The one silver lining of the Flames dropping 3 spots in the draft would be that it would also mean none of Toronto, Edmonton, or Vancouver will pick top 3.
Also, with the rankings the way they are this year, it sounds like the Flames could get the same player at 8 that they would have picked at 5 anyway.
Exactly. In fact. I am kind of wishing that the Flames end up a bit lower. I'm not super keen on Dubois or Tkachuk as others with a penchant for PWF types are.
I really really like McLeod or Sergachyev if the Flames cannot walk out of the the draft with a Finn or Mathews or Nylander.
If the Flames grab McLeod and he turns into that #2 C then Bennett LW's him and the compete level paired with the speed of that line is second to none in the league. McLeod has Monahan size and Bennett or better speed. That's insane to discredit because he doesn't have a top tier shot. Sorry, I just really like the player.
And I think Sergachyev ends up the best D man out of the top 3 in this draft.
It's looking to me that picks 4-7 or even 3-8 could be on a needs basis rather than BPA as they all look pretty equal to me. Of course getting the higher pick means we have more choice but I don't think I'll panic over dropping a couple of spots.
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If the Flames grab McLeod and he turns into that #2 C then Bennett LW's him and the compete level paired with the speed of that line is second to none in the league. McLeod has Monahan size and Bennett or better speed. That's insane to discredit because he doesn't have a top tier shot. Sorry, I just really like the player.
Well I'm a lot more interested in drafting McLeod and moving Bennett to wing than I would be with New Era's suggestion of moving McLeod to RW. Just don't see McLeod as a winger. I guess that is a fine idea.
I'd much rather keep Bennett at centre and draft a skilled power forward to play on his line. I think that results in higher offensive potential. I think with Backlund, Bennett and Jankowski that drafting a 2nd line centre isn't as appealing since we're so weak on the wing and so weak at size on the wing.
Well I'm a lot more interested in drafting McLeod and moving Bennett to wing than I would be with New Era's suggestion of moving McLeod to RW. Just don't see McLeod as a winger. I guess that is a fine idea.
I'd much rather keep Bennett at centre and draft a skilled power forward to play on his line. I think that results in higher offensive potential. I think with Backlund, Bennett and Jankowski that drafting a 2nd line centre isn't as appealing since we're so weak on the wing and so weak at size on the wing.
There's ample opportunity to address skill with size down the draft ladder too.
Fellow Steel-head Nathan Bastien, Igor Korshkov, Cameron Morrison, Mitch Mattson etc etc. McLeod even as a RH/C has top end talent that you cannot pass up.
Besides! Bennett at LW solves the skilled gritty winger issue too!
There's ample opportunity to address skill with size down the draft ladder too.
Fellow Steel-head Nathan Bastien, Igor Korshkov, Cameron Morrison, Mitch Mattson etc etc. McLeod even as a RH/C has top end talent that you cannot pass up.
Besides! Bennett at LW solves the skilled gritty winger issue too!
It's extremely hard to find a legitimate 1st line winger with size, strength, skill and skating outside the top 10. Sure you can occasionally get lucky but we shouldn't be banking on it. It looks like we can get one in this top 10.
Here's some quotes on McLeod
"Michael McLeod is a very interesting player - he could go much higher than 13," Button said. "You talk to different people around the league, they love his competitiveness. He's an elite skater."
"I don't get all the "doesn't have a high offensive ceiling" talk lately. Why is it that when a draft eligible prospect is a responsible two-way player, he's suddenly labelled a future 3rd liner as if it's not feasible that his offensive skill set improves? His skating ability makes him so dangerous off the rush and with his size and smarts, he has the potential to control play below the hashmarks too. His shot and finishing ability need to get better, but that's something that can be improved. I'd still take him over his teammate Nylander (although I do like Alex as a prospect too). Something that doesn't get mentioned enough - he's currently the OHL's top faceoff man." - Brock Otten
""Let's get this out there now: no one is letting this kid fall out of the top ten to get Larkin’d again. He’s 6’2’’ with light speed, and he’s getting check your eyes even faster with each new view. McLeod is a stud, who should refine his choppy stickhandling and O zone choices to become a beast of a #2C.” - Anthony Mauro
"The speed is incredible. Having seen him live, I could barely believe some of the stuff he pulls off when he has the puck and he's pretty good on face-offs, as well. Scouts love how he stood out on Canada's Ivan Hlinka team." - Ryan Kennedy
"I know I have him higher than most others. The more I watch him, the more I like. A tremendous all around player. Great leadership skills and it seemed every goal he scored as a rookie was a highlight reel goal. Not much has changed this year. Solid penalty killer and a big reason why the Steelheads have the best PK in the OHL (as of this writing). I don't know if he will be much of a goal scorer in the NHL, but I would take him on my team, any day! He makes the line with Alexander Nylander and Nathan Bastian (all NHL draft eligible) players go. He really is the straw that stirs the drink on that line." - Tony Ambrogio
"One of the best well-rounded players in the draft. He is a threat with and without the puck has a fantastic shot and effective playmaking skills. He uses his size and speed to drive to the net and his acceleration makes him hard to contain. McLeod has a strong wrist shot and is able to finish plays at top speed which will make him very attractive to NHL teams. He competes hard and is strong on the puck. McLeod is solid on face-offs and trusted to be used in many key situations. I would pick McLeod over Nylander, but Nylander plays with a little more flash and has strong NHL roots which may be more attractive to some NHL scouts." - Kathryn Jean
The comments were a little more glowing than I remember. But despite that he was ranked below Chychrun (#1), Tkachuk (#2) and Nylander (#3) on that midseason OHL list. It appears some do really love his game. I wouldn't hate the pick but obviously I think Tkachuk and Dubois would fits our immediate and long term needs much better. You guys might be able to convince me he's a better pick than Nylander though.
Last edited by Flames Draft Watcher; 04-08-2016 at 02:33 PM.
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Without saying who these comparables are to, would you guys like to draft a player in the 4-8 range like:
Landeskog?
Pavelski?
Steen?
Bogosian?
Brodie?
Larkin?
I'd add a Landeskog type I think.
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Without saying who these comparables are to, would you guys like to draft a player in the 4-8 range like:
Landeskog?
Pavelski?
Steen?
Bogosian?
Brodie?
Larkin?
I'd add a Landeskog type I think.
Probably Steen. Someone who can cycle with Sammy.
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Steelheads players for you! Larkin was Button's comparable for McLeod. Pavelski was Button's comparable for Nylander. But maybe you knew that already....
Steelheads players for you! Larkin was Button's comparable for McLeod. Pavelski was Button's comparable for Nylander. But maybe you knew that already....
I didn't actually haha. I like Pavelski a bunch and who doesn't want a Larkin type regardless of team need. Although I feel like the Nylander/Paveski comp is a bit of a stretch. I'd put Nylander more in a D.Sedin type category.
Matthew Tkachuk (LW) 6’1, 195 – I don’t get the excitement over this guy. I don’t see the 2nd coming of his father. I see a player that is fortunate to play on the line he does. He isn’t the straw on that line, he isn’t even the guy stirring the straw, he’s a guy that is the bubbles in the drink floating to the surface because of the work of others. Not a fan, but then again, I wasn’t a Domi fan.
I'm curious as to why, contrary to just about every scouting report I've seen on Tkachuk, you have such a polarizing opinion on him. It's like you just described one of the No Goods.
What did you see from your viewings that caused him to rub off on you this way? Bad shift? Players bouncing goals in off Matt's stick?
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Again with the obsession over right shots. We aren't going to move a kid up just because he shoots right and we aren't going to drop guys just because they shoot left.
Thank you for sharing your opinion. Now I hope you can respect that I have a right to my own, which I clearly stated in the disclaimer of the post is what I was stating. I've poured over probably all of the same stuff you have, gone out of my way to try and see these guys play, if possible, and watch as many highlight packages available. This informed my selection process. I also was clear that I was addressing very specific holes in the system to meet very specific needs. A big thing missing in this system, and it is the most glaring hole, is the lack of right handed shots. Given a choice between similar skilled players I elected to go with a righty over a lefty, and size and grit over smaller less truculent players, so yes, my list is weighted that way.
I personally don't care if a player is falling. I get more concerned about players that go flying up the rankings over guys that fall down the rankings a bit. Guys get over-scouted and scouts aren't as easily impressed by guys they have seen 20 times. Guys that have a sudden development spurt become the flavor of the week. Those guys scare me more. Look at how far Kylington fell, and for what appeared to be more systemic issues than player related issues. So I don't buy into the late changes in draft order as the hype builds. I'll continue to do the eye balling myself and make my judgment on my gut feel rather than what the flavor of the week says. Again, my opinion and how I approach looking at these kids. I just thought I would share my opinion for a new angle on the talent available, so we could have some fun talking about these kids. So thank you for all the kind words.
