[Signing] Flames and Brzustewicz agree to terms on ELC

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You are setting yourself up for disappointment by outlining a scenario that is highly unlikely to play out. Are these the only dmen this organization will have in the pipeline? Why is it all on them.

Because there a priority in the NHL on skating and puck movement. Our other defensive prospects are not great skaters and their puck skills are a little sketchy. Grushnikov is probably our best non-offensive hope for a guy that can play up the lineup and I'm hoping he turns into a 3-5 guy. Kuznetsov is probably a 5-7 guy. Solovyov similar type guy. We really don't have a prospect that looks to be a top end blueliner, so we're going to have to hope these guys pop and can make some solid pairs that over-perform, a la Giordano-Brodie.

[Tbull8]

I do wonder if the flames would grab a guy like Iginla, Catton, Helenius this year rather than Buium/Parekh. Of course there’s no guarantee of prospects working out but Miro, Kylington, Brz, Poirier is a lot of offense first dmen. They’ve also shown interest in Casey. . Yakemchuk may even reflect that same type but because of his size maybe he isn’t as easy of a pass

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Because there a priority in the NHL on skating and puck movement. Our other defensive prospects are not great skaters and their puck skills are a little sketchy. Grushnikov is probably our best non-offensive hope for a guy that can play up the lineup and I'm hoping he turns into a 3-5 guy. Kuznetsov is probably a 5-7 guy. Solovyov similar type guy. We really don't have a prospect that looks to be a top end blueliner, so we're going to have to hope these guys pop and can make some solid pairs that over-perform, a la Giordano-Brodie.

Agreed there isn't a top pairing guy in the pipeline. Which is why I REALLY believe the team should use their high 1st on a dman in this draft, unless a centre like Lindstrom somehow drops to them.
But they will have a crack at a high end d prospect. Big hole to fill.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Catton or Helenius should be top of the list if they're drafting higher than 10th because of skill and position.

If you're in an appropriate spot to be taking Iginla (10-13) then take him.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Catton or Helenius should be top of the list if they're drafting higher than 10th because of skill and position.

If you're in an appropriate spot to be taking Iginla (10-13) then take him.

Even over a potential #1 dman?
I just don't understand that.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wouldn't it be nice if this guy turned into a superstar

Natures only predator of the Fox, the Hunter

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Even over a potential #1 dman?
I just don't understand that.

A future #1 nhl defenseman is going to be available in a "subpar" draft at 10th overall?

Crazy.

[MrMike]

Man after all the trade deadline trades, in hindsight, this has to be the best trade out of all of em

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Man after all the trade deadline trades, in hindsight, this has to be the best trade out of all of em

And still yet to find out the prospects the Flames are getting in this draft with those picks, and what Kuzmenko can be turned into before the next TDL.

Thank you Alvin and the chipmunks!

[jg13]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

A future #1 nhl defenseman is going to be available in a "subpar" draft at 10th overall?

Crazy.

Apparently theres 6D that could go in any order between 2-10.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I'd take Parekh, personally, if we went for a D. But I think we should take the opportunity where there is an abundance of shiny d-men to go the opposite way and pluck the BCA.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

A future #1 nhl defenseman is going to be available in a "subpar" draft at 10th overall?

Crazy.

It's not a subpar draft in my view. It's not as good as last years (which was a very good draft). It's average over all.
It IS a very strong draft at the top end for dmen.

There are 6 dmen with top pairing potential. They all won't become that, and someone later in the draft probably will. But heading in, that's the potential.

I think there are 2 tiers:
The top 3 dmen: Levshunov, Silayev, Dickinson
The next 3: Parekh, Yakemchuk, Buium

the second group has just as much upside, but some more apparent flaws. But that group of six all has top pairing potential.

I would lean to picking any of those 6 over any forward not named Celebrini or Lindstrom (though Helenius is starting to intrigue me more). Also Demidov is in play. At least I have a clear top 10.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

A future #1 nhl defenseman is going to be available in a "subpar" draft at 10th overall?

Crazy.

The subpar nature of this draft class really has nothing to do with the top 15 picks, though. This draft doesn't have a Bedard type at the top, and the depth isn't especially great as the rounds move along.

I don't think we have seen such variance in the 2-12 range in quite sometime.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

They'll probably be working overtime to move up to pick one of the guys with Russian surnames.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

The subpar nature of this draft class really has nothing to do with the top 15 picks, though. This draft doesn't have a Bedard type at the top, and the depth isn't especially great as the rounds move along.

I don't think we have seen such variance in the 2-12 range in quite sometime.

That's fair. I just don't see the names listed as potentially in the vicinity of where the Flames will be picking as having #1 upside.

The top tier looks good. I'd expect Buium to be off the board too. But who knows.

Not sold on Yakemchuk as having that upside, but he's a very good prospect.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Even over a potential #1 dman?
I just don't understand that.

Is there a number one defenseman in this draft without picking top five? Maybe they are hoping they can grab one of the Russians that teams might be afraid of and tumbles down the draft. Might explain picking up all the Russians they did! There are so many holes in this organization I just hope that who ever they pick lives up to the billing and turns into a top six player. They desperately need one.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Is there a number one defenseman in this draft without picking top five? Maybe they are hoping they can grab one of the Russians that teams might be afraid of and tumbles down the draft. Might explain picking up all the Russians they did! There are so many holes in this organization I just hope that who ever they pick lives up to the billing and turns into a top six player. They desperately need one.

I think there are 6 with that potential. Which isn't to say there will be 6 #1 dmen picked. But I think those 6 all have that upside. Hard to project which ones will actually develop into that.
I rank all 6 above the first dmen picked last year.

[CaptainCrunch]

I remember when he stormed the Nazi headquarters castle and killed Cyborg Hitler. It was epic.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

If every team drafting top 10 shares that view of where these defensemen would stack up, then there will be none left when the Flames are up to make their pick.

Which is just all the more reason to draft the top center available, or if those options are underwhelming to them, then the Iginla kid.

[Macindoc]

All the more reason to hold Markstrom out and truly tank the rest of the way in the hopes of getting one of the top D prospects.