Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Dorkmaster]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Late to the party on this one but that's what a drive on the Coquihalla in April will do.

Anton Slepyshev - why did we not burn a 7th round pick on him? I get the KHL thing and our depth at LW but if you can get 1st round talent in the 7th round, why not take a flyer? Too often this happens (Tanner Pearson goes undrafted two drafts then is taken in 1st round last year). We need scouts to push for players like Slepyshev so we get immense talent in round 7 instead of these guys going back into the draft. It's outside the box thinking which should suit Feaster fine as he's not adverse to this (see best players outside NHL - Cervenka and best goalies outside NHL - Ramo, Berra for examples).

Its not like only Calgary passed on Slepyshev. Who knows why everyone passed on him. Maybe its KHL reasons, maybe its the fact that his game doesn't translate to the NHL style. The other thing is that the Flames wanted to make every one of their picks count. DeBlouw seems to have had a good freshman year and maybe he can become a valuable player down the road.

I would definitely agree with you on taking Drouin over Barkov if you think he's a better player. You can't be picking based on positional needs. Should always be BPA when you have holes everywhere.

[Tbull8]

As good as Mackinnon and jones look, I think the flames should focus on getting drouin. He'll make an immediate impact and get fans excited. As well he's a much smarter player than Mackinnon on and off the ice. Barkovs good, but slow.

They could then trade their other two picks and move up to get Monahan. He's looking like the next toews and their "franchise centre". I just think drouins going to have a brighter future than Mackinnon because of his speed and his general smarter style of play.

[Rapidfire999]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

I would rather go offense first at the top of this draft. D men take usually 2-3 more years to develop then a forward would and I think there is pressure to develop something that the fans can get excited about. As for team need the Flames are lacking at both positions in the system, however with Giordano and Brodie being young (enough) NHLers they should be able to contribute for the foreseeable future. I really like the College FA route to get D men, they have 2-3 more years of development and can jump right into the NHL game (Dekeyster and Schultz).

I would love to see the Flames draft this way:
3rd overall- Nathan Mackinnon (C)/ Aleks Barkov (C)
18th overall (St Louis)- Rasmus Ristolainen (D) 6'3 200+lbs
26th overall (Pittsburgh)- Kerby Rychel (LW) or Valentine Zykov (RW)

I also think it would be cool if we won the draft lottery, and Colorado got 3rd, and wanted Seth Jones desperately, and we traded 1st overall to Colorado for 3rd overall + there 2nd round pick. Pick up Robert Hagg/Mirco Mueller/Niclas Petan

Note* I used Craigs list as of March 3rd, the only reach from what I mentioned above would be Kerby Rychel at 26.
Mackinnon ranked 3rd, Barkov 4th, Ristolainen 20th, Rychel 22nd, Zykov 29th, Hagg 30th, Petan 28th, Mueller 35th.

18th overall = St Louis not in the playoffs, right?

which then means = no 1st this draft from STL

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Rapidfire999

18th overall = St Louis not in the playoffs, right?

which then means = no 1st this draft from STL

If St.Louis gets the 15th pick or higher, we get their pick. The first 14 are the "lottery" slots.

[FlameZilla]

Nichushkin could go anywhere from #5 to #20 because of the Ruskie Factor. If we got a Mackinnon/Drouin/Barkov with our pick I would happily take a risk on Nichushkin with the St Louis pick. He looks like a beast & with the extra pick I think it's worth taking the risk.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Lindholm at #6 over Ristolainen - skilled forward trumps 2 way dman

Red line lists Jones/MacKinnon/Drouin as tier 1 talent, Barkov is 1a (notch below). Knock on Barkov is skating.

As tough as it is, you may have to stick with BPA and if it's Drouin, you take him. Would piss off this board but if you are getting an elite player over a great player, we can't afford to be picky given our situation.

I don't think people on this board would be pissed if we drafted Drouin.

Drouin is an amazing player and if MacKinnon is gone before we draft, then I am more than happy to get Drouin.

[albertGQ]

I keep flip flopping between Mackinnen and Drouin

I'm trying to convince myself that we should draft Nate but I keep coming back to Drouin

[icecube]

I said it once before and I'll say it one more time. If we draft top 3 we can do no wrong with any of the big 3. If you get pissed that we take any one of them, then I forever consider you ######ed. Period.

[mrdonkey]

I wouldn't be disappointed if we somehow ended up drafting first and took Jones, but it just seems to me that high-end defensemen can regularly develop from later picks, while high-end impact forwards only rarely pop up in late rounds and by and large tend to be exclusive to the top end of the draft. That and the fact that many defensemen taken early tend to fall short of expectations leads me to be a bit wary of Jones. I think he would be perfect for Colorado however, as their defense is rotten but they're loaded with great forwards. Let them worry about Jones, I say.

Plus, and I know this has no bearing on rationality, after watching this team for so long just plug mediocre center after mediocre center into the top two lines, I want to know what it feels like to be a team with a solid #1 center with youth on his side, for a change. We haven't had a center worth talking about since Joe Nieuwendyk and I want to see that change. Bring on Mackinnon!

But from a purely logical standpoint, I doubt you could go wrong with any of the top 3. Especially a team like the Flames with holes virtually everywhere on the roster.

[dammage79]

Of the 967 left wingers or so that the Flames have in the cupboards and up on the big team, is it necessarily wise to go out and select yet another left wing with the top five pick? Sven, Gaudreau, Agostino, Hanowski and Gordon on top of others who could potentially convert from center should develop into all four varying needs the Flames have on LW. It is by far the deepest position in the organization.

That being said, I won't complain if they select Drouin but it does not makes sense in my eyes.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I would be disappointed If we took Drouin over Barkov. We need a center so badly.

[Poe969]

I do find it kind of funny that for the past 20 years or so the Flames have needed a #1 center but now that there isn't a true #1 winger, everyone thinks we should go get a winger instead of a center so we could at least be in the same position we were in before.... because that was successful I guess....

Every team in the league except a few are in need of centers. The successful teams all have #1 centers and the teams the rest of the teams all want centers. If you look at free agency, teams are all lining up to get a center.

Each team has the need for at least 4 centers and 8 wingers. It's better to have more centers because they can usually play the wing more effectively than a winger can play center (see the Flames success over the past few years ). I will say that some of the wingers in this draft look amazing and I wouldn't be upset if we were to get them but to pick a winger or any other position over a center would just be a mistake.

Bottom line is that you need #1 centers to be successful and to pass them up would be a huge mistake.

[kn]

Originally Posted by nik-

Lindholm's shot isn't that great, but he's a great two way player with good passing skills, great skating, and physical play.

You hardly "stay far away"

We're looking for elite talent with our first pick, not a defensive forward. That's all I meant with "stay far away". Outside of the Top 5 though, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[kn]

Originally Posted by timbit

Where does Nurse fit in? He is a pretty attractive package on D.

No idea. Other than YouTube clips and reading, I haven't seen these guys play. It's simply that I read Ristolainen is NHL-ready and has been playing in the SM-Liga for two years already.

[kn]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I keep flip flopping between Mackinnen and Drouin

I'm trying to convince myself that we should draft Nate but I keep coming back to Drouin

Me too. MacKinnon is "safe". I'm sure he'll be a good center in this league but I haven't heard anyone talk about his upside like they are with Drouin.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

I would rather go offense first at the top of this draft. D men take usually 2-3 more years to develop then a forward would and I think there is pressure to develop something that the fans can get excited about.

If defensemen take longer to develop then shouldn't we draft one this year while we are just starting a rebuild so he will be ready by the end of it. Assuming the Flames suck again next year we should have another top 5 pick.
Get a center at that point.

Saying that I would still pick MacKinnon, Drouin or Barkov over him. I would only pick him in the 4th spot if the other three are gone.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by kn

We're looking for elite talent with our first pick, not a defensive forward. That's all I meant with "stay far away". Outside of the Top 5 though, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

He's not a defensive forward, he's a playmaker with an excellent defensive game.

edit: Additionally, just to add some perspective. Nicklas Backstrom had 28 points in 46 games in the SEL in his draft year. Lindholm had 30 in 48 and then you tack on his defensive game. He's no third line shutdown center by any means.

[kn]

Article on Drouin... sorry if it has been already been posted:

Canadian National Junior Team coach Steve Spott said Drouin played beyond his years at the WJC.

"He had that swagger and inner confidence that he wanted to be a difference-maker every time he was on the ice," Spott told NHL.com. "His skill set, hands and vision, really are at an elite level, so he's going to be a prime-time NHL scorer."

Drouin admits that while MacKinnon is the pure sniper, he is more the shifty playmaker.

"I don't go out and hit people, but look for open space and find my linemates," Drouin said. "It's easy to play with a guy like Nathan. He's got speed like a horse and finds that open area to make things happen."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...site-Draft2013

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by kn

Some thoughts after an hour of reading...

1) Jones is the BPA. If we're drafting first, we take him unless Colorado mortgages their future in exchange.

Agreed here. Don't care what position (except G)... winger, center, defense, who cares. Draft BPA, always.

... unless we can trade down and still be in a top 3 spot, because CO really wants Jones.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Agreed here. Don't care what position (except G)... winger, center, defense, who cares. Draft BPA, always.

... unless we can trade down and still be in a top 3 spot, because CO really wants Jones.

BPA is always the best strategy. History is littered with teams drafting for need and bypassing the better player. And would drafting Jones really not be drafting for need anyways? It's not like we have a blue chip defenseman prospect currently.