2016 NHL Draft

[Henry Fool]

Matthews played like a future number one overall pick at the U20, so nothing really changed on that front.

I think few people outside Finland watch the league and there's some uncertainty about just how good some prospects are, especially when the stats aren't immediately impressive. In Puljujärvi's case it was more of a confirmation that he's better than his stats. Laine was clearly underrated by many publications before the tournament.

I'm probably wrong but Puljujärvi looks like a 60-point scorer to me. A valuable first line player but not an elite offensive talent. Someone who creates offense through speed and work. Very positive character though.

Plenty of time for him to improve his in-game shot. Felt like too many of his shot attempts were the type that create offense through rebounds but rarely beat the goalie. I like players who shoot with purpose. His stick handling was a mild disappointment to me while his passing was a positive surprise. At the same time it seems like his passes are more deliberate and telegraphed than Laine's smoother and more deceptive passing, similar to his shot that might not be quick enough in tight game situations.

So many great 17-year-olds in the tournament. Really rare to see such impact form underage players.

[dammage79]

Laine for he shot and will to shoot, Puljujarvi for the best all around attributes in the draft.

All 3 FW's at the tippy top of the draft are pre-packaged NHL ready players in my estimation. With Laine maybe needing a bit more seasoning like Rantanen in the AHL.

[Monahan For Mayor]

I dream of a day we have Laine opposite of Johnny. With his shot and Johnny feeds he could become one of the elite snipers of the NHL.

Gaudreau - Bennett/Monahan - Laine

That's a very scary top line. Honestly it could be pretty well impossible to shut down.

[Samonadreau]

Call it what you want but a top 5 pick looks better than a brief facaud of a playoff appearance this year. Look what our only top 5 pick ever is bringing to the team and how much brighter the future looks because of him.

The team has the potentail to be really good. But i want them to be great.

It might be what completes the foundation of the 'core' in our 'rebuild'.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Laine for he shot and will to shoot, Puljujarvi for the best all around attributes in the draft.

All 3 FW's at the tippy top of the draft are pre-packaged NHL ready players in my estimation. With Laine maybe needing a bit more seasoning like Rantanen in the AHL.

Both might need seasoning but they're shouldn't be far away by the time next season begins. Even taking into account that Rantanen underperformed for most of the tournament, the youngsters looked significantly more dynamic than the guy who has 26 points in 22 games in the AHL this season. I can imagine Laine being slightly behind the play if you throw him in the NHL right away, maybe, but that's a long time away for a 17-year-old.

Laine's stick-eye in front of the net is excellent, his wrister is dangerous from everywhere, his high-slot one-timer is goes through goalies. He can beat defenders wide with speed and size right now, but even if he won't be able to do that in the NHL, there's no way the goal-scoring aspect of his game is going to fall short. Even his passing looked great at the tournament. To me that's money in the bank.

McKeen's has Laine at first overall by the way. I don't know this publication and I think that nothing in Matthew's game suggested that he doesn't deserve to remain as the highest ranked player.
http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospec...ings-jan-2016/

[Vulcan]

I prefer Laine over Puljujarvi because I think he's a better finisher. Puljujarvi's a stud but I think a lot of his domination comes from his size and skating and at the end, not a lot gets done. Both are right shots and although Laine played left wing in the Under 20s, he could probably adapt easily.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I think the following guys really fits needs for us:

Matthews (C), Laine (RW), Puljujarvi (RW), Chychrun (D), Tkachuk (LW), Gauthier (RW), Juolevi (D), Sergachyov (D), Nylander (RW)

So basically if we pick in the top 10 we get another cornerstone piece. Either a franchise centre (Matthews), potential 1st line RW (Laine, Puljujarvi, Nylander, Gauthier), power forward (Tkachuk) or potential top pairing d-man (Chychrun, Juolevi, Sergachyov).

It'd be hard to us to go wrong at the top end of this draft.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Call it what you want but a top 5 pick looks better than a brief facaud of a playoff appearance this year. Look what our only top 5 pick ever is bringing to the team and how much brighter the future looks because of him.

The team has the potentail to be really good. But i want them to be great.

It might be what completes the foundation of the 'core' in our 'rebuild'.

Look at the standings. I don't think we have to worry much about playoffs this season. This team simply hasn't been able to climb out of the bottom 5 because they aren't a good hockey team right now but they have some good pieces and need another good draft to really get moving forward. I don't think them finishing in 28th is that far fetched right now.

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Call it what you want but a top 5 pick looks better than a brief facaud of a playoff appearance this year.

^^^^ THIS

Let's face it, we ain't winning the Stanley Cup this year. No chance, No way. The #1 overall pick is the absolute dream, but if we get in the top 3 I'd do a back flip. We never had a top 3 pick in our history and the hype he would bring would be a lot of fun. I'll take a top 3 pick over 4 or 5 playoff games any day.

[Vulcan]

So we've decided half way through the season, now is the time to tank.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I'm not hoping for us to miss the playoffs. But if we our playoff chances do erode this is a great year to finish lowish. Bottom 3 picks are all chosen by lottery so we'd have a nice chance of getting lucky and grabbing another franchise player.

Is there a good lottery simulator for this new system?

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I'm not hoping for us to miss the playoffs. But if we our playoff chances do erode this is a great year to finish lowish. Bottom 3 picks are all chosen by lottery so we'd have a nice chance of getting lucky and grabbing another franchise player.

Is there a good lottery simulator for this new system?

I haven't seen one, would love for someone to share if they know of one.

Edit - http://nhllotterysimulator.com

[Poe969]

The flames aren't tanking, they just aren't good enough this year. They have some really good pieces on the roster and on the farm but they just aren't there yet.

[Jaydee]

We're currently 5th last in the league. Not out of the realm of possibility that we land Matthews

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

I haven't seen one, would love for someone to share if they know of one.

Edit - http://nhllotterysimulator.com

That has odds for getting 1st but I wonder what the accumulated odds for moving up into any of the top 3 spots is. I've asked before and someone figured it out but I forget. Was decent though. Like 20% if we finished 5th I think.

[Jaydee]

Originally Posted by Hackey

That has odds for getting 1st but I wonder what the accumulated odds for moving up into any of the top 3 spots is. I've asked before and someone figured it out but I forget. Was decent though. Like 20% if we finished 5th I think.

It looks more like ~30% chance of picking top 3

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

So we've decided half way through the season, now is the time to tank.

like someone else just mentioned we ain't "tanking" we just aren't there yet as a true Stanley Cup Contender. As a true top 5-6 team in the league. If I'm not at work, I watch all the Flames games. I haven't and I never will, "cheer" for the Flames to lose. Hell my neighbors laughed at me today because they heard me yelling an obsenity out loud after Talbot stopped Bennett on that final shoot out chance last night.

Our team I truly believe is on the cusp of being really great. A team that will/can contend for many years. We do need a franchise goalie still, although Ramo has been damn good lately, but a top 3 pick this year, especially these top 3 players, could be one of the final "major" additions we need to put this team over the top in a couple years. I'll take that and all the Hype and fun a top 3 pick will bring to this team over a first round sweep out of the playoffs .

[Yanda]

I dont think the Flames should pick BPA. We heavily invested in D in the 2nd round last year not to mention we traded our 1st+ for Hamilton so really Defense was the only thing really addressed last Draft.

I think its important for us to try to draft another impact forward for our Top 6 this draft unless the scouting staff is convinced that we would be passing up on the next "Seth Jones". I would much prefer the team to use later picks to find the next Brodie and use our earlier picks to find skilled forwards.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Hackey

That has odds for getting 1st but I wonder what the accumulated odds for moving up into any of the top 3 spots is. I've asked before and someone figured it out but I forget. Was decent though. Like 20% if we finished 5th I think.

At 5th we would have about 30% chance of picking in the top 3.

[driveway]

Our current "Matthews Coefficient" (the dumb stat I invented where I subtract our current odds of making the playoffs per sportsclubstats.com from our odds of winning the lottery) stands at -20.4

Columbus has the best MC at +19.3
Buffalo +12.2
Edmonton +8.9
Toronto +7.4

Then there is a big jump/drop to
Winnipeg -15.2
Calgary -20.4
but Carolina is sitting in an interesting spot with only a -1.2 MC.

Wow it's a dumb stat. I love it so much.