[News] Sean Monahan now leads the 2013 Draft Class

[dammage79]

Agree with Risto over Jones. Ristolainen has a mean streak along with his great skating and overall play.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Because fancy stats.

Ha. You don't know me as a poster very well. I'm the last guy to refer to, or pay attention to, fancy stats. Not because I don't believe they have value - but because I would rather watch the players and assess from that basis.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Ha. You don't know me as a poster very well. I'm the last guy to refer to, or pay attention to, fancy stats. Not because I don't believe they have value - but because I would rather watch the players and assess from that basis.

I wasn't actually meaning that directly at you. Just in general that's the argument.

[killer_carlson]

Klimchuk one of only 3 picks in the first round who has yet to see an NHL game.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I'd take Ristolainen over Jones, guy is going to be a stud. Jones is a bit overrated IMO. I think Barkov / Mackinnon / Monahan are pretty close, they are probably interchangeable in the top 3 depending on preference.

that top 5 is going to be one the best top 5 in the decade.

[GreenLantern2814]

I've been saying since the end of his rookie year that Monahan has a 50-goal season in him.

Nothing has changed. Dude is a stone cold killer around the net.

[Oling_Roachinen]

So far I think each has had a pretty decisive year.

Rookie - MacKinnon
Sophomore - Monahan
Third year - Barkov

It's quite clear that MacKinnon has the tools to succeed, especially with his skating, but this is his second (relatively speaking) underwhelming season offensively. I still think he has the most potential of the draft class, but I feel like he's been the most inconsistent and might have the lowest floor of these guys as well.

Barkov, excluding the injuries, has had his coming out this year. Prior to this year he was solid defensively, especially compared to other teenagers, but he was missing the offensive spark to be in competition with the other two. At least until Jagr was traded to the Panthers. Maybe it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he didn't put up a ton of points when he was carrying around Brad Boyes, but over the last 82 games he has played he has 65 points including 30 goals. For an extended amount of time he has put up offensive numbers rivaling that of Monahan and MacKinnon's best numbers. He's a big, strong, two-way center who looks like he's going to start putting up the offensive numbers of the other guys. He, however, has missed time due to injury. Of note he's a year younger than Monahan.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

So far I think each has had a pretty decisive year.

Rookie - MacKinnon
Sophomore - Monahan
Third year - Barkov

It's quite clear that MacKinnon has the tools to succeed, especially with his skating, but this is his second (relatively speaking) underwhelming season offensively. I still think he has the most potential of the draft class, but I feel like he's been the most inconsistent and might have the lowest floor of these guys as well.

Barkov, excluding the injuries, has had his coming out this year. Prior to this year he was solid defensively, especially compared to other teenagers, but he was missing the offensive spark to be in competition with the other two. At least until Jagr was traded to the Panthers. Maybe it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he didn't put up a ton of points when he was carrying around Brad Boyes, but over the last 82 games he has played he has 65 points including 30 goals. For an extended amount of time he has put up offensive numbers rivaling that of Monahan and MacKinnon's best numbers. He's a big, strong, two-way center who looks like he's going to start putting up the offensive numbers of the other guys. He, however, has missed time due to injury. Of note he's a year younger than Monahan.

Barkov is a stud, no question. I remember the morning show interviewed Ville Niemenen (played as Barkov's linemate his draft season) and he was in absolute awe of him. 'This Barkov' he kept saying.

Such a smart call from Tallon.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Barkov is definitely ahead of Monahan at the moment - Barkov steps on the ice, and he does a whole lot to control the game anywhere on the ice.

Monahan I think is a step ahead of Barkov offensively, but two steps behind defensively.

With that being said, Monahan isn't terrible in his own end and I think he is coming into his own. It would not surprise me to see Monahan enter the Kopitar - Toews - Bergeron type of center conversations down the road. Many also think that because Barkov is almost a full year younger, that it means that much more, but Barkov (imo) isn't far off the Kopitar-Toews-Bergeron conversation at the moment.

For me, I had MacKinnon ranked at a whole different level coming into the draft, and then Barkov an inch below him by himself too, with Drouin, Nichushkin and Jones next, followed by another tier with Lindholm and Monahan.

Looking back, I don't know if I would select MacKinnon until 3rd. He was extremely impressive in his rookie year - especially during the playoffs where I thought we were witnessing a beast in the making. Now, I am not so sure. He started off as a winger in his rookie year, and to date it has been his best year. At some point, his higher offensive ceiling becomes something of an afterthought if he doesn't put it together. If he does, then I would give him the proverbial crown for that draft.

Currently for me:
Barkov
Monahan
MacKinnon

Still too early to tell though. Might change every year for a few years, or even always have some sensible argument to rank them all differently until they are all retired. I just count my blessings that the Flames got one of the (imo) top 3 players of the draft. In my eyes, this was very much a complete lottery type pick in drafting a franchise center.

[The Fonz]

Still embarrassed that I voted Lindholm in the 2013 pre-draft poll.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Still embarrassed that I voted Lindholm in the 2013 pre-draft poll.

I think I did as well. If I had only known then that the Calgary Flames have blacklisted anyone who voted for Lindholm from working as a scout for them.

[druetetective]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Barkov is definitely ahead of Monahan at the moment - Barkov steps on the ice, and he does a whole lot to control the game anywhere on the ice.

Monahan I think is a step ahead of Barkov offensively, but two steps behind defensively.

With that being said, Monahan isn't terrible in his own end and I think he is coming into his own. It would not surprise me to see Monahan enter the Kopitar - Toews - Bergeron type of center conversations down the road. Many also think that because Barkov is almost a full year younger, that it means that much more, but Barkov (imo) isn't far off the Kopitar-Toews-Bergeron conversation at the moment.

For me, I had MacKinnon ranked at a whole different level coming into the draft, and then Barkov an inch below him by himself too, with Drouin, Nichushkin and Jones next, followed by another tier with Lindholm and Monahan.

Looking back, I don't know if I would select MacKinnon until 3rd. He was extremely impressive in his rookie year - especially during the playoffs where I thought we were witnessing a beast in the making. Now, I am not so sure. He started off as a winger in his rookie year, and to date it has been his best year. At some point, his higher offensive ceiling becomes something of an afterthought if he doesn't put it together. If he does, then I would give him the proverbial crown for that draft.

Currently for me:
Barkov
Monahan
MacKinnon

Still too early to tell though. Might change every year for a few years, or even always have some sensible argument to rank them all differently until they are all retired. I just count my blessings that the Flames got one of the (imo) top 3 players of the draft. In my eyes, this was very much a complete lottery type pick in drafting a franchise center.

Very good post.
I wouldn't count out Risto and Jones though-D takes longer to develop.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by druetetective

Very good post.
I wouldn't count out Risto and Jones though-D takes longer to develop.

Yes, that is true - I just decided to compare between the 3 centers anyways. I also wouldn't count out Nichushkin just yet... though he is definitely losing a lot of ground thus far.

I have no idea who I would pick between Ristolainen and Jones head-to-head though. Both are beasts in different ways.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Still embarrassed that I voted Lindholm in the 2013 pre-draft poll.

Tell me about it - I was genuinely upset we didn't take Nichushkin

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Tell me about it - I was genuinely upset we didn't take Nichushkin

Me too.

[N-E-B]

I still take MacKinnon 1st overall.

My list goes

1. MacKinnon
2. Monahan
3. Barkov
4. Ristolainen
5. Domi
6. Jones
7. Nichushkin
8. Horvat

Biggest fallers: Lindholm, Nurse, Drouin

Biggest risers: Duclair, Burakovsky

[calgaryblood]

My top 3 would be Mackinnon Barlov then Monahan

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So in a re-draft, how does it look?
This is my take
1. Barkov
2. Mackinnon
3. Monahan
4. Jones
5. Ristolainen?
6. Domi?

For me its

1. Barkov
2. Ristolainen
3. Monahan
4. Jones
5. MacKinnon
6. Lindholm
7. Wennberg
8. Nurse
9. Horvat
10. Domi
11. Nichushkin
12. Duclair

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

For me its

1. Barkov
2. Ristolainen
3. Monahan
4. Jones
5. MacKinnon
6. Lindholm
7. Wennberg
8. Nurse
9. Horvat
10. Domi
11. Nichushkin
12. Duclair

That's an insane amount of talent. Every ten-twelve years it seems we get a draft like this.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Why Barkov first? just curious.

Bigger, stronger, longer reach, more physical. I think Barkov is going to be nearly impossible to check when he's hit his peak. He's an absolute beast. Extremely skilled, good two way. He's a prototypical #1 huge franchise centre IMO. Absolutely lethal on the shootout as well.

I love Monahan and his last half this season has erased concerns I had about his first half but I think Barkov has the chance to be a Getzlaf type dominant, #1 power centre but I think he can be even better than Getzlaf. Monahan I think is just a slight notch behind. MacKinnon I feel has fallen behind both of them.