Who should the Flames take #3 overall

[Jiri Hrdina]

#1: Mckenna: 89.39%
#2: Stenberg: 90%

[ForeverFlameFan]

Carels or Verhoeff, went with Carels. Those two are my 3/4.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

How do the d-men stack up. Is verhoeff still widely considered the bpa?

Seems to be a lot of competition at that position as the year has worn on.

[blankall]

Gotta be Keaton Verhoeff for me. Huge physical d-man with considerable offensive ability. Likely also NHL ready sooner than most d-men. The offensive numbers he's putting up in the NCAA at 17 shouldn't be underestimated. Plus he's from Alberta. I can't see the Flames taking another D-man if he's still available.

Obviously, I would prefer the Flames to get one of the two big forwards, but having Parekh and Verhoeff on the back end would be incredible too. The Flames need to out tank the Rangers and Blues.

[VilleN]

I don't know enough about Verhoeff... but are there any comparables in the league? Does he track similar to a Hedman, or more of a Parayko? What kind of a ceiling are we looking at?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I don't know enough about Verhoeff... but are there any comparables in the league? Does he track similar to a Hedman, or more of a Parayko? What kind of a ceiling are we looking at?

I think a while back someone said Pietrangelo and I liked that comparable. Has a way higher floor than Parekh to be a top pairing D, imo.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

As much as i like the d-men in this crop (Smits looks great too), I hope we're drafting 1st, 2nd or 4th, because this team needs to get stocking up on forward talent (especially down the middle).

Stenberg/Mckenna or Makhotra/Lawrence/Bjorck is ideal for that flames pick.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Doesn't address an area of need but you should probably not think too hard about taking the physical mutant Alberta kid whos played his whole Jr and Pro career with a previous 1st rounder in your organization and has only been a defenseman for like 5 years.

Solve the problem of having too many RD studs in the NHL when you get there.

[gvitaly]

That's a tough one. You can make an argument for all of Verhoeff, Reid, and Lawrence.

Went with Reid, because I think he has the highest ceiling in the NHL. That said the Flames have a pretty similar player in Parekh. Though I would argue that Reid has the much better reads defensively(no pun intended). If Lawrence had a bit of a better start in the NCAA, I would've went with the C, but he seems like a higher risk/reward player similar to Cayden Lindstrom.

[Steve's Stick]

Is Malhotra a 1C? (I mean this sincerely) - I'm not a scout, but he seems like your typical middle-six type guy. I think Reschny is the superior prospect. So why reach for something that we don't need?

We need to find elite.

I'm voting Carels - we need a 1LD as much as we need a 1C and Carels is special in that regard: Western Canadian kid who plays hard.

Paired with Parekh - that's 10+ years, 25 minutes a night of elite.

Lawrence would be the exception - if the adjustment to NCAA is blip and he remains a 1C possibility.

[dammage79]

Bjorck baby!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Steve's Stick

Is Malhotra a 1C? (I mean this sincerely) - I'm not a scout, but he seems like your typical middle-six type guy. I think Reschny is the superior prospect. So why reach for something that we don't need?

We need to find elite.

I'm voting Carels - we need a 1LD as much as we need a 1C and Carels is special in that regard: Western Canadian kid who plays hard.

Paired with Parekh - that's 10+ years, 25 minutes a night of elite.

Lawrence would be the exception - if the adjustment to NCAA is blip and he remains a 1C possibility.

Elite might not be an option if they're not drafting in the top 2 or 3 spots.

Just the reality of the situation.

Many think Malhotra's recent trajectory could put him on the path to being a 2C.

Banking everything on Reschny panning out doesn't seem wise. It's a numbers game so we should be stockpiling at center and not banking on a thin crop because the scouting in one guy looks encouraging.

Carels would be fine but its also not as simple as Bing bang boom, top pairing for a decade. Both players still need to pan out and zayne is still finding his way to even being an nhler.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Steve's Stick

Is Malhotra a 1C? (I mean this sincerely) - I'm not a scout, but he seems like your typical middle-six type guy. I think Reschny is the superior prospect. So why reach for something that we don't need?

We need to find elite.

I'm voting Carels - we need a 1LD as much as we need a 1C and Carels is special in that regard: Western Canadian kid who plays hard.

Paired with Parekh - that's 10+ years, 25 minutes a night of elite.

Lawrence would be the exception - if the adjustment to NCAA is blip and he remains a 1C possibility.

I think his ceiling is an Anthony Cirelli. That's one of the reasons I don't see a great fit between him and a Flames top 5 pick. He is definitely one of the biggest risers in his draft similar to Tij. Malhotra was ranked in the 15-20 range in December, and lower than that to start the year.

[united]

My opinion but in limited viewings I saw Verhoeff as a Werenski-type stylistically. Not as physical as Pietrangelo or involved in transition as Parayko. Better in Ozone than both. Lots of time to evolve though.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Verhoeff for me then.

[dissentowner]

Bjork is my pick here. I think he becomes a number one centre. I don't even have Verhoeff as the top D, I have Smits ahead of him.

[Samonadreau]

Went Smits.

Was between him and Verhoeff but man Smits looked good in WJC and the Olympics.

[DoubleK]

Bjork.

McKenna is the best F in the draft. Stenberg and Bjork look to be the best C's.

Can play BPA/least crappy player left after the top 3.

[You Need a Thneed]

Viggo Bjorck for the all time name club alone.

[dammage79]

Nm