2024 NHL Draft Thread

[troutman]

Hakan Loob 5’9”.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hakan Loob 5’9”.

Gilmour was 5’11. Most of the skill guys on that Stanley Cup team were small. Then we had the big unskilled guys as a good mix. Team had 5 forwards that were 0.9 PPG or more, 4 of them were under 6 feet and Nieuwendyk was 6’1.

[Tbull8]

Now I’m just praying we win the lottery and get Celebrini so there’s no debates as to whether we should’ve taken Tij or not

[Braden]

I think the topic was on small goalies, but if we're naming small players how about Martin St. Louis. It was before my time.. What happened there anyway? just didn't get much opportunity in Calgary and they let him walk? What could have been...

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Braden

I think the topic was on small goalies, but if we're naming small players how about Martin St. Louis. It was before my time.. What happened there anyway? just didn't get much opportunity in Calgary and they let him walk? What could have been...

One of the factors was a change in GMs. Coates (who I believe was a good GM who wasn't given enough time) was a supporter of St. Louis, but when the team fired him and Button came in, there wasn't the same belief in the player. He was even exposed in the expansion draft (and not taken) and then released.

I had seasons at the time. St. Louis had clear skill but I also am not going to pretend that I thought he was going to become much. Good on him for proving a lot of people wrong.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Braden

I think the topic was on small goalies, but if we're naming small players how about Martin St. Louis. It was before my time.. What happened there anyway? just didn't get much opportunity in Calgary and they let him walk? What could have been...

He went undrafted, was invited to the Senators try out, they didn't sign him. He signed an AHL deal with Cleveland before then Flames GM Al Coated signed him to a two-way NHL deal in February. Flames fired Al Coates, hired Craig Button. Button wasn't a believer, he looked like a tweener at that point. 24 years old 3 goals in 50+ games in 1999-2000. Flames place him on waivers, no takers.

Button then leaves him exposed in the 2000 expansion draft, both Minnesota and Columbus doesn't take him. Minnesota takes both Filip Kuba and Sergei Krivokrasov from Calgary instead. Calgary with Craig Button as GM buy him out and he becomes a UFA. Finally late July that summer he signs with Tampa, establishes himself, becomes a star, cup winner and eventually hall of fame player.

Martin St. Louis is the often cited one that got away in Calgary but literally every organization, including two brand new ones, had multiple opportunities to get him and didn't .

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Gilmour was 5’11. Most of the skill guys on that Stanley Cup team were small. Then we had the big unskilled guys as a good mix. Team had 5 forwards that were 0.9 PPG or more, 4 of them were under 6 feet and Nieuwendyk was 6’1.

As Don Cherry said at the time, ‘The big guys go boom and the little guys go zip!’

[FlamesAddiction]

I threw out all of my old hockey magazines a while ago, but I will I would have kept a couple of them now. One of the season preview magazines for hockey pool predictions had St. Louis as a dark horse player on the Flames and a player to watch the following season. It was mentioned that he was a bright spot of the Flames winding down the previous season and they predicted he was going to make more of an impact.

I wish I would have take a picture of it because there is a lot of history revision when it comes to St. Louis. People act as if no one believed in him and it was unforeseeable that he would become a good player, but that isn't completely true. I remember that last season in Calgary and he was one of the players and he was pretty impactful on the bottom six at the end of the season. I was a pretty big fan.

I am not saying anyone predicted that he would become a superstar player, but there were people who thought he could become a valuable NHL regular at least. I can also buy that it was never going to happen in Calgary, so it doesn't matter.

[TheScorpion]

Here at the Hitmen game today — really liking the idea of having both Brzustewicz and Yakemchuk on the right side

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Here at the Hitmen game today — really liking the idea of having both Brzustewicz and Yakemchuk on the right side

Speaking of the Hitmen, I wonder if the Flames take another look at Oliver Tulk as an undrafted free agent, assuming he goes undrafted again (which is very likely). Smaller player, but I like the way he plays and seems to be having a good year.

[TheScorpion]

Flames had Tulk at dev camp last year. Could see it.

[Sandman]

I recall liking what I saw from Tulk at development camp.

[Sandman]

If you can, Scorp- watch out for Miguel Marques of the ‘Canes. Could be a first-rounder in the draft.

[Wastedyouth]

Terik Parascak I think should be a target with that Van pick.

Kid is tearing it up.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Sandman

If you can, Scorp- watch out for Miguel Marques of the ‘Canes. Could be a first-rounder in the draft.

He's been OK. Don't love his drive -- very often on the periphery of the O-zone.

[Snuffleupagus]

Speaking of Hitmen, keep an eye on Ben Kindel for next years draft, he's working into being a full time center and should have a big year next season, listed as 5'10 165lbs but I'm told he's taken a growth spurt, kid has oodles of talent.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Terik Parascak I think should be a target with that Van pick.

Kid is tearing it up.

Not sure he'll be there, he's trending up very fast and getting too much attention, recently no less than three scouts spent a few days in Prince friken George, I doubt they were scouting the overaged Funk.

[Hatter]

I saw Tod Button in Medicine Hat yesterday. Likely checking on Lindstrom and Basha?

Basha had 3 points in a win over Swift Current.

Good opportunity to get a look at McKenna as well!

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Hatter

I saw Tod Button in Medicine Hat yesterday. Likely checking on Lindstrom and Basha?

Basha had 3 points in a win over Swift Current.

Good opportunity to get a look at McKenna as well!

Mrsic is another they're probably watching.

He's had a great 2nd half and might be a solid mid round pick.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Hatter

I saw Tod Button in Medicine Hat yesterday. Likely checking on Lindstrom and Basha?

Basha had 3 points in a win over Swift Current.

Good opportunity to get a look at McKenna as well!

Is Lindstrom coming back soon? He's been out since mid-December, and was supposed to return in February...