Draft targets

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

A 1st line center is worth more than a 1st line winger, but a 1st line winger is more valuable than a 2nd line center, in my opinion.

Depends.

But also, drafting is not that exact of a science.

If you don't draft Cs, you aren't going to develop any 1st line Cs.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Is this a serious post? Lindstrom is an excellent skater, and if you can’t see that, then I have no idea what to say to you. He can flat out fly. We can debate other parts of his game, but this one is pretty obvious…

He's fast and strong on his skates but in the NHL he's going to have to go thru defenders, his edges aren't very good at all nor is his acceleration from the start.

I know it's a small sample but watching him at the Hlinka against top juniors I wasn't impressed at all, seemed to be always behind the the play, didn't skate hard defensively and showed tunnel vision offensively, as I've stated, I think he'll end up a winger in the NHL.

He ended up the 11th in scoring for Canada with 2g-3pts in 5 games, Catton on the other hand was outstanding, led Canada and the tourney with 8g-10pts in 5 games.

Unless he has a massive playoff I think Lindstrom will fall in the draft out of the top 15.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He's fast and strong on his skates but in the NHL he's going to have to go thru defenders, his edges aren't very good at all nor is his acceleration from the start.

I know it's a small sample but watching him at the Hlinka against top juniors I wasn't impressed at all, seemed to be always behind the the play, didn't skate hard defensively and showed tunnel vision offensively, as I've stated, I think he'll end up a winger in the NHL.

He ended up the 11th in scoring for Canada with 2g-3pts in 5 games, Catton on the other hand was outstanding, led Canada and the tourney with 8g-10pts in 5 games.

Unless he has a massive playoff I think Lindstrom will fall in the draft out of the top 15.

Top 15??? Someone take the bet haha

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Is this a serious post? Lindstrom is an excellent skater, and if you can’t see that, then I have no idea what to say to you. He can flat out fly. We can debate other parts of his game, but this one is pretty obvious…

Being fast and being a good skater aren't mutually exclusive...his good speed relies on him being incredibly naturally athletic instead of having good skating mechanics.

Given his ugly mechanics (e.g. stride and edgework), it will take a lot of improvement to fix it and go from good skater at the junior level to good enough skater in the NHL. Some guys like Tkachuk can improve enough and compensate in other ways, but a lot of bigger power forward types (e.g. Bellows) just can't overcome it.

Combine that with some of his other deficiencies like the tunnel vision and hockey sense, there's too many question marks around Lindstrom right now to justify spending a top 10 pick compared to all of the other great potential selections slated for the top 10

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He's fast and strong on his skates but in the NHL he's going to have to go thru defenders, his edges aren't very good at all nor is his acceleration from the start.

I know it's a small sample but watching him at the Hlinka against top juniors I wasn't impressed at all, seemed to be always behind the the play, didn't skate hard defensively and showed tunnel vision offensively, as I've stated, I think he'll end up a winger in the NHL.

He ended up the 11th in scoring for Canada with 2g-3pts in 5 games, Catton on the other hand was outstanding, led Canada and the tourney with 8g-10pts in 5 games.

Unless he has a massive playoff I think Lindstrom will fall in the draft out of the top 15.

Not sure where you’re getting this, but Lindstrom’s skating is one of his most projectable skills. His agility and edges are just fine, as well as his acceleration. It’s ridiculous to suggest that the things you mentioned will keep him out of the top 15. There have been plenty of centers taken earlier than where Lindstrom is projected to go that were much slower, less defensively inclined, and less offensively talented. You can teach defense, you can’t teach what Lindstrom brings.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Not sure where you’re getting this, but Lindstrom’s skating is one of his most projectable skills. His agility and edges are just fine, as well as his acceleration. It’s ridiculous to suggest that the things you mentioned will keep him out of the top 15. There have been plenty of centers taken earlier than where Lindstrom is projected to go that were much slower, less defensively inclined, and less offensively talented. You can teach defense, you can’t teach what Lindstrom brings.

Some of them were even drafted by us!

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He's fast and strong on his skates but in the NHL he's going to have to go thru defenders, his edges aren't very good at all nor is his acceleration from the start.

I know it's a small sample but watching him at the Hlinka against top juniors I wasn't impressed at all, seemed to be always behind the the play, didn't skate hard defensively and showed tunnel vision offensively, as I've stated, I think he'll end up a winger in the NHL.

He ended up the 11th in scoring for Canada with 2g-3pts in 5 games, Catton on the other hand was outstanding, led Canada and the tourney with 8g-10pts in 5 games.

Unless he has a massive playoff I think Lindstrom will fall in the draft out of the top 15.

Very unlikley but that would be awesome! Maybe we get him Kylington style.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Being fast and being a good skater aren't mutually exclusive...his good speed relies on him being incredibly naturally athletic instead of having good skating mechanics.

Given his ugly mechanics (e.g. stride and edgework), it will take a lot of improvement to fix it and go from good skater at the junior level to good enough skater in the NHL. Some guys like Tkachuk can improve enough and compensate in other ways, but a lot of bigger power forward types (e.g. Bellows) just can't overcome it.

Combine that with some of his other deficiencies like the tunnel vision and hockey sense, there's too many question marks around Lindstrom right now to justify spending a top 10 pick compared to all of the other great potential selections slated for the top 10

Sorry, but this is nonsense. “He gets from point A to point B faster than anyone, and wins races to loose pucks, but he looks funny doing it, and will be in tough to be an impact player”.

All good, you guys do you, and we’ll see where Lindstrom is picked.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Sorry, but this is nonsense. “He gets from point A to point B faster than anyone, and wins races to loose pucks, but he looks funny doing it, and will be in tough to be an impact player”.

All good, you guys do you, and we’ll see where Lindstrom is picked.

Hyperbole much...there is no shortage of guys who are fast enough for junior, but just are not not fast enough to play their game the NHL due to skating issues.

I ultimately don't care where Lindstrom where is picked, but when the Flames are up on the podium, it would be a shame to pick Lindstrom if a better player like Catton or Helenius is on the table.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Hyperbole much...there is no shortage of guys who are fast enough for junior, but just are not not fast enough to play their game the NHL due to skating issues.

I ultimately don't care where Lindstrom where is picked, but when the Flames are up on the podium, it would be a shame to pick Lindstrom if a better player like Catton or Helenius is on the table.

It would be a shame if any of the stud dmen are available and the Flames picked Helenius or Catton.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

It would be a shame if any of the stud dmen are available and the Flames picked Helenius or Catton.

I agree with you. There's no shortage of great defensemen in the top 10.

That's essentially my point. This year's top 10 appears to be stacked full of players with equivalent ceilings and less holes in their game than Lindstrom.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Hyperbole much...there is no shortage of guys who are fast enough for junior, but just are not not fast enough to play their game the NHL due to skating issues.

I ultimately don't care where Lindstrom where is picked, but when the Flames are up on the podium, it would be a shame to pick Lindstrom if a better player like Catton or Helenius is on the table.

His skating is good enough for the NHL, don’t worry about that.

[FlamesAddiction]

I’m not worried about his skating. I have heard criticisms about his lack of creativity though. Like he uses the same plays all the time, over and over, and that may not work at the NHL level. He isn’t a puck distributor which is something you want your number one center to be. The comparisons to Dubois don’t help either. I was convinced he was going to the the next best thing and he disappointed. I am probably biased against him for that reason.

[Sandman]

To be honest, I'm really concerned with Lindstrom's injury problems. A poster (can't remember who)in the Draft Thread said he heard a rumor that the reason it took so long for him to return from surgery, when he was originally expected back in February, is because he is suffering from back issues. Not good news, if true.

[1qqaaz]

Yes, my concerns would be the two above posts. But skating/agility isn't the issue. If anything, it helps his floor.

But if it causes him to drop, then maybe it's a Flames blessing.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

To be honest, I'm really concerned with Lindstrom's injury problems. A poster (can't remember who)in the Draft Thread said he heard a rumor that the reason it took so long for him to return from surgery, when he was originally expected back in February, is because he is suffering from back issues. Not good news, if true.

Hmmm, I'll ask about that but about 2 weeks ago all I was told he was having trouble gripping his stick

[TornBetween2Pucks]

I don't think he's been mentioned in this thread, but I hope we take Dickinson. He's a Pieterangelo clone. Maybe not the sexiest pick but St.Louis and Vegas fans will tell you that you win cups with guys like that.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by TornBetween2Pucks

I don't think he's been mentioned in this thread, but I hope we take Dickinson. He's a Pieterangelo clone. Maybe not the sexiest pick but St.Louis and Vegas fans will tell you that you win cups with guys like that.

I agree but in most mock drafts he's going in the top 6, they say he might be the best skater in the draft.

Not sure we'll fall that far but one can dream.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TornBetween2Pucks

I don't think he's been mentioned in this thread, but I hope we take Dickinson. He's a Pieterangelo clone. Maybe not the sexiest pick but St.Louis and Vegas fans will tell you that you win cups with guys like that.

He is the best dman I have seen in the OHL since I started watching the OHL in a serious way 7 years ago. Better than Bouchard, better than Drysdale, better than Mintyukov. He is just a complete dman, Pietrangelo is a good comparable, not sure he has Alex’s mean streak yet.

[1qqaaz]

Roger McQueen may be the best WHL player available in next year's draft. I wonder how he compares to Lindstrom. He's bigger than Lindstrom and is having better production at the same age. But I haven't seen him play.