2015 NHL Draft

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

If Crouse dropped to 15, I'm pretty sure management takes him regardless of his CHL stats.

Yah. We are taking the best big guy available. My guess, because of how high Craig has him (ahead of Crouse I believe), is that it's Boeser. Whether they like him more than Rantanen, Crouse, Zacha, Meier is an open question. It would be very interesting (and wondrous) if all 5 are there at 15.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Yah. We are taking the best big guy available. My guess, because of how high Craig has him (ahead of Crouse I believe), is that it's Boeser. Whether they like him more than Rantanen, Crouse, Zacha, Meier is an open question. It would be very interesting (and wondrous) if all 5 are there at 15.

If we are looking at Boeser, I think we could trade down a few spots to get him. My guess is Boeser goes from 18-25, so I think it would be worth the gamble to take on an extra 2nd/prospect.

15 is a tough spot honestly. I think we either trade up or we trade down.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This is where scouts earn their money the most. It's easy for me to look as stats and figure out which players are the most talented at their level, but it is another to look at a player and try to figure out which ones have the most potential for growth or have skills that they think the player can transfer to the professional level more easily.

It seems that some scouts really feel that Crouse has the HIQ, motivation, and physical attributes to better translate his abilities to the NHL than some players that might have more favourable stats. As a simple fan, I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable, but I am pretty clueless about the finer nature of scouting. I have faith that people know what they are talking about.

There are players from junior that score at a PPG pace or higher, but never manage to take their game to the next level, but then there are modest 20 goal scorers that manage to bring that same level of production to the NHL. I know that is pointing out the obvious, but it is always impressive to me to see when a scout can identify the latter players.

I think this relates to the size debate that we rehash sometimes. Some posters seem to believe that big players dominate junior because of size and therefore their game may not translate to the NHL. I view it almost exactly the opposite of that. IMO big players who use their size well are more easily able to translate their game to the NHL because its not as easy to check them and physically dominate them. Big, physical players sometimes already play an NHL style of power game and thus their game translates to the NHL quite easily.

You see some posters say, "That guy scores 40 in junior but he's a man amongst boys and won't translate that to the NHL.

But what happens sometimes is you have a guy like Lucic who scored 9 goals in his draft year, 30 the year after that. What would those posters have thought his offensive upside in the NHL would be? Well it turns out he scored 30 goals in the NHL too.

Crouse already has scored almost 30 goals in junior and he hasn't played his 18 or 19 year old seasons yet. Crouse made the WJC team as a 17 year old and didn't look bad (MacKinnon wasn't particularly impressive as a 17 year old on Canada lets keep in mind as well.)

Interesting debate.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Interesting mock draft up on McKeens. Seems pretty reasonable to me.

http://www.mckeenshockey.com/uncateg...hl-mock-draft/

They have us taking Zboril. I know from listening to another McKeens scout on Fan960 that they like him as the 4th best defenseman after the more notable three.

[Vulcan]

I'll be happy with any of Zboril, Chabot or Roy. It's interesting though that McKenzie has Carlo ahead of Chabot and Roy and the comment from Burke about Tampa's big defence, maybe makes Carlo our man.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Does anyone know much about Alexandre Carrier? Seen him play?

Reading up on him and watching some highlights he seems to be a very smart skilled guy, had a big jump in points, going from three goals and 28 points last year to 12 goals and 55 points this season.

Really would love to see him or Thomas Schemitch selected by the Flames in the 3rd round or beyond. Real sleeper vibe to these guys.

[H2SO4(aq)]

What would it take to switch picks with LA to snag Meier if he's sitting there at 13? God I want to draft that guy. Does a 3rd move us up 2 spots?

[Hackey]

Probably depends who they want and who's left but I'd probably rather guarantee I get my guy than add a 3rd.

[Flames_F.T.W]

It's hard not to like Konecny when you watch his highlights.

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Sure, but I will always take Button's opinion over yours. It's all about projecting 18 year-old kids. Who knows how it will play out? I think Larsson has a chance to be the best defenseman in this draft, but the probability of that is not high. Button's opinion is an educated guess, just like yours - he just has a much higher chance of being right than you do...

Oh, I acknowledge that totally. Why would you or anyone believe me over Button. I just think he's wrong in this case.

Let's come back on draft day and actually see where Konecny ends up. No ill feeling or anything like that, let's just see where he goes.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

What would it take to switch picks with LA to snag Meier if he's sitting there at 13? God I want to draft that guy. Does a 3rd move us up 2 spots?

In a draft like this I really don't think it's worth it to move up just 2 spots. This is a good draft. We're getting a good player at 15.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Yes, I know. Given their shared heritage (particularly that both learned at the knee of Jack), I take it as a better than average hint. I will be very interested to see if Boeser is available at 15...

There may be some bloodlines connection in the Buttons, but I wouldn't simply use Button's list as the Flames' Big Board.

Craig wouldn't have had us selecting Hunter Smith (88th ranked), though I'm sure he was pretty happy with selection of Adam Ollas-Mattsson (42nd). Other picks are admittedly pretty close when ya look back.

Craig;s 2014 List

***

Re: Quite the wide opinion on Boeser...

Central Scouting: 27 N.A.

ISS Hockey: 35th

McKeen’s Hockey: 27

Future Considerations: 26

TSN Bob McKenzie: 26

TSN Craig Button: 9

Sportsnet: 27

Red Line Report: 30 *they dub him "American Sniper"

HockeyProspect.com: 18

[Mony]

Been doing my homework. If the Flames draft a d-man I want it to be Zboril. Chabot doesn't impress me. Carlo is a nice late first rounder or early second but not at 15. I think Konecny and Merkley are very similar stylistically to Bennett and either could wreak havoc on a line with him for years to come. I'm in love with Boeser as well and wouldn't mind him at all at #15. I just wish we had a second first because he's projected lower than that. Also like Svechnikov and Meier.

[Wolfman]

I'd be fine with Svechnikov, Konecny, Merkley or one of the good dmen. The thing about D is they tend to progress slower than forwards. (i.e Gio) There will plenty of D available in the second or third rounds which we have five picks in. So, I'd like to get a bigger skilled forward in the first round.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by cral12

There may be some bloodlines connection in the Buttons, but I wouldn't simply use Button's list as the Flames' Big Board.

Craig wouldn't have had us selecting Hunter Smith (88th ranked), though I'm sure he was pretty happy with selection of Adam Ollas-Mattsson (42nd). Other picks are admittedly pretty close when ya look back.

That's why I said "better than average hint". He had Jankowski way higher than anyone else and he has Boeser way higher than anyone else, so I am curious...

[cral12]

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[robaur]

In the past, the Flames used to invite guys to Calgary after the NHL combine and this used to give us an idea of who they liked. I remember once year they had Monahan, Poirier, Klimchuk and Petan come in....and they drafted 3 out of 4 of those players. Any idea who they invited this year ?

Or do we not find that out until after the draft?

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by robaur

In the past, the Flames used to invite guys to Calgary after the NHL combine and this used to give us an idea of who they liked. I remember once year they had Monahan, Poirier, Klimchuk and Petan come in....and they drafted 3 out of 4 of those players. Any idea who they invited this year ?

Or do we not find that out until after the draft?

I believe the NHL axed that notion, no longer allowed IIRC.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I believe the NHL axed that notion, no longer allowed IIRC.

You can invite prospects to the city for further interviews, but you can no longer have extensive physical testing while they are in your city.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by dammage79

You can invite prospects to the city for further interviews, but you can no longer have extensive physical tasting while they are in your city.

Rumours are Petan needed a bit for seasoning and that's why the Flames didn't take him in 2013.