Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Even then unless we're picking lower than 6th we shouldn't move a guy like Baertschi. I'm not sure what kind of depth you would consider us having. There's Glencross (1 more year), Hudler (2 more years), Bouma and Cammy (pending UFAs). Then prospect wise, there's lots of prospects of varying talent and potential levels but you can't count them for anything until they're permanently part of the big club.

If we more Baertschi for a RW of similar skill/potential/age, that would help us but other than that, the more prospects we have, the more we'll end up with home-grown players.

One thing, Bouma is a RFA so I doubt he is going anywhere.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

One thing, Bouma is a RFA so I doubt he is going anywhere.

My mistake there. Definitely I think pretty much everybody would like to keep this guy for life (assuming he doesn't break down before that...)

[Bourque's Twin]

Gaudreau shouldn't be in trade discussions. He has dominated at every level he's played at, including the World Jr's, which has a lot of top prospects.

[Tinordi]

I could see a scenario where we sent Gaudreau and a lesser prospect (Reinhart?) for the 1st to Buffalo. This would be predicated by the indication that Gaudreau would rather sign in the States. If Gaudreau wants to sign and play in Calgary then I don't see the Flames trading him.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I could see a scenario where we sent Gaudreau and a lesser prospect (Reinhart?) for the 1st to Buffalo. This would be predicated by the indication that Gaudreau would rather sign in the States. If Gaudreau wants to sign and play in Calgary then I don't see the Flames trading him.

He is signing here.

/Discussion end

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Anduril

My mistake there. Definitely I think pretty much everybody would like to keep this guy for life (assuming he doesn't break down before that...)

Big time. He's part of the reason why drafting a guy like Brendan Lemieux would be pointless... Although you could be right about Bouma's body breaking down and shortening his career.

With Bouma (RFA), Reinhart, Galiardi (RFA), Agostino, Klimchuck, Ferland, Hanowski & Gordon (un-signed) all looking to be part of the future of the Flames, the bottom 6 is looking solid. This isn't taking into account other LWers like Glencross (1 more year) & Byron (RFA) who would probably be bottom 6 wingers on a successful side, and Colborne (RFA) converting to wing I think it's high fricken time our scouts focus their attention elsewhere.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Big time. He's part of the reason why drafting a guy like Brendan Lemieux would be pointless... Although you could be right about Bouma's body breaking down and shortening his career.

With Bouma (RFA), Reinhart, Galiardi (RFA), Agostino, Klimchuck, Ferland, Hanowski & Gordon (un-signed) all looking to be part of the future of the Flames, the bottom 6 is looking solid. This isn't taking into account other LWers like Glencross (1 more year) & Byron (RFA) who would probably be bottom 6 wingers on a successful side, and Colborne (RFA) converting to wing I think it's high fricken time our scouts focus their attention elsewhere.

You're projecting Klimchuk as a bottom 6 guy?

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think it's funny at how many people are trying to trade Gaudreau when he hasn't even played a single NHL game yet.

I honestly think it's not worth paying to move up a few spots to grab Ekblad or Reinhart. I'd rather just draft where we draft, and then address our defenseman situation if we really need to throughout the season next year. If we really need to, we can trade for a defenseman with a 2015 second rounder and a couple of prospects next year.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

You're projecting Klimchuk as a bottom 6 guy?

I think it's most likely for him to be a great 3rd line player, but if he can reach his projected ceiling I believe he could be a good 2nd liner. I don't see him as an elite offensive talent. Good player, though.

^^^^^^^^^^
An awful lot of the prospects in our system fit that exact description. Klimchuk is one of the better ones.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I think it's most likely for him to be a great 3rd line player, but if he can reach his projected ceiling I believe he could be a good 2nd liner. I don't see him as an elite offensive talent. Good player, though.

^^^^^^^^^^
An awful lot of the prospects in our system fit that exact description. Klimchuk is one of the better ones.

My hope is Klimchuk will be a great 3rd line player in the same way Mikael Backlund is a great 3rd line player. That is, a 2nd liner on all but the most stacked of teams.

He's got to be the most underrated prospect we have right now, likely all because he missed training camp and some time this season with injuries. He's a very good hockey player.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think it's funny at how many people are trying to trade Gaudreau when he hasn't even played a single NHL game yet.

Saying Gaudreau is not untouchable =/= trying to trade him.

When you're looking to acquire a top-end asset like a #1 overall pick (which is what sparked this discussion in the first place - Burke's interest in Ekblad), you have to consider that the other team will want a top-end asset or assets in return. The only two untouchables on this team are Monahan and Giordano. There isn't a person outside this forum who puts Johnny Gaudreau's value on the same level as a #1 or #2 overall pick.

Also, it will be very surprising if Burke (or his appointee) doesn't trade one of the Flames' higher-end prospects. Not because he hates them, or because he's an idiot, but because new GMs don't have the same investment in prospects than the guy who drafted them, and it's quite common for them to move those prospects for assets they want more. Jim Nill didn't hesitate to include two very good prospects in Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow in order to get the guy he wanted in Seguin - who is the kind of player you can expect to draft with a #1 or #2 overall pick. And Smith and Morrow weren't even the main pieces of the deal - they were the sweetener.

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I honestly think it's not worth paying to move up a few spots to grab Ekblad or Reinhart. I'd rather just draft where we draft, and then address our defenseman situation if we really need to throughout the season next year. If we really need to, we can trade for a defenseman with a 2015 second rounder and a couple of prospects next year.

Extremely unlikely you can get a young stud top pairing d-man in any trade, let alone a trade involving spare parts. You have to draft them. Burke has done this in the past - he saw a elite guy in Pronger and he moved up in the draft to get him. A 2nd rounder and a couple prospects won't get you a foundational piece - it'll get you a #3-4 guy. If you're lucky.

[Five-hole]

If Gaudreau is a centerpiece of the package to acquire Buffalo's pick, you take a long, long look at that deal. JG could be Martin St Louis, or he could be Nathan Gerbe, or could be a career AHLer, with the last probably being the greatest probability. A guy you get with the 1st or 2nd pick is almost guaranteed to be a very, very good player.

[nik-]

Even if he ends up being Martin St. Louis, if you trade Martin St. Louis for a top end blueliner who plays a decade for your team, (assuming they both hit top end projections), or a solid topline/1B center, is that a bad trade? Is anyone losing a lot of sleep over than other than in an Internet world where you have to absolutely win every trade?

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Take a minute and look up the history of NCAA scoring leaders and Hobey Baker winners: it's a who's who of guys you've never heard of before.

The only comparables to Gaudreau, age-wise, over the last 25 years are:

Ryan Miller - winner @ 20 yo - #1 goaltender, arguably HHOF'er
Paul Karyia - winner @ 18 yo - franchise player, HHOF'er
Kip Miller - winner @ 20yo - 450 NHL GP, .5 ppg career

And the fact that he should have won the award last season @ 19 yo, puts Gaudreau in pretty elite territory.

I'm trying to keep my expectations of him low to avoid disappointment, but it's getting awfully difficult.

[The Fonz]

For the record though, yes I absolutely trade the #5/6 pick + Gaudreau for the #1 pick.

Would suck to lose him but you still have to do that trade I think.

#3/4 + Gaudreau to get the #1? No I don't do that.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I don't think the Flames are in a position to package picks/prospects to move up a couple of spots. Too much uncertainty in this year's draft (#4 or 5 could end up being the best player) and we have way too many holes to worry about getting one particular guy. I really like Ekblad and I think he would be a great fit, but I would rather keep our assets and take our chances with our own pick.

[FlameZilla]

Having acquired extra 2nd & 3rd rounders, I'm sure there's enough ammo in the Flames system to move up 1st or 2nd overall. Burke has history of doing just that.

It's likely that we're scouting Barrie so heavily in order to decide whether Ekblad is worth it or not.

I personally think there are some big, RH defencemen available in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. They're not franchise D men, but we could use all the help in that department we can get.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Having acquired extra 2nd & 3rd rounders, I'm sure there's enough ammo in the Flames system to move up 1st or 2nd overall. Burke has history of doing just that.

It's likely that we're scouting Barrie so heavily in order to decide whether Ekblad is worth it or not.

I personally think there are some big, RH defencemen available in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. They're not franchise D men, but we could use all the help in that department we can get.

Doubt 2nds and 3rds will get you the first overall.
Our only shot is giving up something that hurts or winning the lottery.

[Table 5]

I just don't see the difference between a guy like Reinhart and the guy you get at 5/6 being that huge that it's worth it to trade one of your most exciting prospects in a decade.

If this was last year, or it was to acquire another Top 3...sure, I consider that. If it's just to move up 4/5 spots in this draft...no thanks. I'd rather have Gaudreau plus the guy at 5/6.

I know Gaudreau is a bit of a mystery box right now and that's what makes him enticing in a trade scenario, but I just don't think you consider trading this guy till you can at least see what he can do at the AHL/NHL level first for a year.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I just don't see the difference between a guy like Reinhart and the guy you get at 5/6 being that huge that it's worth it to trade one of your most exciting prospects in a decade.

Exactly, in the 2015 draft you do that trade in a heart beat but this year where the top 5 guys are quite close, a trade like that could turn into a disaster (if Gaudreau becomes a star). There is no guarantee the guy in the #1 spot will be better than the guy at the #5 spot.