2016 NHL Draft

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Why? He's right in their likely range

If they pick top three they won't pick him

He's likely to go 4 which the Flames can't pick

He might drop to 5 but Flames more likely to pick anywhere else than 5

Id say there's a better chance of them picking top 3 than picking Dubois.

[AC]

Yeah I don't follow edslunch. The only way we almost certainly can't pick Dubois is if he is absolutely going 4th and nothing else.

If we're picking 5th there's a decent to good chance Dubois is available if someone prefers to jump on a defenceman, or Tkachuk/Nylander etc. are preferred.

[JiriHrdina]

I think that's a lot of guesswork. He's not a sure thing to go 4 or 5

[edslunch]

I did say almost

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I did say almost

I was almost 100% sure you didn't say "almost" but then I checked and you did.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I was almost 100% sure you didn't say "almost" but then I checked and you did.

One learns to avoid absolutes on this site

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by edslunch

One learns to avoid absolutes on this site

‘Only a Sith deals in absolutes. This is absolutely true.’
—Darth Random

[Caged Great]

The only team that I can guarantee will take Dubois at 4 is Columbus, because he's basically a clone of Ryan Johansen and what better way to cap off the trade they made earlier this year than to get basically the same guy they dealt for a future #1 D-man.

If the Flames don't win a lotto pick, I am hoping CBJ does because there will still be a chance that Dubois will be on the board.

[Bunk]

I wonder if Edmonton trades the pick or takes a defensemen if they're 4th. The Finns or Matthews might be too hard to pass up in the top 3, but Dubois doesn't seem to make that much sense for them. But then again very little they do makes sense.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The only team that I can guarantee will take Dubois at 4 is Columbus, because he's basically a clone of Ryan Johansen and what better way to cap off the trade they made earlier this year than to get basically the same guy they dealt for a future #1 D-man.

If the Flames don't win a lotto pick, I am hoping CBJ does because there will still be a chance that Dubois will be on the board.

It's hard to guarantee anything about this draft outside the top 3. Dubois seems like a great fit for them but for all we know their scouts might think he should be a winger in pro or maybe they like Tkachuk or Nylander or someone else better. For all we know they may think internally that their #1 centre might be Wennberg going forward if they can't land Matthews. Maybe they like the big 6'6 Brown even more than Dubois? Kekelainen has a scouting background so I'm sure he'll have some strong opinions.

I think Dubois would be a good fit for them but when it comes to the draft I always say expect the unexpected after the first few picks. I mean we think we know who should go top 6 but then you get picks like Thomas Hickey at #4, Blake Wheeler at #5, Seth Jones falling to #4 after being the top ranked skater for most of 2013, Ryan Johansen at #4, etc. There can be some shockers in the draft, even top 5! I wouldn't guarantee anything outside of the top 3.

[sureLoss]

Francis article. Burke says Flames have established their top 8, which is still subject to change but unlikely. He also says Matthews is #1 on Flames list.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/04/28...rms-to-lottery

Burke said he’s already feeling a bit of nerves even though the top prize, Auston Matthews, isn’t considered the next Crosby.

“I would not describe Auston Matthews as a generational player,” said Burke of the Arizona-born centre.

“But he’s a hell of a player.”

Burke said amateur scouting meetings three weeks ago determined the team’s ranking of the top eight players they could be picking in late June. And while he isn’t willing to share the list he concedes Matthews is no. 1.

After that it’s pretty safe to say the Flames would be thrilled to address a significant need by adding either hulking Finnish winger Patrik Laine or fellow Finn Jesse Puljujarvi in the top three.

“Our top eight is set but it’s always subject to change,” said Burke, attending to Toronto proceedings at the request of GM Brad Treliving, who is overseas as co-GM of Canada’s World Championships entry.

“Someone can get hurt or play poorly at the worlds. But even if any of these 18-yeaer-olds play in the world championships and don’t have a great tournament, I can’t really see that affecting our list. That’s a man’s tournament. I saw the Sedin twins play as 17-year-olds in that tournament and they had a hard time. They didn’t put up big numbers.”

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I wonder if Edmonton trades the pick or takes a defensemen if they're 4th. The Finns or Matthews might be too hard to pass up in the top 3, but Dubois doesn't seem to make that much sense for them. But then again very little they do makes sense.

Well I think Chiarelli is one step ahead of MacTavish/Lowe in that he's identified that the Oilers (much like the Flames) need to get bigger and stronger. He's tried to help that by acquiring Kassian, Maroon, Cracknell and Pardy late last season. In a way Dubois and Tkachuk do make sense for the Oilers in that they give them a much needed power forward. But it fails to address their biggest need on defense.

If they can trade for a defensemen or two prior to the draft starting then I don't think them drafting Tkachuk/Dubois is out of the question at 4/5

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I wonder if Edmonton trades the pick or takes a defensemen if they're 4th. The Finns or Matthews might be too hard to pass up in the top 3, but Dubois doesn't seem to make that much sense for them. But then again very little they do makes sense.

Trade one of there wingers for a D and draft a replacement for that winger.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Trade one of there wingers for a D and draft a replacement for that winger.

Problem is, you're not likely to get a top-pairing D straight up for a winger. Defencemen of that quality are scarce on the market.

[druetetective]

Originally Posted by edslunch

One learns to avoid absolutes on this site

HAHA 2 posts later and a poster known for absolutes is guaranteeing who a team will select on draft day.

So ironic

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by druetetective

HAHA 2 posts later and a poster known for absolutes is guaranteeing who a team will select on draft day.

So ironic

To be fair, that's the only thing about this draft that I'm feeling overly confident about because of the unusual similarity between Dubois and Johansen. Each is a 6-3 200+ lb C with 90+ points in their draft year (Johansen had 40 G, Dubois 42). It just makes too much sense, especially considering the trade created a need for a large center in their organization. They do have Jenner, but having only 1 isn't enough. Like us, they could also use one of the Finns on the right side, which is the only thing that is only area of need that is greater, but they are not likely getting to #4.

Everything else for every other team in every situation, you can toss it up in the air because there are too many variables. It all depends on which teams land where in the draft lotto. That will narrow things down a bit. Like if the Flames were to pick #2 or #3. You know one of the Finns is coming our way in that scenario.

[bubbsy]

in my uninformed view, there's the obvious top3 guys, then tkachuk/dubois, as what i imagine is the flames top 5 board. If the lottery goes really unwell, and we're picking in the potential worst case scenarios (ie. 6, 7, 8th), do you think instead of going with a nylander, chychrun, etc, the flames look to trade the pick for a) immediate roster help in G/RW, b) trade down in attempts to pull another pick/asset?

[nik-]

one more day and this is over ... thank god

... well the worst is over and we can actually know where we stand.

[PeteMoss]

Regarding the size thing - I will say team's do reach for size (see Hunter Smith), but typically it isn't an issue in the top 10.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

New April rankings from the draft analyst. He's changed his rankings at the top end to be closer to the consensus. Some confusing things on his list though. I loved Will Bitten's compete at the U18s but I can't imagine drafting him so high in the 1st ahead of guys like Bean, McAvoy, Howden, etc

http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/rankings/april-2016/