Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[ignite09]

Yeah you go with Drouin, but having three left wingers under six feet tall as your top three prospects doesn't bode well for a quick rebuild.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by devo22

hypothetical question for you guys: let's say we draft 3rd overall. COL and FLA draft #1 and #2 and select Jones and MacKinnon, respectively. Do you take Drouin at 3 or go for Barkov? Drouin obviously fits the BPA philosophy, but arguably our two best prospects, Sven and Johnny, are LW already and Barkov would fit better position-wise. What do you do? Go!

Realistically, I would see Feaster and co. taking Barkov 3rd if that were the case. They probably feel they may already have their skilled future top line winger in Sven, and need to add size and strength as well as the elite qualities, and I wouldn't argue with that decision..he would be a great pickup.

To me, though, Drouin is very tempting and almost too much so to pass up. I could see a plan where we take Drouin at 3, but then use the STL pick at 15-20 to address the size and position issue. If Nichuskin somehow falls that far, he would be an excellent second pick, possibly the steal of the draft, addressing both a top C and player with size. But more likely, they could pick up Gauthier or Wennberg who are both big Cs with upside, or Anthony Mantha who is 6'4. I would then use the 3rd pick on a potential top d-man, therefore addressing different areas of concern (C, skill, defense) with quality players.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by calgARI

I absolutely go with Drouin who is arguably having the best season of any player in the draft.

Hell I might take Drouin 1st overall. Convert him back to C.

The prospect depth and team depth at LW is completely irrelevant. I still have memories of Pierre going ballistic in the 2005 draft when the Canadiens took Price 5th overall... They supposedly had some good goalies at the time and he thought it was stupid.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Realistically, I would see Feaster and co. taking Barkov 3rd if that were the case. They probably feel they may already have their skilled future top line winger in Sven, and need to add size and strength as well as the elite qualities, and I wouldn't argue with that decision..he would be a great pickup.

To me, though, Drouin is very tempting and almost too much so to pass up. I could see a plan where we take Drouin at 3, but then use the STL pick at 15-20 to address the size and position issue. If Nichuskin somehow falls that far, he would be an excellent second pick, possibly the steal of the draft, addressing both a top C and player with size. But more likely, they could pick up Gauthier or Wennberg who are both big Cs with upside, or Anthony Mantha who is 6'4. I would then use the 3rd pick on a potential top d-man, therefore addressing different areas of concern (C, skill, defense) with quality players.

yeah, that makes sense. Drouin at 3, Mantha/Gauthier with the STL pick and Santini/McCoshen/Theodore with the PIT pick would be a fantastic draft for us. Otherwise, take Ristolainen with the STL pick if he's still available (many rankings have him around 20 right now) and go with another forward with the PIT pick.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by devo22

hypothetical question for you guys: let's say we draft 3rd overall. COL and FLA draft #1 and #2 and select Jones and MacKinnon, respectively. Do you take Drouin at 3 or go for Barkov? Drouin obviously fits the BPA philosophy, but arguably our two best prospects, Sven and Johnny, are LW already and Barkov would fit better position-wise. What do you do? Go!

Drouin for sure. We don't know how good Sven will be and Gaudreau could just as easily never make the NHL. Pick the best player available. If all of them turn out to be good NHLers, then you can always trade one from a position of strength.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by devo22

hypothetical question for you guys: let's say we draft 3rd overall. COL and FLA draft #1 and #2 and select Jones and MacKinnon, respectively. Do you take Drouin at 3 or go for Barkov? Drouin obviously fits the BPA philosophy, but arguably our two best prospects, Sven and Johnny, are LW already and Barkov would fit better position-wise. What do you do? Go!

I would explore trading down to 4 or 5 (depending on what teams are there and their expected needs and desires of course).

Drouin > Barkov but

Barkov + could be better than Drouin

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Drouin for sure. We don't know how good Sven will be and Gaudreau could just as easily never make the NHL. Pick the best player available. If all of them turn out to be good NHLers, then you can always trade one from a position of strength.

I absolutely agree with this line of thinking... Making pick decisions based on someone like Gaudreau being in the system is just silly... Neither Drouin, Barkov nor Gaudreau are necessarily going to pan out as Top 6 players in the NHL... Even Sven could get hurt and have his development stunted... BPA at all times in the draft, IMO.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by kn

How does Nurse compare to Phaneuf at the same age? The description sounds very similar.

Haven't seen enough of him to say with any degree of certainty but I'd say Nurse will be a better skater, might not focus as much on the open hit hip check, and doesn't have the propensity to shoot as much as Dion.

Would the OHL watchers say that Nurse compares at all to Gudbranson from a few years back?

To use an easy Flames comparable I'd say imagine Regehr with better skating and better puck skills. That is what I got out of watching Nurse the other day.

[kn]

Originally Posted by ignite09

Yeah you go with Drouin, but having three left wingers under six feet tall as your top three prospects doesn't bode well for a quick rebuild.

People have to remember that Drouin's natural position is C. He was moved to LW only to play with MacKinnon.

I've read comparisons from draft publications to Pat Lafontaine and Denis Savard -- both Hall of Fame centres.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by kn

People have to remember that Drouin's natural position is C. He was moved to LW only to play with MacKinnon.

I've read comparisons from draft publications to Pat Lafontaine and Denis Savard -- both Hall of Fame centres.

Considering Drouin has really taken off as a LW, i am not sure why you would want to put him back at center?

Tired of the flames playing players out of position.

[Mattman]

So after a long hard week of monitoring the Florida HFboard Draft Thread I have come to the conclusion that if granted the #1 spot in the draft they said ( and this is a rough little poll):
Jones 40%
Mac 20%
Drouin 20%
Monahan 10%
Nush 5%
Barkov 5%

They talk a lot about thier prospect Bjugstad and him playing on the 1st line with Huberdue and a player like Mackinnion forces him down to play with crappier players. Drouin would be able to play on thier 1st line with Bjug and Johnny. They equally want Drouin as much as they want Mac.

I think it's a positive sign for Calgary

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Mattman

So after a long hard week of monitoring the Florida HFboard Draft Thread I have come to the conclusion that if granted the #1 spot in the draft they would want:
Jones 40%
Mac 20%
Drouin 20%
Monahan 10%
Nush 5%
Barkov 5%

They talk a lot about thier prospect Bjugstad and him playing on the 1st line with Huberdue and a player like Mackinnion forces him down to play with crappier players. Drouin would be able to play on thier 1st line with Bjug and Johnny. They equally want Drouin as much as they want Mac.

I think it's a positive sign for Calgary

Which player or prospect does HFboard think they have for a #2 center? Teams winning the cup need more than one good center.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Which player or prospect does HFboard think they have for a #2 center? Teams winning the cup need more than one good center.

They think that Wiese or Mueller will be thier "solid" #2

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Mattman

They think that Wiese or Mueller will be thier "solid" #2

I thought they were shopping Weiss until he got hurt? He is now a UFA, and i doubt he wants to stay.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

I absolutely agree with this line of thinking... Making pick decisions based on someone like Gaudreau being in the system is just silly... Neither Drouin, Barkov nor Gaudreau are necessarily going to pan out as Top 6 players in the NHL... Even Sven could get hurt and have his development stunted... BPA at all times in the draft, IMO.

I agree. You don't draft for the present, you draft for the future and no one has a crystal ball.

If you're an optimist, you could also point to the fact that other players we already drafted might pan out and fill the gaps we have.

I wouldn't be surprised if Feaster believes Jankowski is our future #1 centre is looking for any type of future franchise player regardless of position.

[Da_Chief]

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2013-nhl-d...spect-rankings

Good page to see latest rankings from different sources

[saillias]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Considering Drouin has really taken off as a LW, i am not sure why you would want to put him back at center?

Tired of the flames playing players out of position.

So he can play center for us? Why do you not want him to play Center? I don't believe it's going to ruin his point production and I don't believe it's playing him "out of position." Players can change. Hell Byfuglien can play forward and D.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I thought they were shopping Weiss until he got hurt? He is now a UFA, and i doubt he wants to stay.

There was a rumor a couple weeks back that they were negotiating a long term deal that would keep him Florida for the rest of his career. Was surprised when I saw it.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by calgARI

There was a rumor a couple weeks back that they were negotiating a long term deal that would keep him Florida for the rest of his career. Was surprised when I saw it.

I read this as well. Makes me think they want drouin. They have three good young centers.

[Mith]

Originally Posted by calgARI

There was a rumor a couple weeks back that they were negotiating a long term deal that would keep him Florida for the rest of his career. Was surprised when I saw it.

Isn't there a max length on contracts now?