"The 1st round of The Next Ones NHL Mock Draft March Madness Edition is already in the books. After a plethora of picks changing hands leading up to and on the NHL trade deadline, here’s one scenario of how the draft may play out:"
Flames with 3 picks (went on the cautious side as if Stars don't make conference finals)
- land a potential power forward RW, skilled Swedish forward, and perhaps the 3rd pick a bit controversial - undersized, highly skilled PMD who Flames hope turn out to be their version of the Flyers' "Ghost".
I see Dante Fabbro is dropping in some mocks. Sportsnet didn't have him in the 1st round. He was top 10 in a lot of lists early on. I know it's not a need but he could be a good get at 35.
I also would be okay if they took a shot at Carter Hart. Might as well just take a goalie every 2-3 years in the 2nd or 3rd round until we are 100% confident we've found our long term starter in net.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
On the draft, some scouts/GMs I talked to last week were discussing whether Juolevi might displace Tkachuk as consensus No. 4 after Big 3.
Wow this is very surprising to me. To me and a lot of other OHL followers Juolevi is the 4th or 5th best guy out the O, certainly not the first.
I guess that's why we are the amateurs and they are the paid professionals.
One thing I can tell you, He is certainly not the best draft-eligible player in the O now, So they must see something that tells them he has more room for growth than the others.
Max Jones as well. He doesn't mesh with any pick the Flames will be drafting with but he'd be great on our 3rd or 2nd line. Plays a really big game and just won't quit.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Split98 For This Useful Post:
I also would be okay if they took a shot at Carter Hart. Might as well just take a goalie every 2-3 years in the 2nd or 3rd round until we are 100% confident we've found our long term starter in net.
If the Flames keep the three seconds and they don't use some of them to acquire a starter for next season (opting to sign Reimer/Ward/Raanta instead) then I would expect them to take another goalie. What's the harm. It's still a problem until one of them takes the starter spot full time.
__________________ Fireside Chat - The #1 Flames Fan Podcast - FiresideChat.ca
The Following User Says Thank You to Caged Great For This Useful Post:
If the Flames keep the three seconds and they don't use some of them to acquire a starter for next season (opting to sign Reimer/Ward/Raanta instead) then I would expect them to take another goalie. What's the harm. It's still a problem until one of them takes the starter spot full time.
Is there a goalie out there with getting excited about?
Hart, Fitzpatrick, and Gustavsson are okay. No real dynamo's this year, but some solid options.
I've liked Fitz for a while, so I'd have to put my backing behind him, although he does have some holes in his game (a little sloppy at times)
I prefer not to take goalies until the 3rd round or later. Just not sure there's a ton of benefit to taking one earlier since they end up having a long development curve.
The Following User Says Thank You to PeteMoss For This Useful Post:
I prefer not to take goalies until the 3rd round or later. Just not sure there's a ton of benefit to taking one earlier since they end up having a long development curve.
I tend to agree. Goalies like Murray and Gillies can be found in the 3rd round and they are both the top prospects in their organizations.
But if not goalies, which position is the best for second round picks? Not of a lot of forwards taken in the second round will ever have the offensive potential to be top 6 forwards. There are exceptions, like Saad and Kucherov. A chance for a bottom 6 forward doesn't seem to be worth a second round pick. Bottom 6 forwards are relatively easy to get.
There are quite a few second liners that were drafted in the second round, but again, are second liners worth a high second round pick? Usually yes, but it is important to remember than second liners are fairly easy to obtain through trade, development, or free agency. There's a fairly sizeable difference between a 55 point second liner and a 35 point second liner.
In my opinion, the best type of prospects to take in the second round are skilled forwards with second line potential, and defenseman. A lot of blue chip defense prospects are former second rounders.
If the flames took 1 forward and 2 defensemen with their 3 second round picks, I think would be pretty good draft management in terms of positions. I realize that drafting based on need is not optimal, but the value of 2nd round picks seems to be obtained on defensemen and skilled forwards.
IMO, that is maybe the most dangerous kind of hit. Love me a solid body check but he pushed the guy into the boards. And he had lots of time to think about it.
He got into position behind the other player. He put his hand on his back. He coasted until the appropriate (?) moment. Then when a few feet away, launched the kid into the boards.
I don't follow Jr. Hockey closely, but it appears to me the London Knights are head and shoulders above the rest of the CHL for consistent talent development...is this true??
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by LickTheEnvelope View Post
... Eakins' claims Gagne's line played Kessel's line even...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hells Bells View Post
Yeah, Gagner's line was -4 and Kessel's was +4, so it all evened out.
