If McQueen ends up dropping in the draft because of a fear of his injury, I would be fine with the flames taking a risk and picking him with one of their 2 first round picks (likely to be outside the top 16). I’m always up for taking a big swing with picks outside the top 10.
Last year, the discussion was around the potential for Lindstrom falling to the Flames at number 9 but he went 4th anyway.
With Lindstrom being out again this year, it'll be interesting to see if that effects McQueen's draft stock or if a team just likes him a ton regardless. Can't see him dropping below 20 though. Too much upside.
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Last year, the discussion was around the potential for Lindstrom falling to the Flames at number 9 but he went 4th anyway.
With Lindstrom being out again this year, it'll be interesting to see if that effects McQueen's draft stock or if a team just likes him a ton regardless. Can't see him dropping below 20 though. Too much upside.
Yeah. I wonder what Lindstrom’s value league wide is at this point. Has his value decreased because of losing a year of development? I know Columbus would not trade him as a decreased value asset - better to be patient. See if he regains his form and stays healthy after his recovery. From highlights. I prefer Lindstrom over McQueen but I would be happy to take a chance on McQueen if he drops out of the top 15.
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Schaefer is unanimous #1 by the 10 NHL scouts he surveys.
Also some notes on the other top guys:
Scouts are projecting Hagens more as a 2nd line centre than a 1st liner
Some scouts wonder if Misa will be a better NHL winger than centre
Desnoyers might be the most complete 2 way centre in the draft. Top end projection 2nd line centre or elite 3rd line shutdown centre. Viewed as a safe pick. If you believe his offence will pop in the NHL then he is a top 5 pick
Scouts are ranking McQueen as if he is healthy (believed to be suffering a lower back injury). Some scouts are wary without clarity on his health. One scout said he is on the No draft list without more health information if the draft were tomorrow.
O'Brien has elite hockey sense and is a wizard on the half wall. Ranked as high as 6 as low as 17
I'm still really intrigued by Ben Kindel, who is a fast riser, landing at 25 on McKenzie's list.
Love to hear from anyone who has seen him play, as he's now right where the Flames are projected to draft, although the way he's rising, he could land in the top 15 by draft day.
I feel (in my plums) like we're getting 2 of these guys on draft day.
Edit: missed Kindel
I am sure it’s been posted sporadically but I am wondering if Sandman/Cral12 could provide a bundled info pack focused specifically on this group? Maybe take out the Hagans to McQueen and replace with Moore, Nilson, McKenny, and Benak.. would be cool to see something like a list of attribute ranking (skating, hands, shot, playmaking, defence, grit, faceoffs)
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I am way more curious about what later round gems the Flames will find. Between 2011 and 2019 the Flames had 32 picks after the 3rd round (little more than 3 a year when theoretically they should have had 4 a year). Out of those 32 picks nine players played at least 30 NHL games with a number of very good players being found (9/32 - 28% hit rate).
The players that played more than 30 games were
Gaudreau (draft year 2011)
Broissant (2011)
Kulak (2012)
John Gilmour (2013)
Mangiapane (2015)
Phillips (2016)
Ruzicka (2017)
Pospisil (2018)
Wolf (2019)
Outside of Gilmour and Phillips (I believe Ruzicka could have been a player but for the off ice problems) the other 7 are legitimate NHL players. Flames just need more picks in general, they find talent in all areas of the draft.
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I am way more curious about what later round gems the Flames will find. Between 2011 and 2019 the Flames had 32 picks after the 3rd round (little more than 3 a year when theoretically they should have had 4 a year). Out of those 32 picks nine players played at least 30 NHL games with a number of very good players being found (9/32 - 28% hit rate).
The players that played more than 30 games were
Gaudreau (draft year 2011)
Broissant (2011)
Kulak (2012)
John Gilmour (2013)
Mangiapane (2015)
Phillips (2016)
Ruzicka (2017)
Pospisil (2018)
Wolf (2019)
Outside of Gilmour and Phillips (I believe Ruzicka could have been a player but for the off ice problems) the other 7 are legitimate NHL players. Flames just need more picks in general, they find talent in all areas of the draft.
Yep, this is why the Flames need to be drafting 8-10 times at every draft, or even more. And never less than 7.
I still shake my head that they only picked three players in 2022. That's inexcusable for a team that hasn't made it past round 2 in over 20 ####ing years
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Does anyone know anything about these German Griva twins? No idea what the DNL U20 league is about but they are putting up over 2ppg each. Looks like their teammate Dustin Willhoft who is actually ahead of them in scoring is also draft eligible.
Yep, this is why the Flames need to be drafting 8-10 times at every draft, or even more. And never less than 7.
I still shake my head that they only picked three players in 2022. That's inexcusable for a team that hasn't made it past round 2 in over 20 ####ing years
Running those trade trees, the Flames also got Sharangovich and Aydar Suniev (2022 first - Toffoli) as well as Okhotyuk and a yet to be determined 2026 3rd rounder (2022 3rd - Zadorov trade)... and they still have Dan Vladar, so it's not all bad.
Really weird question. There was a draft a few years ago and there was a kid who’s mom didn’t wear panties and you could see up it when he was drafted . Hilarious.
Really weird question. There was a draft a few years ago and there was a kid who’s mom didn’t wear panties and you could see up it when he was drafted . Hilarious.
That's a statement.
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Does anyone know anything about these German Griva twins? No idea what the DNL U20 league is about but they are putting up over 2ppg each. Looks like their teammate Dustin Willhoft who is actually ahead of them in scoring is also draft eligible.
I feel (in my plums) like we're getting 2 of these guys on draft day.
Edit: missed Kindel
If the Flames picked Centers with every pick they have in this draft (they of course won't) it would be justified by what they have the pipeline, and it would be just fine by me. However, watch out for Baby Bru- I would take him with one of our firsts easily- and I think we don't, he's going in the 20's either way. He has everything- size, skating, offensive IQ, tight defense, and a mean streak. Don't judge him 100% on his numbers, he's playing behind three of the CHL's best defensemen.
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I'm still really intrigued by Ben Kindel, who is a fast riser, landing at 25 on McKenzie's list.
Love to hear from anyone who has seen him play, as he's now right where the Flames are projected to draft, although the way he's rising, he could land in the top 15 by draft day.
I'm not so convinced he'll go that high, and I'm not sure he'll even be picked in the first round. There's been a bias towards smaller players in the last few drafts (last year in particular), and most of Kindel's physical tools grade at just above average- his brain, vision, and hockey sense are off the charts though. He's a fairly good skater, but definitely not a burner, his defense is just ok, and his size will always be a detriment. Andrew Cristall is an offensive wizard, and was taken in the second round by Washington.
Kindel is on pace for 116 points in 67 games though, so it will be interesting to see where he's picked. I think if anyone under 6'0" is taken in the first (other than Eklund), it's going to be Reschny- his game translates too damn well to the NHL.
Mace'o Phillips' game was on full display for the NTDP at the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, but while he was his usual mean and physical self, the Americans were caved in by the speed and pace of the superior CHL squad. Under those circumstances, it would be unfair to judge him based on this particular two-game series, but he still stood out by making some quality stops. Phillips is a behemoth, and defensive play will always be his calling card, with many scouts saying he has NHL-qualities and potential as a shutdown D in the show. His range alone blocks massive spheres of ice, and he's surprisingly effective against the rush with tight gaps, intelligent positioning and angling, as well as a well-timed stick. Threats are identified quickly, and he smothers his opponents of time and space, picks off passes to the slot, and blocks shots. He suffocates attackers with his enormous reach, and crushes them into the boards- and when he can't initiate contact, he's proactively lifting sticks or pokechecking pucks out of danger. He protects his goalies well, and keeps the front of the net clear by boxing would-be crease-crashers out.
Phillips skates well for a player his size, and though he needs to upgrade his explosiveness and acceleration, as well as his agility and edgework, he has the athleticism to improve significantly in the future. He's already a fairly active player who moves around a lot, but if he can build up his mobility he'll be a beast to go up against. He already wins inside position over the opposition quite regularly, and seems to specialize in keeping attackers at bay with deft reverse hits (as he displayed at the Prospects Challenge). According to those who watch him on more of a regular basis, he is learning to be more controlled in terms of his robust physical game, as well as his mean streak; he is learning to be a punishing hitter without taking himself out of the play, and he is taking less needless penalties. Phillips is surprisingly good at retrievals, and seeks to limit defensive zone time, but while he can make safe and simple first-pass plays, he is inconsistent when under pressure. He flashes top-tier breakout skills from time to time, with the ability to hit streaking forwards in the neutral zone for odd-man chances.
Phillips seems to be aware that he has to keep his puck-play simple, especially when under pressure. He flashes another level of vision and IQ, showing some smarts and sound ideas, but he has trouble executing them as his so-so puck skill lets him down. His plays in the offensive zone consist mainly of shots, but he does have a fairly hard and heavy release that he can get on net with reasonable frequency. There are some brief activations, but usually only to keep pucks alive. Phillips will likely never be a point-producer- and I think he knows who he is, which is a solid shutdown defender. This is not a mistake-free player however, as he can lose his man, and makes errors with the puck, but he's still quite raw and developing and his game is becoming more and more solid. He's not close to reaching his potential, and will require a long runway- which he'll get, starting next season at the University of Minnesota. In Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, Phillips was 49th amongst North American players, and I could easily see a team taking him in the 3rd, or 4th-round of the draft.
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The NTDP has some quality D listed in the first half of the 2025 Draft, but none more exciting than lefty Drew Schock (AKA Harold Schock IV). If you've read about this player, you've most likely seen him listed as being 5'10", and 160lbs- but those measurements are from the 2023-24 NTDP training camp, and therefore, erroneous. Schock is highly underrated, and beyond being the NTDP's top-scoring defenseman, he's sometimes their best player on a nightly basis, and considering the team itself- his numbers are not indicative of his capabilities. He's highly skilled, plays in all situations, and is fairly well rounded. In the CHL-USA Top Prospects Challenge, he was quite impressive, and one of the few Americans who was able to put a dent in the scoresheet, with 2 points in 2 games. Though it would be difficult to evaluate any player on the US side as they were vastly outplayed, Schock proved that he could keep up with the speed and pace of the dominant CHL squad (although he was burned a few times). Against USHL competition with the NTDP this season, his .54 ppg (7 points in 13 games) would be 14th in that league for defensemen, and first among under-18 players- ahead of Luka Radivojevic, and Charlie Trethewey.
Schock is a high-energy player who stays active and covers a huge volume of real estate every shift. He's highly engaged and competitive, staying involved with or without the puck on his blade. His skating is easy to evaluate, as it's already NHL-calibre- perhaps a notch or two below elite. His edges are superb and allow for quick pivots and rapid changes in pace and direction; he's highly elusive and shifty. Only a few steps are needed to get him up to top speed, and he can back defenders up, or burn them completely. His hands are quick too, with well-developed stickhandling to deke or dangle around opponents, and his manipulation game is on point- wielding the deception skills to fake his adversaries out of their skates. Schock joins the rush with regularity, and often leads them, making smooth, controlled entries using the aforementioned speed, deception, and 1-on-1 trickery. Once established in the zone, he walks the line like Johnny Cash, quarterbacking the PP, and activating frequently with the speed to recover almost instantly. He's creative, with high-end vision, and though he tries to stay safe and simple, he has a dynamic, flashy side; he can find teammates in high-danger with difficult passes, as he can see through coverage. Schock is not just a finesse player though, as he employs physicality, ties up opponents on the boards, and initiates contact to separate man from puck.
Schock plays a fairly sound defensive game, but not mistake-free, as he can be pressed into making mistakes with the puck at times when under duress. Still, he's engaged in his own zone in hounding puck-carriers, and is a willing shot-blocker. He shows aptitude against the rush by angling attackers to the outside, as he can match footwork with anyone. In retrievals, he scans for options and draws forecheckers in so he can pass to teammates in open space. His first-pass is usually sound, and he can connect on the more high-end breakouts through traffic for breakaways and odd-man rushes, but he can also be pressured into mistakes (like throwaways and turnovers). In those situations, he has the luxury of owning the speed to recover and correct more often than not. Schock is not a perfect player, and could use some work on his shot, and his decision-making under pressure, but he contributes in all 3 zones. He's headed to the University of Michigan next season, and I think he's going to be taken in the 3rd or 4th-round of the Draft- if he isn't, I'll be "Schock-ed".
Last edited by Sandman; 04-21-2025 at 07:34 PM.
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