If they have a chance should the Flames Draft Ekblad

[theoforever]

Experts consider Jones a franchise dman, they don' t agree what Ekblad is.

[dustygoon]

I still think given Burke likes splashes and likes to build from blueline, I see him trading up to grab ekblad. Won't cost that much and Florida seems willing.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Wolven

It is basically a duplicate of the "trade for first" question. Unlike Seth Jones, Ekblad has been in the conversation for first overall since before his draft year. Now that the draft is nearly upon us, I doubt Ekblad will pull a Jones and drop to us in fourth because Ekblad has always been considered better than Jones.

I have been reading up on Ekblad since the 2013 draft, and I don't believe that was the case.

I recall reading in June 2013 that there was concern that Ekblad would be a stay at home defenceman because his offensive game hadn't grown from his first season in the OHL and there was concerns of what it would be like in the NHL. I also recall reading at the time Ekblad was a tier below Jones as in not Franchise dman but potential very good top pairing guy.

Only since the 2nd half of this season have I been reading or hearing that Ekblad is close to Jones at all, and that's only after improving significantly offensively.

[mile]

Bob McKenzie said during his mid-season draft rankings that last summer a lot of the projections for Ekblad were that he may not be anything more than a #4 defenseman in the NHL, and that he was neither a real offensive threat or a true shutdown defenseman. I've never heard any similar concerns about Jones in his draft year.

Obviously now with the season he's had, it's clear Ekblad looks to be at least a top pairing guy.

[Alberta_Beef]

In addition to what sureloss and mile have said, Reinhart, Bennett and Draisaitl have also improved greatly this year and you still can find any one of them as a #1 somewhere. It's absolutely bizarre that things look so wide open this year.

It's not the top end of Ekblad's ability that makes him a candidate to fall, it's the parity in the top 4

[Caged Great]

It seems like all of the top 4 have a very high floor. Ekblad is looking to be at worst Zach Bogosian (good #3), with the 3 C's all looking to be at worst quality 2nd line centers/borderline 1st line C's.

Can't really go wrong with any of them.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It seems like all of the top 4 have a very high floor. Ekblad is looking to be at worst Zach Bogosian (good #3), with the 3 C's all looking to be at worst quality 2nd line centers/borderline 1st line C's.

Can't really go wrong with any of them.

Exactly. I see the 4 pretty much on par so I think organization needs will actually play a bigger role than usual. I see a few possibilities but honestly I do not remember a top 4 this wide open before.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I have been reading up on Ekblad since the 2013 draft, and I don't believe that was the case.

I recall reading in June 2013 that there was concern that Ekblad would be a stay at home defenceman because his offensive game hadn't grown from his first season in the OHL and there was concerns of what it would be like in the NHL. I also recall reading at the time Ekblad was a tier below Jones as in not Franchise dman but potential very good top pairing guy.

Only since the 2nd half of this season have I been reading or hearing that Ekblad is close to Jones at all, and that's only after improving significantly offensively.

That's good to note.

Either way, Ekblad would be tops on my "board". Thus, I would be seriously considering trying to pry that top pick out of Florida's hands to grab Ekblad first overall and pick up whichever of the centers drops to fourth.

I'd offer Hudler at half salary as a starting place and see what happens.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

That's good to note.

Either way, Ekblad would be tops on my "board". Thus, I would be seriously considering trying to pry that top pick out of Florida's hands to grab Ekblad first overall and pick up whichever of the centers drops to fourth.

I'd offer Hudler at half salary as a starting place and see what happens.

I don't think Florida would be interested without getting our first back. From what I understand they think they can pick up the player they want (Ehlers?) at a later pick.

[Badger Bob]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

As I posted before, whoever Florida picks can possibly trigger Burke/Treliving to trade with Buffalo before or after the first pick. In my eyes, the only way that the Flames grab Ekblad is if Florida picks Bennett:

1. FLA - Bennett
2. CGY - Ekblad (traded with Buffalo, not sure what we'd give... our 2nd?)
3. EDM - Draisaitl
4. BUF - Reinhart

I don't see Buffalo picking Ekblad, so they might as well grab another pick from us who would want him more.

Nice thought, but Sabres already have a couple of 2nd rounders, so that offer's not going to hold much additional appeal.

If the operators of this site have any legitimate connections, apparently the Sabres have interest in Draisaitl:

http://sabrenoise.com/2014/05/17/leo...uffalo-sabres/

Supposedly, Florida has already expressed that they'd listen to offers for their 1st overall, but it obviously depends on the asking price.

It's impossible to otherwise imagine any realistic scenario that Ekblad would be available to the Flames. Still, it's possible that baby Reinhart could.