Flames 2013 Draft Hopes/Wishes And Fears?

[FlameZilla]

I'll be supremely happy if we get Pulock at #22. He's the natural successor to Al MacInnis in my eyes & the sky's the limit with his potential. 6’1", 211lbs with a monter right-handed slapper. His stock has dropped because he had NO supporting cast in Brandon last year & his production dropped significantly (though he still lead his team in scoring). If he isn't there I hope we take a long look at Morrissey, Erne & maybe Gauthier as a last resort.

Zykov at #28 would be great, but he could go anywhere from 15 to 30. Still worried about his skating, and we know the dangers of drafting poor skaters, but he has a good head on his shoulders & we could use a player of his mould. Would I take him at 22? Depends who is on the board. At 28 I think he is a great pick.

If he's gone I'd like Compher, Burakovsky, Dauphin or Klimchuck at #28. Petan would be preferable to Fulale; I like the look of the goalies in the later rounds, Jarry & Saros, better.

#6 I lean towards Monahan. He's always had top-line potential, only being in the OHL he's been way over scouted & people are all too aware of his weaknesses. Lindholm is exciting & I would be happy with him, but I think he's less of a 'sure thing' NHLer. If Barkov is on the board at 6 it's a no-brainer. Wouldn't be that upset if we got 'Schkinner.

Fears: we trade #6, 22 & 28 for #3 & Vinny Lecavalier, then select Darnell Nurse or 'Schkninner.

Players I hope we avoid: Hagg (big, fast but plays a weak game), Mantha (50 goals but poor attitude), Domi (too small) & Fucale.

[manilow78]

Given the whole "Let's win all of our last games to move out of a top 4 spot" I think Feaster is probably feeling more pressure to get into the top 4 but maybe if this isn't possible then getting into 5 and 6 would be smart.

Hopes: Give up lower first round pick and Gio or GlenX to get 5. With 5 and 6 take Lindholm and Monaghan. Be leary that someone drops suprisingly like Forsberg last year. What if GMs love forwards this year and Jones drops? Not counting on it but I bet Forsberg was shocked to go from 2nd rated player to (cant remember but I think 11th). So my dream would be Jones and Monaghan if it ever happened. I know the Jones scenario is likely crazy.

Fears: Jay risks taking the Russian at 6 and then goes off the board later in round 1 based on the advice of a scouting staff that should have been fired long ago. Then he spends lots of money on Brad Richards! Please let my nighmares stop!!!!

[gunnner]

Hope/dreaming: Feaster makes a great deal and moves up two spots in a trade with Nashville, by moving Glencross and our 6th pick for nashvilles 4th overall. We take Barkov, or even better Drouin falls to 4th and we take him. We take Hartman and Petan with our other 1st round picks. I drink a bottle of crown in celebration.

Fears/nightmare: Feaster forgets to wear a suit and shows up in a wife beater and sweat pants. This sets the table for a dark day of off the board picks, mis-identifications of flames needs, and a bizarre trade where we reacquire Phaneuf, again re-mortgaging the future for the old future?

[bubbsy]

hopes :
- whoever they get at #6 (or earlier if traded down) turns out to be a real NHL calibre top center (ie. barkov/lindholm/monohan please).

- we draft in the first round at least 3 times

- tanguay and/or cammalleri are shipped out on draft day

Fears:
- first round picks are used for trades that aren't clearly positive trades

- deals bringing in high picks/prospects are shotdown for supposed veteran untouchables on the team (ie. giordano)

[Trailer Fire]

Hopes: we move a roster player and 22/28 to grab a top 5 and we draft Nichushkin and Monahan.

Fears: we draft Fucale, Mantha or go way off board.

[SeoulFire]

Hopes - don't follow prospects enough to really know/care
Fear - 7>>6

Petty...but true.

[FusionX]

Hopes: I know it's silly to have a completely unproven team without veteran leadership but would love to see us get into the top 4 somehow.

Late round picks + (Tangs, Cammy, Stemp, Glencross, Gio - one of or anyone else in that mold really) for 5 (or 4 straight up but I feel that'd be a harder sell/impossible sell).

Then flip 5 (ideally 6) + (one or two of the above to Nashville for 4). Canes get two late and potentially still decent prospects, help right now for whatever they feel they need. Nashville only moves down 1 (or 2) spots but also addresses the now.

Take Barkov and Monahan.

Ideally, would be awesome to try to reacquire mid-level assets by trading off other players, again in the above mold, to recoup 2nd rounders if possible.

Then, replenish veteran presence through UFA from winning franchises.

Fears: With all that said, I'd be alright with staying pat and picking 3 really good prospects. I suppose my fear would be trading down and grabbing a 2nd + Nichuskin and then taking Fucale later as well.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

I hope there are guys who slip to us at 22 and 28.

My fear is we trade away 22 and 28 for junk. I would be irate.

Also, I hope we don't end up drafting Mantha at LW, Gauthier at C, and Nichushkin at RW.

Huge line and very talented. But kinda, sorta really sketchy in terms of the effort side of the game.

[FlamesAddiction]

I hope we take the best player available.

I fear that we will take a lesser talent in order to draft for position.

[Canada 02]

Hope: fans give the prospects a chance, no matter who they are

Fear: they won't

[GreenLantern]

My dream is that Feaster is able to turn the #6 pick into the #4 without parting with a major asset or the #22 pick... then the Flames take Barkov and have that legit #1 center final pooping ly.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Hope: Come out of this draft with a legitimate, 1st line C
Fear: Come out of this draft without a legitimate, 1st line C

In my dream scenario, like others have suggested, somehow we grab a second pick in the top 10

[Roof-Daddy]

Hopes

1. Whoever we draft with our three firsts end up being stud NHLers
2. We end up adding a couple more top sixty picks

Fears

1. We end up drafting one or more "Hugh Jessimans"
2. We make what ends up being a bad trade or two

Dream

We end up taking Monahan, Gauthier and Petan, and all three develop into excellent NHL centres along with a couple others already in the prospect pool (Eg Jankowski, Reinhart, etc) leading to an embarrassment of riches at the centre ice position a few years down the road.

[Badger Bob]

Hoping for Monahan. Since he was in a situation with the Ottawa 67's of having to be The Guy with nobody else around, he'd have the mental makeup to handle the stresses and frustrations of a rebuild. Then, he could prove to be the type of player who would make huge leaps in development after getting better players around him.

THN had a mock draft in a recent print issue. Don't still have it, but their selections for the Flames left a good impression. Went with center (might've been Monahan) with the 6th, and a defenseman and pest with the other 1st rounders. It doesn't seem likely that there'll be deal to move up from the 6th, but you never know. Maybe one of the other picks could be packaged.

Other hopes: would be delighted with any trades of Camalleri, Stempniak, Tanguay and Sarich between now and first week of July. Can't see any of them wanting to be around for these next couple of seasons in the current situation. Would be over the moon if they could get anything for Stajan, but doubt any GM is that foolish.

Fears: 3rd line Western Canadian boys. They're a dime a dozen. Also, no more "project picks" within the earlier rounds.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I hope for players in the following order
1. MacKinnon
2. Barkov
3. Jones
4. Drouin
5. Monahan
6. Lindholm

I used to think Lindholm was our best chance at a #1 centre but the more I read the more it looks like Monahan is a bit under the radar and has some pretty great offensive skill. The size, offense, Canadian, hockey sense, etc all adds up for us IMO. Would prefer trading up for MacKinnon, Barkov or even Jones or Drouin. But I'm feeling fairly comfortable now about the idea of landing Monahan at #6. Big wildcard is obviously what will Carolina do at #5. Will they deal away or take a player. Lindholm seems a decent consolation if Monahan is gone or you could take Nurse. I'd even entertain dealing back a few spots for a high 2nd or flip-flopping several picks with BUF who has #8, #16. #6 + #28 for #8 + #16?

I'd hope we could really get a nice win in a trade or two this draft as well. Seems like we should be peddling Tanguay and/or Cammalleri, perhaps others. Even a sweet deal down from #28 for a couple high 2nds could be good. Or a trade up into the teens to grab another guy we had around our top 10.

My fear? Drafting Nichushkin. He is very appealing and yet IMO has a lot more risk associated with him due to the "return to KHL at any point" factor. We really need this draft to land a franchise guy and one that can be counted on to stay for most of his career. So my fear is that he's clearly the best guy left at #6 and we're forced to take him despite the risk.

My other fear would be some sort of bad trade. Not super worried on that front.

Great post.

Jim Rutherford holds all the cards right now. I think it is safe to say that MacKinnon, Jones, Barkov, and Drouin will go 1-4. The question is what happens at #5. Feaster is not going to get into the top 4, and IMO should give up a smaller asset (not pick #22 or #28) and flip our pick with Carolina to ensure we get Monahan if he is indeed our guy.

It would be much easier to trade #6 and something for #5, than it would be to find a dance partner to trade #6 and every asset we have for a pick between #1 and #4.

[You Need a Thneed]

Hopes: We draft a Conn Smythe Trophy Winner.
Fears: we draft Conn Smythe himself.

[Enoch Root]

#6
Hope: Barkov, Monahan or Lindholm
Fear: Nichushkin

#22
Hope: Zykov, Hartman or trade up for Nichushkin, Nurse, Risto, Horvat
Fear: Zucale

Overall hope: two top 12 picks (Monahan + one of them ^ )

Overall fear: trading at least one of the picks for an established player with limited upside (like a Stastny)

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I hope the Flames trade all their first round picks for aging vets.

[Robbob]

The more I think about it I want and hope the Flames to keep all three picks. The assets/cost to get a Mackinnon and probably Barkov may prohibitive. It would be nice getting one of those players but if this draft turns out to be similar to '03 then I would be comfortable taking a chance on quantity. The rebuild doesn't end with this draft as we will more then likely be back in this same spot (hopefully higher) to get another impact player. From that Chicago thread you quickly realize the value of 2nd rounders and multiple picks.

The fear is that the right player isn't taken (we need to get a top line player with that 6th pick). Worse even, if the Flames trade some picks to acquire established players right now (even worse if they are UFA aged players).

Bottom line. It is pretty exciting to see what direction they go. I think prospect pool will no undoubtedly be much better after this week. I can't wait till the prospect camp in September to see all the new toys! Its kind of like Christmas, you know they are there but you just don't know what they are.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I hope for players in the following order
1. MacKinnon
2. Barkov
3. Jones
4. Drouin
5. Monahan
6. Lindholm

I used to think Lindholm was our best chance at a #1 centre but the more I read the more it looks like Monahan is a bit under the radar and has some pretty great offensive skill. The size, offense, Canadian, hockey sense, etc all adds up for us IMO. Would prefer trading up for MacKinnon, Barkov or even Jones or Drouin. But I'm feeling fairly comfortable now about the idea of landing Monahan at #6. Big wildcard is obviously what will Carolina do at #5. Will they deal away or take a player. Lindholm seems a decent consolation if Monahan is gone or you could take Nurse. I'd even entertain dealing back a few spots for a high 2nd or flip-flopping several picks with BUF who has #8, #16. #6 + #28 for #8 + #16?

I'd hope we could really get a nice win in a trade or two this draft as well. Seems like we should be peddling Tanguay and/or Cammalleri, perhaps others. Even a sweet deal down from #28 for a couple high 2nds could be good. Or a trade up into the teens to grab another guy we had around our top 10.

My fear? Drafting Nichushkin. He is very appealing and yet IMO has a lot more risk associated with him due to the "return to KHL at any point" factor. We really need this draft to land a franchise guy and one that can be counted on to stay for most of his career. So my fear is that he's clearly the best guy left at #6 and we're forced to take him despite the risk.

My other fear would be some sort of bad trade. Not super worried on that front.

So Nichuskin is better than guys on your top 6 list but doesn't make your top 6 list?

If Nishuskin is a top tier player he will head back to the KHL at any moment .... just like Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk, Voynov and Kovalchuk?

Voynov signed for 4.1M/yr for 6 years rather than getting lowballed like Mtl did for Subban.

The only significant guys that played in the KHL rather than NHL are Hudler (czech), Jagr (Czech), Zeredev (Russian),and Radulov (Russain) so maybe Barkov is the guy not to draft as the KHL wants him badly?

In 2006 after Zeredev scored 27 goals and signed for 3 years at 7.5M which eventually drove him back to the KHL.


The Flames are paying Hudler 4M for a career best 25 goals...... so if Nichuskin scores 27 goals for the Flames in 2015-16 he will want a Voynov contract not a deal for 3 years at 2.5M/year.

O'Rielly was harder to deal with coming off his EL contract.


What is the difference between Linholm and Nichuskin's attitudes? Both have stated that they will be playing with their current Euro teams if they are not in the NHL next year. Lindholm thinks he won't be ready and Nichuskin figures he is.