I'm a long time believer in the hockey gods. I at times questioned their plans when the oilers got all those 1st overall picks and when the Canucks embellished their way to the SCF in 2011... But I never lost faith in them. I see now they were only testing our faith... Evidenced by how hilarious it is now to see the oilers be sooooo bad after all those high picks for so long. And by getting to watch the Canucks implode and embarrass themselves in the SCF against Boston.
I believe the hockey gods will reward the non-tankers in this draft:
1st pick: New Jersey
2nd pick: Calgary
3rd pick: Winnipeg
So let it be written... So let it be done.
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I'm a long time believer in the hockey gods. I at times questioned their plans when the oilers got all those 1st overall picks and when the Canucks embellished their way to the SCF in 2011... But I never lost faith in them. I see now they were only testing our faith... Evidenced by how hilarious it is now to see the oilers be sooooo bad after all those high picks for so long. And by getting to watch the Canucks implode and embarrass themselves in the SCF against Boston.
I believe the hockey gods will reward the non-tankers in this draft:
1st pick: New Jersey
2nd pick: Calgary
3rd pick: Winnipeg
So let it be written... So let it be done.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Who could have guessed that Pharaoh would become a CP poster?
3 x 2nd round pics. Keep them? Package them for a player?
Gives him a lot of versatility. Almost impossible to predict because of all the options
Use them to trade up in the first round
Trade one or two of them for a top two line winger
Package a couple of them to move up into the first round
Use them to pick prospects
Much like last year when we had a ton of picks it gives Treliving huge flexibility in what he wants to do. Those 2nd rounders will be valuable heading up to the draft.
Hope this isn't too old news - from Toronto Star today;
Independent Scouting Service recently released ints rankings of the top 30 prospects and there was huge shakeup.
The top three remained in tact: American Auston Matthews on top followed by Finns Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine.
But the rest of ISS's order switched.
4: Alexander Nylander, the Swedish right winger with Mississauga.
5: Pierre-Luc Dubois, a 6-2 left winger with Cape Breton.
6: Matthew Tkachuk, formerly fourth, with the London Knights.
7: Jakub Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting, still the top-ranked defenceman.
8: Mikhail Sergachev, a defenceman with Windsor.
9: Michael McLeod, a centre with Mississauga.
10: Olli Juolevi, a defenceman in London who had a particularly impressive world juniors onTeam Finland.
This may be the most important draft the Flames have had in a very long time. You can say that some of the previous ones have been more important, but I think that we now find ourselves looking for those final components that make the Flames a true contender, this is the draft that makes or breaks this rebuild. This is the draft where we hopefully find those pieces that supplement the core we have established and turn it into a powerhouse.
I’ve been pouring over reports, reviews, watching games and video, in an attempt to figure out who is the best fit for the team going forward. All I know is we should be looking for guys with character, size, skill, and some grit. Size and the ability to finish is the most pressing need. Here’s my draft hope list after a few months of going back and forth on players.
DISCLAIMER: The following list is strictly based on my preference from the limited viewing opportunities and highlight packages I have seen. I really don’t care if you have tickets to the Steelheads or whoever, this is my list based on my viewings and data collection.
Austin Matthews (C) 6’1, 195 – Best in class. A good Arizona kid, who grew playing in the traditional hockey market of the southwest US, has done things at every level he has played to make coaches and scouts shake their heads. He has been miles ahead of any of his peer group at each level. The concern is that each next level he steps up to the gap closes. He’s still the head of this class by a big margin, but will that translate to the NHL? I think it will and he will become a Tavares level player in short order.
Patrik Laine (RW) 6’4, 205 – The more I see the guy the more I think he is the perfect fit for what the Flames are looking for. Has amazing skills and uses his size better than anyone in this class. He’s a shooter and possesses an outstanding shot. If you’re looking for a finisher this is your man. There’s a little bit of Jagr in this man-child.
Jesse Puljujarvi (RW) 6’3, 200 – Like his fellow Finn, Laine, Pulhardtospell is a great prospect. I think he is a better setup man than a finisher. He makes some passes that are unexpected but right on the money. He uses his size well and is good on possession. His stick handing isn’t as strong as I would hope, which leads to some fumbles and turn overs, but that is the weakness in his game. He’s solid everywhere else. Every time I see him I see Olli Jokenin. I think he’s destined to be a Flame.
Michael McLeod (C) 6’2, 185 – It is funny how you go to watch one player and you come away raving about another one. McLeod is THAT guy. You go to watch Nylander but you walk away raving about the things this McLeod did during the game. Very impressed with his speed, his tenacity, and his hockey IQ. Really makes some smart plays away from the puck and sets himself up for success. What really impresses me is he plays off his linemates very well, making them better at the same time. I really like this kid and would love to see him on the right side with Sam Bennett.
Julien Gauthier (RW) 6’3, 225 – Size. Check. Finishing ability. Check. Skating ability. Check. RW. Check. So what isn’t to like? Nothing from what I’ve seen. Because of his size, strength and skating ability I could see him riding shot gun with either of the top two centers and filling the net. He’s a shoot first ask questions later guy and loves to crash the net and score the garbage goals. Isn’t this the exact type of player we need on the top lines? I’m sure this will raise a lot of eyebrows but I like him top five for the Flames.
Pierre Luc Dubois (C/LW) 6’3, 200 – Big. Tenacious. Fast. What’s not to like? Shoots the wrong damn way! Has a lot of good things going for him. He looks like a NHL player out there. He just looks like the mirror image of the player we are looking for.
Jakob Chychryn (D) 6’2, 200 – Not really a fan of any of the top defensemen in the draft, but Chychryn is the best of the bunch. He’s got good skating ability and good shot. Plays a smart game. Seems a little under sized but maybe that is because I expected him to play a little bit tougher game. Would be an interesting pick, but based on what is in our system I would be a little disappointed if we walked away with him rather than addressing a larger need.
Alex Nylander (RW) 6’0, 195 – What an intriguing player. He has an amazing skill set, but there is just something missing there. If you’re looking for a chip off the Old Man’s block, Alex may be just that chunk of wood carved off of Michael. His father was incredibly skilled but something was missing there as well. That thing was courage. It may be that I’m gun shy because of watching his father, and seeing so many similarities in their games, but Nylander scares me that he will get to the next level and that thing that is missing will become a major problem.
Matthew Tkachuk (LW) 6’1, 195 – I don’t get the excitement over this guy. I don’t see the 2nd coming of his father. I see a player that is fortunate to play on the line he does. He isn’t the straw on that line, he isn’t even the guy stirring the straw, he’s a guy that is the bubbles in the drink floating to the surface because of the work of others. Not a fan, but then again, I wasn’t a Domi fan.
Logan Brown (C/LW) 6’6, 226 – Big mother! Really soft hands in around the net. Immovable from the front of the net. Has a reach that is impossible to defend against. Typical really big guy where his skating could use some work, but he seems to find the spots to score from. If he was only a right handed shot. Reminds me of Adam Creighton.
Riley Tufte (LW) 6’5, 205 – Crazy skilled kid. He’s a diabetic, but Bobby Clarke had a successful career dealing with the condition. I like his skating and his hockey IQ. Has very soft hands and battles well. Compared to Nick Bugstad a lot.
Those are the guys I hope we take a crack at and the order I would take them. Rip away.
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Assuming we draft outside the top 3, if we end up with Tkachuk, Dubois or Chychrun I'll be more than happy. 2 wingers with size, something we badly need, or a top quality defenceman. Perfect. Prefer one of the forwards to a winger, but another defenceman won't hurt.
That's what Conroy said yesterday as well. Having 3 pairs.
Gaudreau-Monahan combo don't need an elite talent for their right side. They need a space creator especially on the road. Having seen Ferland now I don't think he's the answer. As Conroy said they want to get a big snarly RW this summer. Not sure if and who they get but this guy will play on the top line if they can land him. I still think Hornqvist and Coyle would be great fits in that spot.
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik line is set. Try to get Colborne as cheap as possible. The guy loves playing here and is durable. Line has size, speed, good board game and some skill. All are former 1st round picks.
Bennett, the guy Flames get in this draft is to play with Bennett. I've liked Shinkaruk so he can potentially be the 3rd piece on this line. Having a legit Bennett line will open up line matchups for the top line as well.
Ferland-Grant-Hathaway-Arnold-Hamilton-Elson-Stajan would be the 4th liners.
Bouma+2nd to Blues for Elliott.
Poirier+Dal 1st or Poirier+Cal 2nd for Coyle.
Completely agree. I was hoping that Ferland would turn out to be the guy, but based on his play this year, doesn't seem to be the case. Could still end up being the guy, but i'm not putting money on it.
Coyle would be the dream but min is pretty high on him so not sure what it would take to get him.
I think a guy like hayes would take less to acquire and would be just as effective. plus has a history with jonny at BC.
I might be in the minority, but I don't think signing lucic to a monster deal would help us in the long run
jonny-monny-hayes/coyle
xxxx-bennett-laine/pulu
colborne-backlund-frolik
one can dream
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Michael McLeod (C) 6’2, 185 – It is funny how you go to watch one player and you come away raving about another one. McLeod is THAT guy. You go to watch Nylander but you walk away raving about the things this McLeod did during the game. Very impressed with his speed, his tenacity, and his hockey IQ. Really makes some smart plays away from the puck and sets himself up for success. What really impresses me is he plays off his linemates very well, making them better at the same time. I really like this kid and would love to see him on the right side with Sam Bennett.
He looks like a centre through and through to me. His best attributes are skating, face-offs, work ethic, vision and passing. That screams centre. His weak point is his finishing ability. Looks like his upside is as a two-way 2nd line centre with 3rd line downside if his finishing doesn't pan out (like a faster, bigger Backlund lets say). With our depth at centre and his lack of 1st line upside I don't think he'd be appealing ahead of the other prospects.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Julien Gauthier (RW) 6’3, 225 – Size. Check. Finishing ability. Check. Skating ability. Check. RW. Check. So what isn’t to like? Nothing from what I’ve seen. Because of his size, strength and skating ability I could see him riding shot gun with either of the top two centers and filling the net. He’s a shoot first ask questions later guy and loves to crash the net and score the garbage goals. Isn’t this the exact type of player we need on the top lines? I’m sure this will raise a lot of eyebrows but I like him top five for the Flames.
He seems to be dropping on everybody's lists these days. That's a big red flag for me. Criticisms of his hockey IQ seem to be the most prevalent.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Pierre Luc Dubois (C/LW) 6’3, 200 – Big. Tenacious. Fast. What’s not to like? Shoots the wrong damn way! Has a lot of good things going for him. He looks like a NHL player out there. He just looks like the mirror image of the player we are looking for.
Getting a right shooter is being overrated by you IMO. Several of the guys you have higher than any list I've seen seem to be only that high because you're prioritizing a right shooter? I'd love Dubois.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Alex Nylander (RW) 6’0, 195 – What an intriguing player. He has an amazing skill set, but there is just something missing there. If you’re looking for a chip off the Old Man’s block, Alex may be just that chunk of wood carved off of Michael. His father was incredibly skilled but something was missing there as well. That thing was courage. It may be that I’m gun shy because of watching his father, and seeing so many similarities in their games, but Nylander scares me that he will get to the next level and that thing that is missing will become a major problem.
Love his skill. Don't love his grit and tenacity levels. Sometimes skilled guys who aren't big, strong and gritty disappear when the going gets tough. It's a mild concern but enough to drop him out of the top 6 for me. I'd still take him over Gauthier and McLeod.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Matthew Tkachuk (LW) 6’1, 195 – I don’t get the excitement over this guy. I don’t see the 2nd coming of his father. I see a player that is fortunate to play on the line he does. He isn’t the straw on that line, he isn’t even the guy stirring the straw, he’s a guy that is the bubbles in the drink floating to the surface because of the work of others. Not a fan, but then again, I wasn’t a Domi fan.
Disagree. Here's a quote from an OHL watcher who does as well
"As good as Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak are, Matthew Tkachuk might be this year’s Knight ‘MVP’. He has added another dimension to an already gifted team, and they’ve been unstoppable offensively as a result. Love the way he plays with both power and finesse. Not an extremely good skater, but he can handle the puck and score as well as he can pass. He has an edge to his game that makes him a complimentary fit with pretty much any type of centre. Tkachuk’s relentless on loose pucks and excellent at lifting them off defenders to create turnover. He’s going to excel in the NHL soon rather than later because of his maturity." - Scott Wheeler
I think fans often underrate the role that a power forward adds to a line. It makes space for the other skilled players. He wins board battles to retain possession. Tkachuk has excellent smarts and tremendous passing in tight. He drives the net. That's exactly the type of player we need to compliment our skilled centres in Monahan and Bennett. He's one of the most appealing forwards to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Logan Brown (C/LW) 6’6, 226 – Big mother! Really soft hands in around the net. Immovable from the front of the net. Has a reach that is impossible to defend against. Typical really big guy where his skating could use some work, but he seems to find the spots to score from. If he was only a right handed shot. Reminds me of Adam Creighton.
Again with the obsession over right shots. We aren't going to move a kid up just because he shoots right and we aren't going to drop guys just because they shoot left. Gaudreau is smart enough to play RW if need be. Ferland can as well. A right shot would be nice but the scouts won't be over-emphasizing it like you have here.
As for Brown he's a huge centre with skill and skating. I think he's the type of player that could go higher than expected on draft day. That said he's not in the Flames range IMO.
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I would actually take a risk with gauthier especially if we have dallas's 1st and if he's still on the board. I know he's dropped a ton in the rankings but you can't teach goal scoring. I kind of get a mantha/neal vibe from him. Big guy, not physical who just scores goals. He'll never drive a line by himself, but good enough that if you put him with good talent, he'll thrive.
Last edited by yourbestfriend; 04-08-2016 at 01:15 PM.
I would actually take a risk with gauthier especially if we have dallas's 1st and he's still on the board. I know he's dropped a ton in the rankings but you can't teach goal scoring. I kind of get a mantha/neal vibe from him. Big guy, not physical who just scores goals. He'll never drive a line by himself, but good enough that if you put him with good talent, he'll thrive.
Yeah I'd love to add Gauthier or Max Jones in the teens or 20's if we can deal up into that kind of spot with our 2nds or the Dallas 1st (crosses fingers).
The one silver lining of the Flames dropping 3 spots in the draft would be that it would also mean none of Toronto, Edmonton, or Vancouver will pick top 3.
Also, with the rankings the way they are this year, it sounds like the Flames could get the same player at 8 that they would have picked at 5 anyway.
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Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
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The one silver lining of the Flames dropping 3 spots in the draft would be that it would also mean none of Toronto, Edmonton, or Vancouver will pick top 3.
Also, with the rankings the way they are this year, it sounds like the Flames could get the same player at 8 that they would have picked at 5 anyway.
Yeah, if that's the price of taking, say Tkachuk, instead of Dubois, I can live with that to screw them.
