2015 NHL Draft

[#-3]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

It's really a shame the Flames have no veterans outside of Giordano that would net extra first rounders. Hudler won't net a first rounder in such a strong year, and neither would Glencross in the last year of his contract (even if he would waive his NMC).

It looks like we're only going to have the one first rounder next year, so they better make it worthwhile.

What about Philly, they're crazy

$1.9M from the Cap,
12 forwards,
8 Dmen,
1 RFA Dman.
Very weak on LW, Umberger, Rinaldo, Rafll, Rosehill

If they Can't move Vinny, I don't see them wanting to move one of their other 3 centers, so their other real position of strength is D. I think Schenn is probably their least desirable asset, so could I see

L. Schenn + 1st for Glencross + mid round pick

Hudler could probably grab as much as 2 x 2nds at the Deadline with a year remaining.

A good season or some retained salary could probably even see Wideman go for as much as a 2nd.

If the Flames decided to go all in on this draft, I could see then exiting the season with 1 in the top 5 another in the top 25, and 3-4 more still in the top 60. there would be allot of room to work with those kinds of picks.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

C'mon Sureloss, you know what I mean. Discussing the draft is fine, but people are penciling the Flames in for players at or near the top of the draft.

The season hasn't even started, they finished last year with plenty to be excited about, they've added a goalie that is sure to give them a solid one-two punch in net and they've added more high end prospects to an already formidable pool.

The talk around here should be can't wait to make the playoffs, not can't wait to draft Mcdavid.

Cheer for 30th if we're 3/4 through the season and things haven't gone as planned, until then, go Flames go.

At this point in the rebuild Flames fans should definitely be open to looking at next years draft and get excited about the idea of drafting a guy being labelled as a generational talent. It may not be the most diehard approach but realistically speaking, this team is more likely to draft McDavid than make the playoffs.

No one should feel guilty for trying to find the positives in being the fan of a team that is in the bottom half of a stacked conference. This is going to be a tough season and looking to the draft will help take the sting out of the losses.

Heck, even of we do not win the draft lotto we are likely to get a fantastic player.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Tawiskaron

You seemed to have forgotten Toronto?

Lol I included 3 cup favorites in there and your concern is that I left Toronto out, pretty awesome reaction I say. You must really despise them.

As for the other Canadian rivals, I don't like them either and point and laugh as they fail too...but they're more of a passive dislike. Edmonton and Vancouver though are heavily laden with schadenfreude.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

The only teams that I will be mad losing to next year:
-Edmonton
-Vancouver
-Chicago
-LA
-Anaheim

You gonna be mad a few times.

Originally Posted by Tawiskaron

You seemed to have forgotten Toronto?

TO not in our division.

[sureLoss]

Eichel article from a few months ago including a quote from Burke about Eichel:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...spect/7485681/

Burke on Eichel:

"Even if you were an alien from a spaceship who had never seen hockey, and you watched this kid, you would say, 'Good Lord, that's a talented athlete,'" said Brian Burke, the Calgary Flames' president of hockey operations.

McDavid and Eichel are different styles of players. McDavid is a cunning, stylish scorer.

"He pounces on his prey," Button said. "He's there and you don't even know it."

Eichel is always a visible, powerful force. He spends 21/2 hours every day in the gym. He has added 15 pounds since he joined the U.S. team. His body fat is 4.8%.

"It's like he says, 'I'm coming at you, and you had better be ready to defend against me,'" Button said.

Today, Eichel is viewed as a can't-miss prospect, but he says he didn't truly grasp his potential until last year when he played in the under-17 challenge.

"After that tournament, I thought to myself, maybe I am a pretty good player," Eichel said. "It was like a measurement for me, a chance to compare myself to other top players. Canada has some great players, and Sweden, and Finland."

Button and most NHL scouts remember that tournament, particularly when Eichel and McDavid were in the same game.

"There were 36 other players in the game, and a couple of goaltenders were playing, but I was fixated on McDavid and Eichel," Button said. "They went back and forth. It was like punch. Jab. Upper cut."

The Americans trailed 4-1, and Button said he thought Eichel single-handedly spearheaded the USA to a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win.

"When you left that building, you said to yourself, 'I've just seen something rare, and I will be able to talk about it for years to come,'" Button said.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

I see it in tiers

McDavid

Eichel
Hanfin

Barzal
Kylington
Konecy

Zacha
White
Strome

Scouts seem to have McDavid and Eichel in the same tier.

[mile]

I actually liked Eichel's play a bit more than McDavid's at this past WJC - the skill level is close, but to me Eichel seemed more engaged and active as opposed to McDavid who I thought was more passive.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by mile

I actually liked Eichel's play a bit more than McDavid's at this past WJC - the skill level is close, but to me Eichel seemed more engaged and active as opposed to McDavid who I thought was more passive.

That likely had a lot to do with the teams they were on. My guess is if they switched nationalities you would have seen a lot out of McDavid as the top offensive threat and Eichel, if he even made the team, would have come off as being less impressive since his role would have been greatly reduced.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Read Only

That likely had a lot to do with the teams they were on. My guess is if they switched nationalities you would have seen a lot out of McDavid as the top offensive threat and Eichel, if he even made the team, would have come off as being less impressive since his role would have been greatly reduced.

[Poe969]

lol at Eichel "if he made the team" comment. The kid is a stud. Both Eichel and McDavid's roles were the same; they are the go to #1 guy on their respective teams. They may play the game differently but the fact that they are both viewed as the best prospect by some shows that they are both good at what they do, they just have different approaches at doing it. At the WJC it looked like Eichel was motivated more and was trying to prove himself on a large stage. I don't know which one I'd want out of the two though because it looks like McDavid has more talent but Eichel has almost as much talent but makes up for it with more drive and determination.

Both of them look amazing and any team would be better with them.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The list of 16 year olds to play for Canada is pretty small already and though he has talent he doesn't have a ton of experience playing a top level. It's pretty rare for 17 year olds to make it as well.

He would be the first 16 year old to make the team without playing a year in the CHL first . Now perhaps if he were Canadian he would have gone the CHL route and had impressed more but it isn't crazy to think that a 16 year old might not make the Canada WJHC team at all.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Poe969

lol at Eichel "if he made the team" comment. The kid is a stud. Both Eichel and McDavid's roles were the same; they are the go to #1 guy on their respective teams. They may play the game differently but the fact that they are both viewed as the best prospect by some shows that they are both good at what they do, they just have different approaches at doing it. At the WJC it looked like Eichel was motivated more and was trying to prove himself on a large stage. I don't know which one I'd want out of the two though because it looks like McDavid has more talent but Eichel has almost as much talent but makes up for it with more drive and determination.

Both of them look amazing and any team would be better with them.

Connor McDavid wasn't the number 1 guy on the Canada WJHC team. It's debatable whether he was even in the top 6 behind guys like Reinhart, Mantha, Drouin, Petan, Lazar.

Judging them on drive and determination seems pretty short sighted based on that one tournament or did McDavid not have more drive and determination when he outscored him in the World U-18's?

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Poe969

lol at Eichel "if he made the team" comment. The kid is a stud. Both Eichel and McDavid's roles were the same; they are the go to #1 guy on their respective teams. They may play the game differently but the fact that they are both viewed as the best prospect by some shows that they are both good at what they do, they just have different approaches at doing it. At the WJC it looked like Eichel was motivated more and was trying to prove himself on a large stage. I don't know which one I'd want out of the two though because it looks like McDavid has more talent but Eichel has almost as much talent but makes up for it with more drive and determination.

Both of them look amazing and any team would be better with them.

If you didn't know that Read Only was moon before you definitely know now. Only moon can be so pro Canada and anti-USA when talking about World Juniors.

[Read Only]

How is it Anti-US?

I have said Eichel is a top tier prospect in this draft. I questioned whether he may make the team based on the history of Team Canada and 16 year olds.

But continue to make accusations about posters even after mods have asked people not to and make up crap that isn't there.

[Psytic]

I could see us getting Eichel it looks like almost all the bottom feeders got a bit better but us. Getting the top pick though is still a crap shoot with the lottery.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I could see us getting Eichel it looks like almost all the bottom feeders got a bit better but us. Getting the top pick though is still a crap shoot with the lottery.

Yes it is, but as it stands now you can only drop one spot.
In my opinion, this is the last year the Flames will be anywhere near in the running for top pick, so if changes with the lottery are made later, it's all good.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Read Only

How is it Anti-US?

I have said Eichel is a top tier prospect in this draft. I questioned whether he may make the team based on the history of Team Canada and 16 year olds.

But continue to make accusations about posters even after mods have asked people not to and make up crap that isn't there.

It is also very moon-like to watch threads like a hawk and immediately respond to anyone that argues against you. If you want to deny it then so be it, I won't push it any further.

[Rick M.]

Adam French has an interesting story on some lesser known players who will be drafted in 2015:


http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Adam-...Good/155/61200

[stemit14]

God help the eastern conference in 3 years if buffalo ends up with both the 1st AND 2nd overall pick in 2015. A one-two-three punch of McDavid-Eichel-Reinhart would be scary.

[Zulu29]

Not gonna lie, have heard a lot about McDavid so naturally was hoping we could draft him but Eichel kinda seems like the kind of player who demonstrates "Flames hockey" more.