'll make it to the NHL next year no matter what team he's on and if he was on the Flames, he'd likely be on the second line right away.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I hate that we are seriously in the consideration for Matthews to play on our team which implies Edmonton level of bad, but at the same time my heart does get excited for it.

this organization has never had a top 3 pick since the Atlanta years. While it sucks that Flames are in the Matthews hunt, there's no shame in it ... heck, a lot of the top teams right now have had multiple top 3 picks in the last 10-15 years. Chicago had 3 in a span of 4 years, Tampa Bay had 3 in a span of 6 years, Pittsburgh even had 4 consecutive top 2 picks. L.A., St. Louis, Washington, Colorado and the Isles had multiple top 5 picks including 1st overalls (except for L.A., they "only" had a 2nd).

Potentially picking top 3 for the first time in 40+ years is not "Edmonton level of bad". As long as they pick it up again next season, everything's fine.

[stemit14]

Flames draft any of the Finns or Matthews. Start whichever one they get as the 2nd line RW. If Dallas makes it to the Conference finals with Russell playing enough games for the flames to get the 27th overall pick as well... Could use that pick to trade for iginla. That would have the flames set up nicely for the RW position next season so we can see real progress while being able to shelter the new kid. Plus I really want iggy back cause I think he fills a lot of holes on the team.

Hopefully Jankowski signs with the flames at the end of the season. See if he looks NHL-ready in prospect camp. If he does... Can consider trading backlund for goaltending help. That is if the flames haven't fixed that problem by then in free agency.

Something like:

Johnny-Monahan-Matthews/Finn
Frolik-Bennett-Iggy
Ferland-Jankowski-Colbourne
Bouma-Stajan-Hathaway

Edit: could even hope to find a way to trade wideman for iginla so that the flames could save salary space and keep that pick.

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[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Flames draft any of the Finns or Matthews. Start whichever one they get as the 2nd line RW. If Dallas makes it to the Conference finals with Russell playing enough games for the flames to get the 27th overall pick as well... Could use that pick to trade for iginla. That would have the flames set up nicely for the RW position next season so we can see real progress while being able to shelter the new kid. Plus I really want iggy back cause I think he fills a lot of holes on the team.

Hopefully Jankowski signs with the flames at the end of the season. See if he looks NHL-ready in prospect camp. If he does... Can consider trading backlund for goaltending help. That is if the flames haven't fixed that problem by then in free agency.

Something like:

Johnny-Monahan-Matthews/Finn
Frolik-Bennett-Iggy
Ferland-Jankowski-Colbourne
Bouma-Stajan-Hathaway

Edit: could even hope to find a way to trade wideman for iginla so that the flames could save salary space and keep that pick.

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Iginla will always be my favorite player but that ship has sailed. He doesn't fill holes and there are tons of RW's i'd rather trade for or sign. He just doesn't have the speed he used to.

[FlamesAddiction]

Completely theoretical as there is no reason to believe Montreal would even think about it, but if we had a top 3 pick, would you trade it straight up for Price?

[saillias]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Completely theoretical as there is no reason to believe Montreal would even think about it, but if we had a top 3 pick, would you trade it straight up for Price?

Yeah. He's the reigning league MVP and was trending that way again if not for that injury

[Ashasx]

He'll be 29 before the start of next season (doesn't really fit the age of our team) and is coming off a significant injury

Personally I'd rather have the top 3 pick and the player with 3-4 years on his ELC.

[Erick Estrada]

When I run that draft simulator it seems the Fames move back one or two spots more than they move up or stay in the same position.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I hate that we are seriously in the consideration for Matthews to play on our team which implies Edmonton level of bad, but at the same time my heart does get excited for it.

I look at it this way. Most teams (unless you're like a Detroit) are going to once in awhile have years where they just outright suck. I think this year and 2012-2013 were those type of years. You take it in stride, and hope to get as high in the draft as possible and hopefully get your hands on a franchise player.

As long as they're not in perpetual suck mode like the Oilers, the Canes, and until recently the Panthers, then we're ok to cheer for a tank once in awhile.