Strong Draft Years

[AcGold]

If Babcock turns Dion around he will truly be a genius.

[Yanda]

David Jones 288th overall

[Husky]

The lockout helped. Forced many drafted players to play in the ahl versus going straight to the NHL.

[RT14]

I don't think there's much doubt 2003 was the best draft in history thus far, although 2015 may be the first year to challenge it. What I find surprising though is how long it's taken to have a draft (hopefully) comparable given how much more players put into conditioning, hard work, and training now than ever before, and seemingly this seems to increase every year. 2003 draft picks were born mostly born in 1984, when players became NHLers way more because of pure natural talent or fighting ability. How did that draft class produce that many amazing talents knowing the style of hockey they grew up watching and playing? And why, given the increasing emphasis on perfecting the hockey body, has it been 12 years since there's been a draft being compared?

I have to believe there are going to be more great draft years more often than in the past, although it's not going to improve year after year. I don't know if this year ends up being a better year than 2003, but I don't for a second think 2003 will end up being the best ever for much longer.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by RT14

I don't think there's much doubt 2003 was the best draft in history thus far, although 2015 may be the first year to challenge it. What I find surprising though is how long it's taken to have a draft (hopefully) comparable given how much more players put into conditioning, hard work, and training now than ever before, and seemingly this seems to increase every year. 2003 draft picks were born mostly born in 1984, when players became NHLers way more because of pure natural talent or fighting ability. How did that draft class produce that many amazing talents knowing the style of hockey they grew up watching and playing? And why, given the increasing emphasis on perfecting the hockey body, has it been 12 years since there's been a draft being compared?

I have to believe there are going to be more great draft years more often than in the past, although it's not going to improve year after year. I don't know if this year ends up being a better year than 2003, but I don't for a second think 2003 will end up being the best ever for much longer.

Let's hope that the year we have 6 picks in the top 1/3 or so turns out to be one for the record books. Only le sigh is that the oilers also have a fairly high pick (is pitts one behind us?), and another pick your have to be fairly high to screw up. Stupid oilers

My hope is that Treleving has been around long enough to assess our organizational strengths and weaknesses top to bottom, and has a fairly solid idea who he sees part of the future moving forward. This may allow us to package prospects no longer in the mix for spots here for potential later round picks (get our fourth back, maybe even third or two), which could ideally be packaged with the picks we've already acquired to satisfy both the quality AND the quantity crowds. Im sure most teams are going through the same motions this time of year and would just wait for said player to hit UFA shortly after, but if they really like one of the kids they may not want to risk it.

[Geeoff]

Talking of strong draft years, the early returns on 2013 are pretty promising.

[dustygoon]

Redrafts of 2003 are comical. The top 5 has changed a lot depending on when you redraft.

Do it now...what do you think:

Getzlaf
Weber
Perry
Suter
Kesler

Leaving out....
Staal
Carter
Parise
Burns
Bergeron

[GGG]

Parise is better than Kesler we just don't see him much but otherwise I agree. Even redoing the draft today you would get a key piece to an organization at 15.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Redrafts of 2003 are comical. The top 5 has changed a lot depending on when you redraft.

Do it now...what do you think:

Getzlaf
Weber
Perry
Suter
Kesler

Leaving out....
Staal
Carter
Parise
Burns
Bergeron

Bergeron is a better player and person than Kesler. His hardware shelf is also a lot more impressive than Kesler's.

[Huntingwhale]

Also, Staal has a 100 pts season to his name and an amazing playoff run in '06. He's PPG in the playoffs and is still a #1 centre.

Just goes to show that outside of the ''sure picks'', the draft is a crapshoot and often come down to luck. It's also way too early to even begin speculating that the 2015 draft will challenge it in terms of talent/depth. You need at least 10 years before you can say concretely who should have been picked where.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Bingo

My rule of thumb in past drafts is always look at the 3 guys taken after a Flames pick, otherwise you end up with a massive amount of hindsight that is silly.

With that said ...

2014 Bennett vs Dal Colle, Virtanen, Fleury - success
2013 Monahan vs Nurse, Ristolanen, Horvat - success
2012 Jankowski vs Maata, Matheson, Malcom Subban - hurting

Good list, but I would say its hard to call anything a success or hurting quite yet from 2012-2014.

2012 - Only Maata has played in the NHL, slightly under whelming in my mind. Subban could be good. Jank could be awesome.

2013 - Nurse hasn't played real NHL minutes yet and Risto looks to be something good.. Horvat obviously not so much. Still too early to call.

2014 - Hard to call it after 1 year.


Unless you are meaning a success in that the player chosen after the flames pick is lightyears better. If thats the case just ignore me