2015 NHL Draft

[ForeverFlameFan]

^ Like CG said, Sprong is everything we need. If we don't pick him, then there must be a good enough reason why we didn't feel the need to pick him.

[Ashasx]

If the Flames passed on Shinkaruk, I really have a hard time believing we'd pick Sprong.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If the Flames passed on Shinkaruk, I really have a hard time believing we'd pick Sprong.

Different draft, different players.

[Ashasx]

thanks

[H2SO4(aq)]

Out of curiosity. Is it typical for a GM, leading up to the draft, to work on trades with then 5-10 teams ahead of them to move up if a situation or scenario occurs where a player they really like becomes available?

I realize those trades could of course be subject to change depending on how another team might see a certain player, but to have a ballpark idea or the skeleton of a trade hashed out might be a good idea.

[littlereddevil]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If the Flames passed on Shinkaruk, I really have a hard time believing we'd pick Sprong.

Everything I've heard about Sprong suggests that he's more of a headcase than Shinkaruk, which was all just speculation anyways.

If the Flames passed on Shinkaruk for a poor interview, there's no way they take Sprong. Has Top 5 skill in the draft, but he would be a huge stretch to take at 15. Even Kylington at 15 would be a better choice for the Flames.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If the Flames passed on Shinkaruk, I really have a hard time believing we'd pick Sprong.

There does seem to be a Shinkaruk vibe to the guy, doesn't there. I would definitely pass on him at 15.

[Tbull8]

Does anyone have a link to the speculated "issues" he has? I feel like the Flames are gonna have a good chat with Mason MacDonald as that would be a lot more telling than anything the media can say.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Does anyone have a link to the speculated "issues" he has? I feel like the Flames are gonna have a good chat with Mason MacDonald as that would be a lot more telling than anything the media can say.

His dad is apparently a hockey "dadzilla" IIRC, and the attitude rubs off on his kid. All hearsay on my part but that is the best of my recollection.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Does anyone have a link to the speculated "issues" he has? I feel like the Flames are gonna have a good chat with Mason MacDonald as that would be a lot more telling than anything the media can say.

His father has a pretty bad reputation in Quebec.

http://montrealgazette.com/news/worl...g-bolts-for-us

Depending on whom you talk to, by bolting for the U.S. in mid-season, Sprong’s father Hanni had managed to cross the only bridge he hasn’t burned through some rocky years of minor hockey.

Or could this be the case of a motivated hockey father who is simply looking out for the best interests of his son, an impact player who, according to Gomez, is not eligible to play midget AAA next season because he is not a Canadian citizen.

The question remains: Is the Dutch-born Sprong family merely following the path that they believe best serves their son’s careening hockey career? Or is there another agenda at play?

Still….. “It’s going leave a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths that he left the province,” Gomez added. “But somebody will be able to look past that easy, right?”

That, too, remains to be seen.

I’ve never met Hanni Sprong, although I’ve heard the stories of some ugly clashes with coaches over the years. He could not be reached for an interview.

There are stories that he has also yelled at kids and other kids parents if they did not pass to his son. Some accuse Hanni Sprong of even telling his son to start taking pucks away from teammates because he felt they were holding him back in his opinion.

One of the biggest complaints about Daniel Sprong's game is he doesn't use his teammates (coincidence or something he never learned because of his father's influence?). Teams are going to have a lot of questions about his father.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Out of curiosity. Is it typical for a GM, leading up to the draft, to work on trades with then 5-10 teams ahead of them to move up if a situation or scenario occurs where a player they really like becomes available?

I realize those trades could of course be subject to change depending on how another team might see a certain player, but to have a ballpark idea or the skeleton of a trade hashed out might be a good idea.

Good GMs typically talk to every team to have a sense of what assets they have that other teams want, and visa versa. I'd be shocked if Treliving didn't have a vague idea of the cost of moving up to a specific pick and some scenarios in the back of his head.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Does anyone have a link to the speculated "issues" he has? I feel like the Flames are gonna have a good chat with Mason MacDonald as that would be a lot more telling than anything the media can say.

I have always been under the impression that the "issues" with Sprong are about his Father and not necessarily Daniel himself.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I have always been under the impression that the "issues" with Sprong are about his Father and not necessarily Daniel himself.

Is he ready to grow up though? I'm not sure I'd take the risk with so many other good prospects available that don't come with that kind of baggage.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I have always been under the impression that the "issues" with Sprong are about his Father and not necessarily Daniel himself.

I dunno about off ice, but there's certainly on-ice issues that have big red warning flags for the Flames organization.

1.) He doesn't use his teammates that well. Trigger happy and selfish with puck.

2.) His effort on D is very inconsistent. Reportedly will cheat on D when his team is down a goal to recieve a breakout pass, Hall-style.

I would pass 10/10 times on Sprong.

[FlameZilla]

Sprong has been sliding down the draft board for months. These kinds of players tend to free-fall on draft day.

He's another guy who could drop into the 2nd round. With 3 picks in that round I would certainly gamble 1 on a talent like Sprong. At 15? Hell no.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Sprong has been sliding down the draft board for months. These kinds of players tend to free-fall on draft day.

He's another guy who could drop into the 2nd round. With 3 picks in that round I would certainly gamble 1 on a talent like Sprong. At 15? Hell no.

That could very well be, although I'd be somewhat shocked if he reached 45. I'd be less surprised if Guryanov reached 45 than Sprong.

[Monahan23]

If Sprong falls to the second round I think we should trade up to get him but no to him at 15.

[Poe969]

Sprong is a lot like Kylington, they both have tons of potential but there are some issues there. If both of them fell to the second round and we were to trade up to get one of them, I'd much rather go for Kylington. The kid was ranked as one of the top picks earlier this year and everyone says he has the potential to be amazing, he's also a defenseman and you can never have enough blue chip (if he pans out) defensemen.

[squirtle]

I really hope we draft Merkley but I have a feeling his strong performance in the memorial cup will cause a team to pick him before us.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ??
Merkley - Bennet - ??

For the next decade

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by squirtle

I really hope we draft Merkley but I have a feeling his strong performance in the memorial cup will cause a team to pick him before us.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ??
Merkley - Bennet - ??

For the next decade

I would take Connor over Merkley if they are on the board at 15 (with how ridiculous this draft is, there are 21 players that I would gladly take so we will get one at 15). He is bigger than Merkley at 6-1 or 6-2 depending on what site you're looking at, he is as fast as Poirier if not a bit quicker and he has good hands and shot. He put up 80 points in the USHL, which is really good. I do like both Merkley and Konecky, but the main concern I have about them both is being Gilbert Brule 2.0. Both play the same physical game but are too small to do that at the NHL level with a big risk for injury and that could mean a litany of injuries for both Merkley and Konecky.

With Bennett and Gaudreau being injury risks, I would try to shy away from another potential problem.