Three years ago, everyone was projecting Brodie to be a 5/6 Dman with maybe 3/4 upside.
No one predicted Giordano would become a top pairing, Olympic candidate. In fact, a lot of people predicted he would never be more than a 5/6.
Bottom line is that learning how to be an effective defenseman in the NHL is a big hill to climb. It is impossible to guess who will climb to the top of that hill. And it certainly isn't just a matter of drafting kids with the right tool sets (like it often is with forwards).
That's why, as a general rule, I think it is better to spend the top picks on forwards and focus the 2nd-5th round picks on defensemen.
I don't mind the Flames' prospect pool right now. Sure, it isn't as deep as the forwards, but it doesn't have to be. There aren't as many roster spots on D, good defensemen can play a long time, and it is relatively easy to add one or two decent Dmen through FA or trades.
In other words, if you can develop 1 defenseman every 2 years, you're pretty much perpetually set.
Gio is only 30, Smid 28 and Russell 26 (though I don't see him being around for too long). So we have a bit of time to develop more guys.
The Flames struck gold with Brodie. I think Wotherspoon is a lock for the NHL and probably develops into a solid top 4.
If they get one more solid NHLer out of Sieloff, Ramage, Kulak, Culkin, Roy, Rafikov, and Kanzig, they would be doing pretty well.
I expect at least 2, if not more, Dmen drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds this year.
Just keep drafting quantity and size in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and maintain a solid development system, and the rest will take care of itself.
I would much, much rather the Flames draft a Sam than draft Ekblad.
If we end up with too many top 6 forwards, we can trade for D. And those D would be further up the hill than new draft picks.
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