June 1, 5PM ET - Must-sign Picks or Lose Signing Rights

[Sandman]

There’s a few eyebrow raisers on that list, Conner Roulette being the biggest. Not that I liked him in his draft year.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Congratulations in advance to Patrick Pulstola.

[Buff]

Back in the 60s some guy said "Robert Orr will not be signed by his team" and everyone would have thought that guy was a moron... but maybe he was a time traveler?

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Congratulations in advance to Patrick Pulstola.

IIRC this was the guy the Oilers got for Puljujarvi. So they could still sign him; they've only had his rights for a couple of months.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Hard to say. I don't think the talent in the 2021 draft was bad because of Covid. The inability to properly scout players means some teams probably got luckier than others. Flames look like a team that didn't get a lot of luck to supplement what scouting they had available on the players.

I think the biggest issue was the lost year of development for so many players. OHL didn't play, many NCAA colleges didn't play, WHL played 20ish games....

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I bet the 2021 draft will end up being one of the worst overall across the league due to the lost covid season. The Flames currently have 3 players signed of 8 drafted, and Sergeev will be the 4th. I think that is decent given the circumstances

While I get that assessing the players during the pandemic was difficult, the member of players who eventually play in the NHL should not ultimately decrease.

4out of 8 players ultimately signing can never be considered decent. That’s a lot of wiffs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

While I get that assessing the players during the pandemic was difficult, the member of players who eventually play in the NHL should not ultimately decrease.

4out of 8 players ultimately signing can never be considered decent. That’s a lot of wiffs.

Looking at the 2021 list it’s really not that unusual. Starting at the 3rd round the majority of players have yet to sign. What’s unusual is that Calgary has so many 2023 deadlines.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I think the biggest issue was the lost year of development for so many players. OHL didn't play, many NCAA colleges didn't play, WHL played 20ish games....

Yeah but all levels of junior hockey lost a year of development not just the draft eligible players. You have barely any games or means to scout these players the year of their draft and then you have to go to the draft and pick through what's essentially a box of chocolates. Some teams may have been scouting certain players earlier or simply got lucky while other teams missed with their darts like the Flames.

[Flamesfan05]

Maybe Beck

Huckins couldn’t score in the Q, sign him because he is big?

[Hockey-and_stuff]

I'm a little baffled to see people wanting to sign Huckins. Very poor production in his D+2 season, and then there's the mystery suspension in his D+1. I don't see anything in his game worth a contract.

I don't think there's anyone on the list you'd want to take a flyer on outside of Beck, who might just be a victim of being too injured too often.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Reggie Dunlop]

Doesn't seem to be a flurry of last minute signings on Capfriendly.. Perhaps indicative how out-of-synch that draft class was.

[The Original FFIV]

2021 was a challenging draft more so than usual due to Covid. No doubt about it.

Look at what Carolina did. They appeared to go based on bloodlines, to some extent. They drafted Stephan Robidas kid as well as Jason Blake’s son. And while neither are sure locks to make the show, Robidas received a contract and Blake is developing in the ncaa. Which is more than can be said for most of Calgary’s picks.

I hope conroy takes a long hard look at the amateur scouting staff. While they have had a few wins, there appears to be a need for a fresh approach. Tod Button has had a long run at the top, maybe it is time for a fresh face and more importantly, different ideas. Drafting is a crucial part of developing players for a small market team that is on many players NTCs and not a preferred destination for free agents.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The amateur scouting has been fine. Better than fine. Lack of picks has been an issue.

[Mindtravellee]

Keep Beck around somehow, stick him in the gym for a year.

Why not probably close too.

Rest are meh

[agulati]

Having heard nothing on these players, i guess we are passing up on signing all of them?

Surprised by Beck and somewhat surprised by Whynot.
Injuries to Cole Jordan really impacted his opportunity.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Any interesting players going back into the draft?

[EldrickOnIce]

What???
They need to close this CHL loophole!
Losing the rights to these players, allowing them to be potential UFA's after only 2 years!!!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The amateur scouting has been fine. Better than fine. Lack of picks has been an issue.

You keep saying this, but if this were the case shouldn't the Flames have a better development system? Shouldn't those picks be earning contracts and end up playing pro hockey for the team?

[butterfly]

Deadline's over!

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Sandman

There’s a few eyebrow raisers on that list, Conner Roulette being the biggest. Not that I liked him in his draft year.

Too bad he isn't good. That is a heck of a hockey name