Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Hustle]

Given the high-end calibre centres in this draft and Feaster and co. clearly identifying the organizational need for centres... I just can't see how Monahan and Lindholm aren't who the Flames look at if they stick at 6.

As an aside, there's a good video on the Flames website with Weisbrod talking about how he values the combine and how they tend to look for high ceiling in the 1st round (granted this isn't rocket science). Also interesting to note that the Flames had Galchenyuk at #1 last year.

[MonsieurFish]

Spent far too much time making a spreadsheet taking player rankings from numerous sources over the course of the year. Captures average rankings, ranges, and jumps from Sept - June/Jan - June to see who's on the up-swing and who's on the down-swing. Figured there may be some people here interested. Captures 117 players total I believe. Lots of assumptions were made with regards to players that were on some lists, and not others at any point throughout the year... but should give a general idea.

Preview:

Spoiler!

Full list here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B99D...hZWGlyOU0/edit

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Spent far too much time making a spreadsheet taking player rankings from numerous sources over the course of the year. Captures average rankings, ranges, and jumps from Sept - June/Jan - June to see who's on the up-swing and who's on the down-swing. Figured there may be some people here interested. Captures 117 players total I believe. Lots of assumptions were made with regards to players that were on some lists, and not others at any point throughout the year... but should give a general idea.

Preview:

Spoiler!

Full list here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B99D...hZWGlyOU0/edit

Wow. Awesome work MonsieurFish!

[HOWITZER]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before (hard to weed through 315 pages of draft talkin), but what if we chased the #5 pick to compliment the #6 pick?

One could argue that there's some degree of concern that Edmonton pushes for Carolina's pick, and we get screwed out of Monahan/Lindholm (whichever one feast-brod wants to get). But what if we could package deal Tanguay, Cammy, or heck even Glencross with one (or both) of our later round picks, and get the 5th pick as well?

I'd like to think that the solution to having to pick between Monahan and Lindholm is to find a way to pick both! Especially if we could do that while keeping either one of the lower first round picks.

[BurningSteel]

Thats a good spreadsheet there. I am unsure if its by design but I like the fact the buttons dont work to sort by size. I'm scared Jay is lurking here and would sort by weight or height and draft from there.

[SHOGUN]

http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...ed-share-video

Managed to dig this up from the oilers site, features Sean Monahan.

[Canada 02]

from the Hurricanes dir. of amateur scouting on Monahan

Monahan was voted by OHL Eastern Conferences coaches among the top-three players in four separate categories – smartest player, best playmaker, best stickhandler and best on faceoffs.

A 6-foot-2, 187-pound left-shooting center, Monahan’s best asset is his two-way capabilities. In molding his game, Monahan has said that he looks to strong two-way NHL centers like Jordan Staal.

“He’s a character individual and a quality person. He’s a tremendous player with a great hockey IQ and vision of the ice,” MacDonald said. “If he had a strength that stood out above all, it would be his ability to create and make plays.”

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=675019

[Canada 02]

from the Hurricanes dir. of amateur scouting on Nichushkin

“Everyone recognizes what a tremendous talent he is,” said Tony MacDonald, the lead amateur scout for the Hurricanes. “He’s a very skilled guy – he’s got size, he’s got speed and he’s got skill. He has that ability to dominate.”

“He’s a big, strong man,” MacDonald said. “When he turns it up a notch, he’s a very tough guy for defenders to handle with his skill and his shot.”

The Hurricanes are somewhat familiar with Nichushkin in that he shares an agent, Mark Gandler, with Alexander Semin, who re-upped with Carolina for five years in March.
“If you have a relationship with an agent, and the relationship is a reasonably good, working one, [the familiarity] doesn’t hurt,” MacDonald said.
Nichushkin’s draft stock has risen now that scouts and front office personnel are armed with fresh knowledge of his contract situation, so much so that he could perforate the first four selections on Sunday based on his natural talent and high-end ceiling alone.
“He’s made it very clear that he wants to play in the NHL,” MacDonald said. “Now, I think everyone is sort of reassessing their position on Nichushkin.”

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=675171

nice to know what other teams are thinking, especially the ones in front of Calgary

here's their scout on Lindholm and Barkov as well

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=674643

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=673933

Rutherford unlikely to move up or down

This year, MacDonald said NHL-ready talent could extend as far as the seventh pick. Because of this, Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford said he’s keeping an open mind.
“There are some areas of our team that we’d like to fix sooner than later. If we had the chance to get something that helps our team immediately and not move [down] too many picks, we would at least have to have a pretty in-depth conversation about that within hockey operations,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade the pick outright and wouldn’t drop too many spots, but I’m not going to say I wouldn’t do it at all. I think the odds are against it. Probably not going to trade it. But I think it’s important to look at all options.”
Rutherford said he has little interest in trading up in the draft, considering the caliber of players available in the first five picks. MacDonald agreed.
“We’re going to be happy with our guy at five,” he said. “Somebody might fall through there that is unexpected.”

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=673492

[Ashasx]

My god I can't wait for this weekend to be over.

[nik-]

If we draft Lindholm I'm ordering a #28 Lindholm jersey ... unfortunately Monahan wears Glencross' number so we'll have to wait and see.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I did read somewhere a few weeks ago (and it wasn't on HFBoards) that Monahan's focus can wander and he doesn't necessarily bring it every night.

From what I've read, Lindholm has a more relentless compete level. With Monahan, I think a lot of people read 'big' and 'two-way' and assume he has a lot of jam. But that's not always the case.

Of course, Monahan is still a kid, and he played on a bad team this season. I wouldn't consider it a red flag or anything.

Compete level and focus tends to go down when your team is torn apart and you have nothing to play for. Big mistake if the flames pass on Monahan at 6 IMO.

[djsFlames]

Based on those quotes out of Carolina, I'm now a lot less worried about picking at 6 now. As long as they don't trade their pick, Monahan should be there for our taking

Safest, smartest pick. Even if he turns out to be a solid #2 center, he's still exactly the mold of player we want up the middle. Since Nashvilles stating that they're likely to stay put, moving into the 'elite' grouping of players is next to impossible now, so I think a franchise player is out of the question anyways. Take the solid C piece and maybe you'll hit a home run with one of the 3 picks after all. That surefire franchise guy will come next year, likely, so no need to pay an unnecessary price this draft that could set us back..

[dammage79]

Herald Hockey ‏@HeraldHockey 9m
Flames enter Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft with clear plan to draft best player available http://dlvr.it/3ZV99f #flames
View summary

Food for thought. You don't win drafts by taking the safest pick.

Feaster- "We need to win this draft"

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Feaster- "We need to win this draft"

I really wish Feaster just wouldn't talk sometimes.

You need to have a good draft, set the team going forward in the right direction. Unless he pulls off a monster deal that nets the Flames McKinnon and Drouin he just needs to draft a player that will be a good player for the team for a long time.

You don't need to win the draft, you just need to not screw it up.

[djsFlames]

The "Win this draft" approach is exactly what could screw us, when we should be shooting as straight as possible with these three picks.

BPA and positional needs can simultaneously factor into a decision imo.

[dammage79]

Just saying this because I am now almost 100% sure that if Nichushkin is available at 6, they will see him BPA and there is going to be a riot because Lindholm or Monahan were not picked.

But I find myself unlike some others, prepared and excited for either possibility. My day will be made whether its Monahan, Lindholm or Nichushkin.

But this horse has been beaten, buried, exhumed and beaten again and had an autopsy done and cremated. Three more sleeps and this can be over.

[trackercowe]

The thing that scares me is Feaster has to know his job is on the line in the next couple seasons, and ownership still might be in won now mentality. So maybe they are crazy enough to think it's still playoff or bust this season. With that in mind Feaster will try and do whatever it takes in a vain attempt to make the playoffs. We'll find out this weekend I suppose, but it has been in the back of my mind since his presser near the end of the year.

[djsFlames]

Yeah, 2+ months of this has been exhausting.

For the record I'm not opposed to Nichuskin. He'll undoubtedly be the bpa if he slides to 6. He's kind of both a fear and a hope going into the draft.

This will be a very exciting place on Sunday though. I'm postponing work by an hour just to enjoy it live both on TV and on here to get all the reaction. I'm sure it'll be thoroughly entertaining. With trade possibilities on top of it all, we could be in for a some real surprises. Not to mention Dexter season 8 premiere that night. I'm gonna feel spoiled.

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Yeah, 2+ months of this has been exhausting.

Think how oiler fans have felt for the last three seasons, this starts in January for them

[FlamesAddiction]

I find it so hard to decide between Monahan and Lindholm.

For the past 6 weeks, it seems like they (NHL insiders and scouts) have been pumping up Monahan like crazy. Every report seems to just heap tonnes of praise on him like he one of the most incredible prospects to come along - he's a fierce competitor, big, skilled, great skater, good at faceoffs, tough, great shot... basically, no deficiencies at all.

Then you read about Lindholm, and they usually have one-liners - he's a hard worker and likes to pass.

Yet, almost every ranking has Lindholm ahead of Monahan by at least one spot, and sometimes more. It's almost like people feel like they need to make a case for Monahan and Lindholm's abilities speak for themselves. Or maybe some teams are trying to downplay Lindholm in hopes that he slides and Monahan goes first. Perhaps it is just because Lindholm is from Europe and fewer people have 1st hand info... I don't know, but I find it weird.