Who Do You Want The Flames to Draft in '09? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Tilley · 02-09-2009, 10:59 AM

With the World Juniors and the CSB mid-season rankings in the rear view mirror, some are starting to take a closer look at prospects that may be available when their team is selecting in the first round.

While Best Player Available (BPA) is hopefully the mantra for the Flames, the improving prospect pool means that Calgary aren't forced into taking a player at a specific position.

The Flames are resembling a playoff team and hopefully will be selecting in the later third of the draft (20-30th overall). While Tavares or Hedman are unlikely when Calgary makes their choice, a number of highly skilled players will be available.

Who Do the Flames select with their first round pick?

Obviously a lot depends on who is available, but prospects that I am interested in the Flames selecting are:

John Moore, D, Chicago, USHL - watched him live over the weekend. Great skater, good with the puck. Dominated the game.

Stefan Elliott, D, Saskatoon, WHL - offensive dman, apparently not a great skater and occasionally makes poor decisions.

Richard Panik, C, Slovak - "Hossa-like", might be a sniper to sit on Backlund's wing

Ryan O'Reilly - C, OHL - Smart with good hands. Skating isn't great. Putting up points with a weak Erie team.

Landon Ferraro - RW, WHL - Red Deer product with wheels and some offensive ability.

Carl Klingberg, LW, Sweden - Size (6'2", 205 lbs) and skill. Apparently has a great shot and is a great skater.

Canada 02 · 02-09-2009, 11:03 AM

the 30th best player on their list

A big centerman has been an organizational need for a while

A while back, Darryl mentioned something to the effect that he wanted to strengthen the teams scouting presence in the US and Scandanavia. Since then, he's added Steve Leach who is based in the New England area and Bob Pulford jr (I would guess he's in the mid-west, perhaps Chicago) as well as a Finnish scout, Juha Haautamaa. I wouldn't be surprised to see these scouts advocating players in those regions, and perhaps a player or two being selected out of there

Tilley · 02-09-2009, 11:33 AM

The Flames are setting themselves up nicely with Backlund as a potential top six center and Wahl who I view as a 2nd/3rd line center with some offensive potential.

If you're looking for a big, skilled center late in the first round you might point to Zach Budish a high schooler from Edina, Minnesota. He's got a torn ACL right now, but is apparently highly skilled and a monster.

Panik may be another option as a potential top six center. He's 6'2" and 185. I don't know how responsible he is in his own end, but I have heard he's a sniper, so I'd like to pair him up with Backlund.

I don't really care what position Calgary's first rounder plays as long as he is skilled. I'd speculate that Calgary will keep their 2nd rounder and take one forward and one defenseman in the 1st and 2nd rounds. Unless someone drops into their laps I can see Sutter looking to add a skilled winger and a puck moving defenseman.

dustygoon · 02-09-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilley

I don't really care what position Calgary's first rounder plays as long as he is skilled. I'd speculate that Calgary will keep their 2nd rounder and take one forward and one defenseman in the 1st and 2nd rounds. Unless someone drops into their laps I can see Sutter looking to add a skilled winger and a puck moving defenseman.

Now I am all confused again....i thought we don't have a 2nd rounder in 2009. The trade for Bourque cost us that 2nd rounder. But i could be wrong.

Canada 02 · 02-09-2009, 01:43 PM

Flames have the Habs 2nd rounder from the Tanguay trade, but that may go to Chicago for Bork (a conditional 2nd in either '09 or '10)

Tilley · 02-09-2009, 01:48 PM

The 2nd rounder to Chicago is conditional and from what I have been able to find the Flames have the right to select 2009 or 2010.

Selection #53:
http://www.prosportstransactions.com...rades/2009.htm

Since the Flames have already traded away their 3rd rounder in the Vandermeer trade (#84 in the above link) I doubt that Sutter would want to have only one choice in the first 110 picks.

That being said, we may have another 2004 draft scenario where Sutter trades down to acquire additional picks if the guy he wants is gone.

From what I have read about this draft is that it has high-end talent but not as many high-end skill guys as last year or next. If this is true I would hope that Sutter doesn't move down too much and miss out on most of the more highly skilled prospects.

Reggie Dunlop · 02-09-2009, 01:53 PM

A gritty, two-way forward with good size.

Swayze11 · 02-09-2009, 01:58 PM

I like Scott Glennie from Brandon. At the beginning of the season he was projected a 2nd rounder but his stock has sky rocketed throughout the year. Hes got pretty good size at 6'1, 182lbs, its just a matter if he drops to the 30th pick

Hustle · 02-09-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swayze11

I like Scott Glennie from Brandon. At the beginning of the season he was projected a 2nd rounder but his stock has sky rocketed throughout the year. Hes got pretty good size at 6'1, 182lbs, its just a matter if he drops to the 30th pick

Good call on Glennie. However, it looks like he's going to go in the 15-19 range... he's been moving up the charts bigtime this year.

I think we see Sutter take a puck moving blueliner in the first round and a skilled centerman in the second.

That all said, I think the biggest organizational need right now is on the wings. It's a bit thin there rgiht now..

Flame4Ever · 02-09-2009, 11:51 PM

Not an expert in every league but here are my OHL rankings so far this season as I get to take in quite a few games:

John Tavares: A goal scoring version of Spezza. Lots of talent but needs to prove he's more than a PP presence to be considered a "generational" or "franchise" talent.
Matt Duchene: Speed and goal scoring, similar to Stamkos from last year Duchene is a complete player with exceptional talent and skating.
Ryan Ellis: A phenomenal PP QB with great vision and poise. Has proven to be a great deender at the OHL level, but needs to continue to get stronger if he wants to be able to play defense at the NHL level.
Peter Holland: A really complete player and this will mean that people will probably have him rated below where I have him. However, Holland competes hard at both ends of the ice and has the skills to play as a top line forward. While he doesn't have as much flash as some of the other prospects, he has all the skills and a well put together toolbox. To me he's a Mike Richards with better size and skating.
Zach Kassian: Ksssian has incredible PF potential. He hits, fights and scores with the best of them despite being on a poor Peterbrough team. His upside is that of a great throwback PF similar to what Lucic brings, only better. Think a young Shanahan or Tkachuk.
Nazim Kadri: Lots of flash and dangle. Good, but not great skater. tries to do too much by himself and needs to gain a lot of strength as he gets muscled off the puck regularly. Lots of offensive sense and potential
Calvin de Haan: Solid two way defneceman with a high compete level.
Taylor Doherty: Giant defenceman has made big strides since the start of the season.

If Peter Holland is available, move up to get him. Otherwise, we'll probably get a player like de Haan.

Tilley · 02-10-2009, 09:01 AM

Unfortunately I don't think the Flames have a shot at the first six prospects you mentioned Flame4Ever. I would love to get a shot to draft Holland, but I just don't think he will be available when Calgary selects and the Flames don't have enough picks/prospects to offer a good enough package to trade up.

I've heard some good things about de Haan and Doherty, but I've also heard that prospects with a similar skill level can be had around our selection in the 2nd round.

I would be interested to hear your take on a couple of prospects in the OHL:
Ryan O'Reilly, Erie
Michael Latta, Guelph

flamesrule14 · 02-10-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swayze11

I like Scott Glennie from Brandon. At the beginning of the season he was projected a 2nd rounder but his stock has sky rocketed throughout the year. Hes got pretty good size at 6'1, 182lbs, its just a matter if he drops to the 30th pick

I like Glennie as well and he may just fall to us. Suffered an injury and it may be season ending which could affect his draft position.

Flame4Ever · 02-10-2009, 12:28 PM

I haven't watched O'Reilly a lot this year. to be quite Honest the Otters are an atrocious team and I've only seen them when they're facing off against teams that have players of interest for me (Guelph, Windsor, Kingston, Peterborough, Saginaw, London)
O'Reilly certainly is skilled and apparently has good character, but his skating is a major concern for me. He doesn't crash the net enough for my liking. If he were to be more involved in the cycle and just bang away pucks in front of the net, then his skating might be less of a concern, but he doesn't do that with consistency, which makes me wonder how well his game will translate to the bigs. That being said he has great vision and can make some really nice passes, though he does this sometimes when he should shoot the puck. He also plays a lot on the PK and has shown the ability to be a game breaker. It's really hard to evaluate him objectively because of the lack of talent on his team, but I think if he can fix his skating to become an above average skater in the NHL, he'll make a very good player.

Michael Latta has been great for the Storm since coming over he's a very complete player who plays with some edge. Not overly big, he competes hard at both ends of the ice. While he does have good offensive instincts and a high compete level, his skating isn't a strong point. While that may be fixed (Guelph has an amazing skating coach, just look at Drew Doughty) it certainly does put a question mark on his potential. He's defineatly a notch below Holland, but you have to like his compete level and his intensity. I think he tops out as middle 6 center.

Other guys who are interesting who I have ahead of the two you mentioned:
Ethan Werek -F Kingston Frontenacs
Edward Pasquale - G- Saginaw Spirit

Tilley · 02-11-2009, 10:18 AM

As much as it sucks for Glennie to be injured, it would be great if he would slip to the late first round. As long as he can recover from his injury he's got the speed and shot to really complement Backlund.

Definitely not a first rounder, but does Brandon Kozun from the Hitmen get drafted? He's the 149th ranked N.A. skater but would it be possible for the Flames to take him in the 6th or 7th round? I'm not very familiar with him, but he's small and slightly built and I assume highly skilled. Do the Flames take him hoping that he can contribute offensively in the AHL (aka Darren Haydar)?

Swayze11 · 02-11-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilley

As much as it sucks for Glennie to be injured, it would be great if he would slip to the late first round. As long as he can recover from his injury he's got the speed and shot to really complement Backlund.

Definitely not a first rounder, but does Brandon Kozun from the Hitmen get drafted? He's the 149th ranked N.A. skater but would it be possible for the Flames to take him in the 6th or 7th round? I'm not very familiar with him, but he's small and slightly built and I assume highly skilled. Do the Flames take him hoping that he can contribute offensively in the AHL (aka Darren Haydar)?

I would absolutely take a chance on this guy in the 6th/7th round. Ive been to a few Hitmen games this year and he has stood out. Really good skater, very surprised in his NA ranking.

cross16 · 02-11-2009, 09:47 PM

I'd take a flyer on Kozun in the late rounds. I think if he gets to the NHL it would only be in an energy role, but he is worth the flyer for sure in the 6th or 7th. Not before though.
I'm starting to lean towards the Flames going for a two way top 4 style dman. I think the depth on the d is good in the system, but we don't have alot of two way guys. We have a bunhc of specialists. ie Peelech and Negrin are the defensive style guys, with Brodie as the offensive. I like to see them nab a guy who could develop into a top 3 style two way blueliner. Wingers is never a bad idea either.
Dimitri kulikov caught my eye at the top propsects game but I think he goes beofre the Flames get him. Zack Kassian is a guy who i think would also be a great pick for the Flames should he slide a bit.
I really liked Ryan O'Reily at the top prospects game, but if his skating is that big a convern I wouldn't bother.

SebC · 02-12-2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilley

As much as it sucks for Glennie to be injured, it would be great if he would slip to the late first round. As long as he can recover from his injury he's got the speed and shot to really complement Backlund.

Also worth noting that Sutter has identified injuries as something that gets too much consideration with other GMs. His history with Pelech and Backlund shows us that.

Don't know much about individual players, but my preference is for high upside guys... rather have the guy who has a chance to be a top-liner than the Eric Nystroms of the world who will make the NHL but fill roles that can be cheaply filled with UFAs anyways. Let's get some speed, some skill, and all else being equal, let's get a winger.

Dorkmaster · 02-12-2009, 12:12 AM

I don't have any real understanding of the prospects, but from looking at the list there are tons of centers and very few wingers.

Calgary should probably look towards a winger, but because there aren't too many, they should probably just go with BPA. There's enough variety within the prospect pool now that it shouldn't matter what they draft as long as the player has some solid potential.

Rhetts_the_Best · 02-12-2009, 01:33 AM

I am guessing Tomas Tatar of Slovakia goes very late in the first round.
To pick him up would be quite the steal, he is a great two way forward and has a never quit attitude.

He was a huge part of the penalty kill with the slovaks.Has a great burst of speed, great shot and finds his way to the net very easily.

For a young player his two way game is very impressive.

simmer2 · 02-12-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhetts_the_Best

I am guessing Tomas Tatar of Slovakia goes very late in the first round.
To pick him up would be quite the steal, he is a great two way forward and has a never quit attitude.

He was a huge part of the penalty kill with the slovaks.Has a great burst of speed, great shot and finds his way to the net very easily.

For a young player his two way game is very impressive.

He's a guy who was flying under the radar before WJC but really increased his draft stock just from that tournament alone. I was definitely impressed with him, but you have to wonder if it was a fluke or not.