[Rumour] Boomer: Flames are kicking tires to trade up to #2. Draisaitl might be the target.

[sureLoss]

Toews was 6'1.5'' 195lbs in his draft year

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

wait til it starts...

i guarantee you, the hate everyone feels for Bettman will reach new heights when he is thanking the City of Philadelphia for hosting the draft and congratulating the LA Kings and all you be like is "GET TO THE FREAKING PICKS"

It's always so awkward when Bettman comes out and people boo him. I also find it weird when people cheer for trades. Don't get me wrong, I find them interesting, but to cheer them seems odd.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

wait til it starts...

i guarantee you, the hate everyone feels for Bettman will reach new heights when he is thanking the City of Philadelphia for hosting the draft and congratulating the LA Kings and all you be like is "GET TO THE FREAKING PICKS"

Just reading it, I'm angry already.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by New Era

No one is giving up on Baertschi. You have to give to get.



Pysyk would be a great return. He's got decent size and is a right handed shot. He's smart and a good puck mover. He would immediately become the Flames best prospect on the blue line and probably challenge for a spot this camp.

Give to get - To me, Sven is more valuable than Pysyk, a 2nd is more valuable than nothing and the difference IMO between 2 and 4 in this draft is a coin toss. We could look back in 3 years and see that 4 should have went 2 and 2 should have went 4. They are all such unique players in their own way and time will tell which pans out the best. The only sure shot is that Ekblad goes 1.

Not sure what the bag over head reference is.... are you meaning to say that Sven was not a A list celebrity after playing a few games with the squad? People were lined up to get a Sven jersey - both hockey and non hockey fans.

[loob job]

I hate that little shake he has with his head, like a mini bobblehead when he talks (bettman). I'm doing it right now but you can't see it, i wish you could cause i'm doing it exact.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's always so awkward when Bettman comes out and people boo him.

I just don't get the boos. Kind of pisses me off actually.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

wait til it starts...

i guarantee you, the hate everyone feels for Bettman will reach new heights when he is thanking the City of Philadelphia for hosting the draft and congratulating the LA Kings and all you be like is "GET TO THE FREAKING PICKS"

I still have an urge to strangle the old blowbag who droned on and on during the Team Canada roster announcement for Sochi.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Bingo

This may have already been said ... but he also said something about how the Flames were demonstrative in bringing in both Sams and Ekblad and didn't bring in Draisaitl. But then met with Draisaitl on "numerous occassions"

Almost seemed like the Flames were trying to keep the Draisaitl favourtism quiet.

Since we're all speculating...

My bet is that the Flames are rather certain Draisaitl will fall to them, are ambivalent about positions 4 to 6 or 8 on their internal depth chart, and are trying to get someone below them to give up an asset.

By and large, I think it's a fool's errand for teams to try and keep prospect visits and chats a secret. Because of that, I'm reluctant to believe that the Flames are genuinely trying to keep their interest in Draisaitl on the down low by trying to be all stealthy about it. Seems implausibly naive to me.

[steveo]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Toews has 1 inch on him (he is 6'2" v 6'1") and heavier, (207lbs vs 185lbs) but he also has 8 years in age ( 26 vs 18). I will admit I can't recall Toews stats when he entered the league.

http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...onathan-toews/ found that link. 6'1 180lbs
Dunno how accurate it is though.

[Rick M.]

You mean he was smaller than Reinhart? I'm surprised anyone took a risk on him.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Maybe I'm being too harsh on Reinhart but I feel like you want your top line centres to be elite in some skillset (size/strength, skating, etc). He's the smartest player in the draft but I still wonder if his average skating and average size will limit his top end upside in the NHL.

I'm not making this comparison AT ALL, but couldn't the above be said about Gretzky? I mean were any of his skills that imposing? It was his hockey IQ and vision that made him special.

Again, not making that comparison with Reinhart, but high hockey IQ is an extremely rare and valuable commodity.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I'm not making this comparison AT ALL, but couldn't the above be said about Gretzky? I mean were any of his skills that imposing? It was his hockey IQ and vision that made him special.

Again, not making that comparison with Reinhart, but high hockey IQ is an extremely rare and valuable commodity.

True, Gretzky wasn't the biggest, the fastest or the most purely skilled. His hockey IQ was his greatest asset. Someone asked what Reinhart lacked and I responded with what I thought he lacked. Obviously hockey IQ makes up for a lot of things. Wasn't really trying to trash him. Wondered a bit out loud if his upside is slightly diminished by his size/skating but it may not be and he may end up the best centre of the bunch.

Again I'll have no problem with Reinhart and had him top 3 for most of the year. I slightly prefer Bennett myself and so do a couple services (Redline, CSS). Reinhart/Draisaitl is a toss up for me right now.

[East Coast Flame]

All this nitpicking of "listed" heights is pretty ridiculous. I am 5'10" and I was taller than Toews when I met him two years ago.

[EverfresH15]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

All this nitpicking of "listed" heights is pretty ridiculous. I am 5'10" and I was taller than Toews when I met him two years ago.

He didn't have his skates on though.

[Monahan23]

I Think they want Reinhart. Doubt they trade up but I bet they get him at 4

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Gaudreau - McDavid - Draisaitl
Baertschi - Monahan - Poirier

Okay, okay. One can dream.

My preference in 2 years:

Gaudreau - McDavid - Poirier
Ferland - Monahan - Colborne
Wolf - Bennett - Bouma

Bigger, faster and more skill. A lot of toughness too intermixed. One or two guys on each line. Not 100% sure on Ferland, but hopeful. Also took Wolf as a dark horse.

Doubt we get McDavid though. We're not Oilers bad and we're going to get better.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by lanny9

Really, you think he is going to be able to go up against 6'2" -6'4" 225lb men shift in and shift out? I don't and it may be simply ridiculous that you think he will be able to handle it. That being said it is my opinion, you are welcome to yours, I am welcome to mine. I would draft draisaitl 10 times out of 10 times if the pick were between he and Bennett.

Not every C in the west is 225 lbs.

More importantly, though is that size does not necessarily equal toughness.

Who is tougher to play against, Anisimov and Colborne, or Peca and Gilmore?

Bennett is very much like the latter two guys except bigger and more talented. He will likely be a similar size to Toews when he is done growing

[MrMastodonFarm]

If we didn't already have a big top line center in Monahan I might (might) be worried about Bennett's average size.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

If we didn't already have a big top line center in Monahan I might (might) be worried about Bennett's average size.

Agreed. But we do.

Plus we have Knight, Arnold and Jankowski in the system. Definitely moving in the right direction.

If Bennett were the smallest C on the roster, I think we'd be fine.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by timbit

Just a hunch but I can see Calgary passing on Reinhart if he drops to 4.

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He lacks elite speed, isn't particularly physical, doesn't have elite size. Saw a comparison today to Adam Oates. Oates was a great player and a top line centre but there's type of centres I would've take over Oates in his prime. Heard a quote from Loubardias or Cosentino that some scout he talked to said someone's job could be in jeopardy if they take Reinhart too high. I've seen quotes that Reinhart may make a better RWer because he's not speedy enough to cover all the ice you need to cover at the NHL level.

I like Reinhart but he isn't flashy and doesn't really stand out in any area except for hockey sense. Kind of torn on him. He seems similar to RNH. Is RNH the elite centre the Oilers need to lead them to the playoffs and then to the cup? Will Reinhart be a guy you want as your top line centre? Would he even supplant Monahan for us? I think they'd make a great 1-2 punch. That said Draisaitl is a great playmaker too and has better size and puck protection so why not take him over Reinhart? Bennett has better speed and grit while still having tremendous skill so why not take him over Reinhart?

I like all 3 for different reasons. Won't be upset with any of them. I personally think Bennett due to his speed/grit/competitiveness would be a better complement to Monahan. And I think Draisaitl's size would help us match up well against the big Western teams. That's why I think I might slightly prefer both of them to Reinhart.

I agree 100 per cent. Reinhart will be a good player in the NHL. But I have my doubts he will be a number once centre, or a guy who can make a big impact in big games at the NHL level. If you're as soft as Reinhart you better be fast. I've seen comments that he doesn't play with a lot of passion. And that scares me, because it matches his dad's demeanour - smart, skilled, but when things heated up on the ice he lost his edge. Draisatl has an NHL toolkit and more upside. Bennet brings more speed and grit. I prefer both of them to Reinhart.