If the scouting staff really thinks Jones is the best defensive prospect to come out of the draft in the last 10 years, then you pick Jones. Guys like Pronger, Lidstrom or Chara change your team for years, more than a #1C.
If we do pick #1, I would be happy with either Jones or Mackinnon. How long has it been since we had a franchise #1 d (honest question)? MacInnis? Mackinnon would definitely feel a need but the Flames would be lucky to have either of these guys.
If we do pick #1, I would be happy with either Jones or Mackinnon. How long has it been since we had a franchise #1 d (honest question)? MacInnis? Mackinnon would definitely feel a need but the Flames would be lucky to have either of these guys.
We had one for about 4.5 years just recently, before things went off the rails.
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In true Flames fashion, I'd trade the #1 overall pick to whoever's got the #3 pick, taking their second rounder in the process. Then I'd trade the #3 pick to whoever's got the #5 pick and pick up their third rounder in the process.
Then I'd use the #5 pick to pick someone no one has ever heard of. Probably a winger.
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Either Combination of Jankowski with MacKinnon or Barkov would look pretty sweet for a good long time. Add Backlund into the mix and that is a very nice looking group of centermen.
Couple that with some of our promising Center prospects such as Reinhart or even Arnold, and we'd have a deep team that's "bust-proof" down the middle.
I can just see this board flipping out after the Flames select Jones, the consensus #1 pick overall, and bypass the top ranked centreman.
The rest of the hockey world will be jealous that we have a stud defenceman prospect and we'll be on this board trashing the GM.
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
Someone put up a really good comparison of top drafted centers vs defenseman and pretty much every center on the list has become a more important player than the defenseman. It's a no brainer to go with the center IMO, dmen should be taken later as its a bigger risk if they reach their potential
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MacKinnon unless there is an extremely compelling reason to take Jones (ex - MacKinnon hints that he'd never sign here)
I love Seth Jones. I'm a Winterhawks fan, the Flames need defense, and he's probably one of the best D prospects in ages. He'd be an amazing asset to the team and could probably even aid the team in a meaningful way in 1 or 2 years.
However, the stock of a forward is well known, much more so than a defender or a goaltender. At the top spot, there's a great deal of risk if Jones doesn't develop into a #1 defense, especially around more known prospects like MacKinnon or Barkov.
Am I the only one who likes Jonathan Drouin over Mackinnon? I know Mackinnon is more hyped, but from what I've seen Drouin has played better than Mackinnon this season. Better stats too.
But I guess people like centres over LWs.
Still... love Drouin's game.
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If MacKinnon and Barkov were wingers, would you still pick them before Jones? If the Flames were to pick first, I hope MacKinnon is [I]worthy[I] of being first overall. Not just because he's a centre.
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You’ll find that empty vessels make the most sound.
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If MacKinnon and Barkov were wingers, would you still pick them before Jones? If the Flames were to pick first, I hope MacKinnon is [I]worthy[I] of being first overall. Not just because he's a centre.
I think the top 4 this year are all worthy of first overall picks.
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Am I the only one who likes Jonathan Drouin over Mackinnon? I know Mackinnon is more hyped, but from what I've seen Drouin has played better than Mackinnon this season. Better stats too.
But I guess people like centres over LWs.
Still... love Drouin's game.
I would take Drouin over anyone besides Mackinnon. He is going to be an absolute phenom. Scores big goals, is skilled as hell and, from everything I've read, has the burning drive to be the best.
Barkov is talented beyond belief for his age but it scares me to read how many people note his below average skating.
Realitically though, I would be ecstatic with anyone in the top 5-6 so long as we don't try and outsmart ourselves again this year.
My inclination is to go with MacKinnon but Jones does seem to be a really special player - frankly I'd be thrilled with either of them. I agree with others though that it would be tough to pass up a chance for a franchise centre given how long this organization has been looking for one.
Blake Comeau is centering our top line FFS. If the Flames get the opportunity they should almost certainly draft MacKinnon. In most cases you should take the best player available regardless of position but this has been a glaring organizational weakness since Joe Nieuwendyk left. Franchise #1 centers have to be drafted. They're rarely traded and if they make it to UFA it's highly unlikely they sign with Calgary and would require a massive overpayment. It's gotta be MacKinnon.
__________________ "If the oceans was whiskey and I was a duck, I'd swim to the bottom and never come up, but the oceans ain't whiskey, and I ain't no duck, so I'll play the Jack of Diamonds and toast to my luck..."
