2019 NHL Draft Thread

[868904]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

personally I'd rather not. Small, not super speedy, and I still have a hard time judging USHL guys.

Johnny was drafted out of the USHL as a point per game player. You could argue that league has only gotta more competitive since and the NHL game has changed even more to benefit these types of players.

Flames need to get bigger but that doesn’t mean they need to do that in the first round. The first round should be all about getting the most skilled and high ceiling player. You draft your Big grinding wingers in later rounds.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I wonder if the Flames look at selecting Tobias Björnfot? You can never have too many young defensemen, right?

The Flames will likely lose a defensemen in the expansion draft, plus free agency looming for a few vets. Giordano isn't getting any younger either.

There's not a lot of sure-fire D prospects in the system at present. While you don't draft for immediate NHL need, there's nothing wrong with stocking the system positionally.

Björnfot looks to be a pretty decent pick, an all-round defenseman who can bang around bodies. With the Flames organization's increased emphasis on the European scouting, I'm sure they've got a good read on him.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by 868904

Johnny was drafted out of the USHL as a point per game player. You could argue that league has only gotta more competitive since and the NHL game has changed even more to benefit these types of players.

Flames need to get bigger but that doesn’t mean they need to do that in the first round. The first round should be all about getting the most skilled and high ceiling player. You draft your Big grinding wingers in later rounds.

Size is still a factor that has to be taken into consideration, I am fine with small players as long as they have elite hockey sense, elite skill and elite skating. I am not sure that Brink is elite in any of those categories. He is has very good hockey sense and skill, but his skating is average at best. At 5'8" I would feel more comfortable if Brink had top end skating. I think his lack of skating ability has strong chance to limit his ability to produce offense at the NHL level.

I am really starting to cool on Brink. There are quite a few players I would take ahead of him, I would rank him as more of a 2nd round prospect.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I wonder if the Flames look at selecting Tobias Björnfot? You can never have too many young defensemen, right?

The Flames will likely lose a defensemen in the expansion draft, plus free agency looming for a few vets. Giordano isn't getting any younger either.

There's not a lot of sure-fire D prospects in the system at present. While you don't draft for immediate NHL need, there's nothing wrong with stocking the system positionally.

Björnfot looks to be a pretty decent pick, an all-round defenseman who can bang around bodies. With the Flames organization's increased emphasis on the European scouting, I'm sure they've got a good read on him.

its a balancing act... BT will pick based on who is available, but my concern is looking at the roster.

the defense has 3 D under 22 who are in the NHL with Hanifin, Andersson and Valimaki and a 4th on the verge in Ksylington.

when i look at the forwards, i don't see a lot... you have Dube? not sure who else there is outside of that...

my preference is choosing a forward, but it depends on who is available at that pick

[Ashes]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

its a balancing act... BT will pick based on who is available, but my concern is looking at the roster.

the defense has 3 D under 22 who are in the NHL with Hanifin, Andersson and Valimaki and a 4th on the verge in Ksylington.

when i look at the forwards, i don't see a lot... you have Dube? not sure who else there is outside of that...

my preference is choosing a forward, but it depends on who is available at that pick

You've gotta give huge props to these scouts who have been dialled in with the Euro defensemen (Valimaki, Anderson, Kylington). I hope they pick a forward with the 26th overall too though, as we desperately need some more guys making a push for spots during our window to win. If we end up picking a D though, it'd have to be a guy who fell way further than they expected.

Every draft is different but almost every year there's a big run on Defensemen towards the middle/later half of the 1st round. I think there's at LEAST one forward pushed down to 26 who's ranked higher.

I'm hoping for one of Tomasino, Hoglander or Poulin with pick 26

[Poe969]

Hoglander would be amazing for the name alone! So many "there could be only one" jokes to be made.

I really want them to get a forward who's at least average sized or bigger but I'd be 100% fine with taking Spencer Knight if he was available. I'd even be good if they moved up to get him, I think he's going to be a really good goalie.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

personally I'd rather not. Small, not super speedy, and I still have a hard time judging USHL guys.

He's not an elite skater but he's not slow or below average and he's an elite shooter with a great shot. I will be surprised if he's still available when the Flames pick.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's not an elite skater but he's not slow or below average and he's an elite shooter with a great shot. I will be surprised if he's still available when the Flames pick.

He’s also an excellent passer.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 868904

Johnny was drafted out of the USHL as a point per game player. You could argue that league has only gotta more competitive since and the NHL game has changed even more to benefit these types of players.

Flames need to get bigger but that doesn’t mean they need to do that in the first round. The first round should be all about getting the most skilled and high ceiling player. You draft your Big grinding wingers in later rounds.

Oh, I know. I am just saying that I personally still have a tough time with USHL player evaluations. It seems like the team that the player is on is a big difference maker. Big producers on some teams do better than others.

But mostly my criticism is around speed. Slower, smaller, but skilled is the way the Flames drafted for quite a while. I want the big fast skilled guy

[dammage79]

I think I've gone over the Flames pick a million times since their season ended and have made a top 15 list of players they can hope to fall to them or reach down into the bucket for. 1 being most preferred and so on.

1. Vasily Podkolzin ( He may drop like a rock because he has no interest in coming over any time soon but if he is there, 26 is a good risk/reward pick for a clear top tier talent, wont make it that far down but hey, anything is possible).
2. Raphael Lavoie. Rhs C/RW. Speed, size and a killer instinct. Wont make it but if he does run to the podium.
3. Spencer Knight. There's a top tier goalie there.
4. Yegor Afanaseyev. Probably the most available at the Flames pick. Big, fast and a frickin bomb of a shot no matter how he shoots it. Big ol sniper.
5. Phil Tomasino. Rh Center, fast, average size.
6. Arthur Kaliev. Wont be there, like Oliver Wahlstrom
7. Simon Holmstrom
8. Ilya Nikolaiev. Super sleeper.
9. Adam Beckman. I think hes just hitting his stride a tad later than the rest but could be a massive coup if he keeps improving.
10. Brett Leason. 20. Big, bomb of a shot. Could be in the NHL out of the box. Sketchy skating the only thing holding him back
11. Bobby Brink. Smaller, but a pure shooter. Skating again the issue.
12. Defenseman Mikko Kokkonen. Finnish version of Kylington IMO.
13. Pavel Dorofeyev. Speedy center. Playmaker. Good IQ.
14. Harrison Blaisdell. Tenacious center. Speedy. Not sure on offensive upside.
15. Ville Heinola. Probably right in the scouting staffs wheel house. Great hockey IQ.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by dammage79

1. Vasily Podkolzin ( He may drop like a rock because he has no interest in coming over any time soon but if he is there, 26 is a good risk/reward pick for a clear top tier talent, wont make it that far down but hey, anything is possible).
2. Raphael Lavoie. Rhs C/RW. Speed, size and a killer instinct. Wont make it but if he does run to the podium.
3. Spencer Knight. There's a top tier goalie there.
4. Yegor Afanaseyev. Probably the most available at the Flames pick. Big, fast and a frickin bomb of a shot no matter how he shoots it. Big ol sniper.
5. Phil Tomasino. Rh Center, fast, average size.
6. Arthur Kaliev. Wont be there, like Oliver Wahlstrom
7. Simon Holmstrom
8. Ilya Nikolaiev. Super sleeper.
9. Adam Beckman. I think hes just hitting his stride a tad later than the rest but could be a massive coup if he keeps improving.
10. Brett Leason. 20. Big, bomb of a shot. Could be in the NHL out of the box. Sketchy skating the only thing holding him back
11. Bobby Brink. Smaller, but a pure shooter. Skating again the issue.
12. Defenseman Mikko Kokkonen. Finnish version of Kylington IMO.
13. Pavel Dorofeyev. Speedy center. Playmaker. Good IQ.
14. Harrison Blaisdell. Tenacious center. Speedy. Not sure on offensive upside.
15. Ville Heinola. Probably right in the scouting staffs wheel house. Great hockey IQ.

The good news is a lot of these guys bolded are all ranked as either LATE firsts, or 2nd/3rds so I think you'll be pretty happy either way.

I'm all in on Kaliev if he's there.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Royle9

The good news is a lot of these guys bolded are all ranked as either LATE firsts, or 2nd/3rds so I think you'll be pretty happy either way.

I'm all in on Kaliev if he's there.

That's what I like about this draft. There's a surplus of good young talent. I really do think it's a deep draft in terms of what you can get all the way down to 50.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dammage79

That's what I like about this draft. There's a surplus of good young talent. I really do think it's a deep draft in terms of what you can get all the way down to 50.

Hopefully when Tre (likely) deals away Frolik and Brodie, he can get a couple 2nd rounders included in the return. Would be nice to add 2-3 high end prospects into the system.

[JTech780]

I would pass on Kaliyev, he has good skill and a good shot, but he isn't a great skater and there are serious questions about his compete level and work ethic.

Compete level and work ethic need to be one of the top characteristics we look for in prospects.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by JTech780

I would pass on Kaliyev, he has good skill and a good shot, but he isn't a great skater and there are serious questions about his compete level and work ethic.

Compete level and work ethic need to be one of the top characteristics we look for in prospects.

When you get into the mid 20s you are going to have players with warts. Over simplifying but the guys with high ceilings, tend to have the type of risks that you highlight above. If you pick a safer guy that doesn't have clear deficiencies or concerns, you probably have a much lower ceiling.
I'm generally a fan of drafting largely on the basis of upside - prioritizing hockey sense, skating and scoring ability over character, intangibles or size.
Which is all to say if Kaliyev didnt' have those concerns - he'd be a top 10 or 15 pick. Might still be.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

When you get into the mid 20s you are going to have players with warts. Over simplifying but the guys with high ceilings, tend to have the type of risks that you highlight above. If you pick a safer guy that doesn't have clear deficiencies or concerns, you probably have a much lower ceiling.
I'm generally a fan of drafting largely on the basis of upside - prioritizing hockey sense, skating and scoring ability over character, intangibles or size.
Which is all to say if Kaliyev didnt' have those concerns - he'd be a top 10 or 15 pick. Might still be.

Don't get me wrong I still want to see players with skill, hockey sense and skating ability drafted by this team, but I think compete, work ethic and drive belong at the same level of importance. I will take a slightly less skilled player if his compete level and work ethic is superior to another player.

For example I would take Hoglander, Tomasino, Lavoie, Beecher, and Rees ahead of Kaliyev because I think the skill sets of those players are similar but their compete level, work ethic and drive far exceed that of Kaliyev.

[SportsJunky]

I think I'd like to see D Moritz Seider picked by Calgary. I've seen him ranked all over the place. It sounds like he scored very well on the v02 max testing, is a good skater and he has a huge wingspan. Plus, they say he has tons of personality and is a real character guy.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I think I'd like to see D Moritz Seider picked by Calgary. I've seen him ranked all over the place. It sounds like he scored very well on the v02 max testing, is a good skater and he has a huge wingspan. Plus, they say he has tons of personality and is a real character guy.

Hes likely one of the D men that makes a big jump up in the draft. There's a not a ton of D men so they may surprise a few going higher. Is there really another D man between Broberg (after Byram) and Seider that stands out particularly? Maybe Soderstrom and Harley. Heck, could see guys like Heinola and Bjornfot jump up too. D men are as premium as centers.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think I've gone over the Flames pick a million times since their season ended and have made a top 15 list of players they can hope to fall to them or reach down into the bucket for. 1 being most preferred and so on.

1. Vasily Podkolzin ( He may drop like a rock because he has no interest in coming over any time soon but if he is there, 26 is a good risk/reward pick for a clear top tier talent, wont make it that far down but hey, anything is possible).
2. Raphael Lavoie. Rhs C/RW. Speed, size and a killer instinct. Wont make it but if he does run to the podium.
3. Spencer Knight. There's a top tier goalie there.
4. Yegor Afanaseyev. Probably the most available at the Flames pick. Big, fast and a frickin bomb of a shot no matter how he shoots it. Big ol sniper.
5. Phil Tomasino. Rh Center, fast, average size.
6. Arthur Kaliev. Wont be there, like Oliver Wahlstrom
7. Simon Holmstrom
8. Ilya Nikolaiev. Super sleeper.
9. Adam Beckman. I think hes just hitting his stride a tad later than the rest but could be a massive coup if he keeps improving.
10. Brett Leason. 20. Big, bomb of a shot. Could be in the NHL out of the box. Sketchy skating the only thing holding him back
11. Bobby Brink. Smaller, but a pure shooter. Skating again the issue.
12. Defenseman Mikko Kokkonen. Finnish version of Kylington IMO.
13. Pavel Dorofeyev. Speedy center. Playmaker. Good IQ.
14. Harrison Blaisdell. Tenacious center. Speedy. Not sure on offensive upside.
15. Ville Heinola. Probably right in the scouting staffs wheel house. Great hockey IQ.

seeing all those guys that are in the 20s-50s makes me really, really hope the Flames are able to trade for a 2nd round pick or two...

they are lottery tickets; they all have warts that prevent them from being top 15, but i'd bet there's a few of them that will turn out to be great picks 2-3 years down the road.

[savardandjokinen]

At 26, don't really care what position they pick, just pick the best player available. The later picks, suit our needs.