FC's 2012 Draft Thread

[FCAV]

Originally Posted by kirant

I don't see Galchenyuk falling out of the top 10, even if injured that bad...I think he'll be closer to Brett Connolly here.

I think there's potential for him to. Some don't have him in the top-10 right now to start with. That said, I think he's more like Connolly or Cowen in that neither fell dramatically.

I think the same can be said for Galchenyuk.

[FCAV]

Our scouting director's take on the injuries, as well as four other draft related questions:

There might be some questions in the minds of scouts that will need to be answered at either the draft combine or, if he can return to the ice, the few games that Alex does play this season.

On another note, Nail Yakupov has proven that he can get the job done and do the heavy lifting on offense for the Sting without Alex, but the same cannot be said the other way without a doubt. Despite displaying some high-end skating, puck skills and playmaking ability, the likable Galchenyuk had a hard time getting it going with the Americans at the Ivan Hlinka tournament this summer.

And there might be a few teams that remember that and become increasingly hesitant to keep Alex in the top ten on their lists over the course of the season as this type of injury can be a difficult injury to judge what (or if) the lasting effects will be. This kind of circumstance also allows other draft eligibles to rise as they continue to impress scouts game in and game out, something Alex will no longer have the ability to do.

http://futureconsiderations.ca/injur...he-2012-draft/

[FCAV]

Our top-30 for the month of November, launched in conjunction with the release of our 'Introduction to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft':

1). RW Nail Yakupov, Sarnia, OHL, 5-10, 170
2). D Ryan Murray, Everett, WHL, 6-1, 195
3). D Matt Dumba, Red Deer, WHL, 6-0, 175
4). D Nick Ebert, Windsor, OHL, 6-1, 195
5). C Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia, OHL, 6-1, 185

http://futureconsiderations.ca/yakupov-hold-strong-in-november-ranking/

[nik-]

I'd be pretty happy with Matt Dumba, but I still don't see us drafting top 5.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'd be pretty happy with Matt Dumba, but I still don't see us drafting top 5.

If the Flames are drafting a non-top 5 D, I'd love to see us pick up Koekkoek. Fast, pretty big, and oozes offensive potential. Just needs to hit the gym a little.

[Swayze11]

No CP PromoCode?

[FCAV]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

No CP PromoCode?

Slipped my mind. I'll put something together.

[FCAV]

Promo pricing set up in the first post! Thanks for the reminder.

[FCAV]

Minnesota players to keep an eye on:

http://futureconsiderations.ca/minne...par-with-2011/

[FCAV]

A feature on Nicolas Kerdiles, who could be a late first, early 2nd round pick. Could be of interest if the Flames pick up some picks:

As most kids in California who play hockey, Nicolas Kerdiles started playing roller hockey before ever lacing up the skates and hitting the ice.

In fact, it wasn’t even the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 Team standout’s idea to exchange wheels for blades.

“Actually my neighbor (started me in hockey),” said Kerdiles. “I played until seven years old, then I transitioned to ice hockey because my neighbor played a little ice hockey too. It wasn’t huge back then, but (hockey) has gotten a lot bigger. It’s great California hockey has grown up.”

http://futureconsiderations.ca/kerdi...g-way-from-la/

[FCAV]

Our December Rankings and the fallout (link shows 11-30):

1). RW Nail Yakupov, Sarnia, OHL, 5-10, 170
2). D Ryan Murray, Everett, WHL, 6-1, 195
3). C Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec, QMJHL, 6-2, 190
4). D Matt Dumba, Red Deer, WHL, 6-0, 175
5). C Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia, OHL, 6-1, 185
6). LW Filip Forsberg, Leksand Jr., Swe Jr., 6-1, 175
7). D Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw, WHL, 6-0, 195
8). D Cody Ceci, Ottawa, OHL, 6-3, 210
9). C Zemgus Girgensons, Dubuque, USHL, 6-2, 185
10). D Jacob Trouba, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 185

http://futureconsiderations.ca/russi...ember-ranking/

It is time to give Mikhail Grigorenko his due as a legit riser with his play this year in the QMJHL. While he has had a bit of a consistency issue in the past with his Russian team CSKA, his play in Quebec under coach Patrick Roy has been phenomenal.

http://futureconsiderations.ca/stewa...nking-fallout/

[Freeway]

I'm really impressed at how the USHL has burst onto the scene, seemingly just in the last five years.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I'm really impressed at how the USHL has burst onto the scene, seemingly just in the last five years.

It's been a good development league as long as I can remember. I believe what happened is that US colleges used to have eligibility rules that meant teams couldn't draft players out of the USHL without losing their college eligibility or was it that players intending to go to college couldn't opt in to the draft at age 17/18 without losing their college eligibility. I think it was the latter. So what would happen is they would finish their time in the USHL, go to college and then get drafted. Since the change players have been drafted straight out of the USHL before going to college.

But even before players were drafted out of the USHL it was one of the top feeder systems for US College and thus for top american prospects. US hockey has been on the up in general in the last decade.

[Henry Fool]

Solid year for exciting names, it seems. Matt Dumba, Zemgus Girgensons, Slater Koekkoek, Jarrod Maidens, Jordan Schmaltz, Gianluca Curcuruto, etc. That's always a good sign.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

Solid year for exciting names, it seems. Matt Dumba, Zemgus Girgensons, Slater Koekkoek, Jarrod Maidens, Jordan Schmaltz, Gianluca Curcuruto, etc. That's always a good sign.

Radek Faska, "Boo" Nieves, Oscar Dansk were other fun names I heard.

[flamesfan55]

Looking at some draft predictions online everyone has Boston picking #2 how do they have a pick that early?

[FCAV]

February's ranking fresh off the presses:

Nail Yakupov has some new company a top Future Considerations ranking for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

http://futureconsiderations.ca/russi...raft-rankings/

[Wronskian]

Gaunce just reminds me so much of Brian Boyle, haven't seen him play, but big physical centers in junior have a tough time translating their effectiveness to the pros where they can't rely solely on their size. Bob Mckenzie questioned his offensive abilities last night on his top ten. I don't think he is the best fit for the flames.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

Gaunce just reminds me so much of Brian Boyle, haven't seen him play, but big physical centers in junior have a tough time translating their effectiveness to the pros where they can't rely solely on their size. Bob Mckenzie questioned his offensive abilities last night on his top ten. I don't think he is the best fit for the flames.

Gaunce reminds me of Mark McNeill...solid safe pick, but something the Flames don't need more of.

[Wronskian]

Gaunce, McNeil, it always seems like there is a guy like this in every draft. Agreed, definitely not what we need right now. I'd love to grab another pick like Bartschi; an uber skilled player with passion that WANTS to play for Calgary. Any player players in this draft that fit that mould?