Who should the Flames select with the 4th overall pick?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

We should probably wait to see if we're picking 1st, 4th or 5th before worrying about who we pick.

We will be picking 1st.

Just watch.

[automaton 3]

Dal Colle at 4th or 5th

I think we'll be picking 1st though, so a bit moot.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Surprised nobody wants Nylander or Kapanen here so far because I think if anyone's jumping up into the top 3 it's one of those guys. And if a guy falls I think it will be Ekblad, much in the same vein as Seth Jones last year.

I think more scouts view Ekblad as the top player this year than did Jones lat year.

I don't recall seeing a single ranking this year that suggests Nylander or Kapanen could go top 3. I'd be shocked if either went top 5. Ehlers may go higher than either.

I think most people realize we are unlikely to draft a small, soft skilled euro like Nylander when there's big, skilled North Americans like Dal Colle and Ritchie available.

[19Yzerman19]

I think you're dead wrong on Jones. He was neck and neck with Mackinnon right down to draft day. It was fairly unpredictable as to whether Colorado would take him or Mackinnon. T-Bay was always taking a forward. Poile was basically giddy when Jones slipped to 4th.

I hear you on the smaller size thing, but throughout the year Nylander's name has consistently been 3-6. Kapanen's improved throughout the year. Both have been playing in a professional league and have proven they can do so, not unlike Barkov last year. And "skilled" is a relative term, they're both clearly more skilled than Dal Colle. Nylander's skating is unreal.

I'm not saying the Flames should take one of those guys but if they did, I wouldn't look at the pick sideways by any means.

[Dion]

Flames win the draft lottery and pick Ekblad. A physical d man with size is really what the Flames need.

[Southside]

Leave it to the Oilers. Draft lottery simulator http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=714502 I did it ten times and sad to report the results; 3 times Buffalo, twice Florida, twice Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto. Oiler programing?

[19Yzerman19]

Hahaha 2nd click on the simulator: "The Ottawa Senators have won the draft lottery and Anaheim will draft first overall". SERIOUSLY?! ANAHEIM?!

[NomNomNom]

I wouldn't mind Ritchie, but not at 4th. I'm terrified Burke will reach for Ritchie leaving Dal Colle on the board. Terrified.

[Table 5]

Ideally, the Flames win the lottery, and trade down to Florida's third (so they can get their man in Ekblad) in exchange for their 2014 and 2015 2nd-rounders. We draft whichever Sam is left.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by NomNomNom

I wouldn't mind Ritchie, but not at 4th. I'm terrified Burke will reach for Ritchie leaving Dal Colle on the board. Terrified.

Same. Ritchie is a decent prospect, but Ritchie at 4th is a horrible, horrible idea. And a terrible waste of a very high draft position, because better players will be on the board.

He is at highest probably the 6th or 7th BPA in this draft class.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Hahaha 2nd click on the simulator: "The Ottawa Senators have won the draft lottery and Anaheim will draft first overall". SERIOUSLY?! ANAHEIM?!

The Ducks have the Senators 1st round pick from the Bobby Ryan trade.

[trackercowe]

We should wait to use our "one time" next year. I'll be happy with whoever we get this year, and then McDavid next year. That'll do rather nicely.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

We should wait to use our "one time" next year. I'll be happy with whoever we get this year, and then McDavid next year. That'll do rather nicely.

That's not how "one time" works.


Let's win this draft lottery, and then go from there.

[Johnny Rotten]

Burke, on 960 today, didn't sound too negative about Draistl today. He said, "We like the forward group that's there. There's skill there with the Reinhart kid. There's skill and grit with the Bennett kid. There's size and skill with the German kid. I can't say his name...."

Check out what he says here:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/960/on-demand/

[Scoreface]

Thinking the Flames will win the lottery!?

I thought I was being semi-conservative hoping we would stay at fourth. I'll be happy with that. We've been shown favour to be in the position we are in, considering how this team busted its tail off all season, especially during the second half where we had ~ a playoff clip.

I would suggest some people settle into where we are. That's where I am. Would be mildly disappointed if a team behind us in the lottery wins (especially Vancouver!), but let things play out based on where we currently are and trust our scouting. It's been pretty good lately.

There's gonna be some bummed out people here tomorrow night.

[T@T]

For me if Bennett is gone trade down a couple spots for another pick and take Virtanen, I truly believe in 3 years Virtanen will be a top 3 or 4 player from this draft.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Southside

Leave it to the Oilers. Draft lottery simulator http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=714502 I did it ten times and sad to report the results; 3 times Buffalo, twice Florida, twice Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto. Oiler programing?

Only on Oilers.com would a draft lottery simulator be developed....

[Matty81]

Hoping Bennett slides to 4.

If not, Dal Colle.

[Sandman]

I have to admit, i'm surprised at the number of people picking Dal Colle over Draisatl- I thought i would be the only one. I have a feeling that Ritchie is the one on Burke's radar, but personally i wouldn't mind taking him at 4. The few times i've seen him play, I've been impressed-huge kid that can skate and play mean. I've heard the knocks on his conditioning but let's not forget that we have one of the best Conditioning coaches in the game. That same knock has been put on players like Brendan Morrow and Bobby Ryan, and they managed to turn it around.

[Tbull8]

If Reinhart Ekblad and Bennett are gone, my order of preference goes Dal Colle, Ritchie, Draisaitl. I just feel like Draisaitl is gonna bust for some reason