Flames 2013 Draft Discussion

[Da_Chief]

For now we have what looks like a top 5 pick and a bottom 5 pick of the first round.

Top 5 guys

Seth Jones - D

Excellent hockey IQ and positional functional. His game is continually improving and may be even bigger by the draft. Doesn't go out of his way to dominate attackers physically but there is some nasty there. When that, and his overall game matures, he may be a dominant NHL player.

Nathan Mackinnon - C

Combines high hockey IQ with a strong skating base, toughness, puck skills, and quick-counter abilities to out-match most opponents.

Jonathon Drouin - LW

Undersized play-making left winger with excellent skill and hockey smarts. Displays top offensive abilities at the junior level due to his vision and feel for the play and where to be. Elusive one-on-one and an excellent passer. Fearless. Goes to the front.

Alexsander Barkov - C

A patient player who is strong on the puck, and is confident he can hold on the biscuit while surveying options, and then surprise with excellent passes to the open attacker. Possesses tremendous hands and vision. He is working on his skating and speed, but has excellent balance and ability to handle the puck at his top speed.

Sean Monahan - C

mpressive big man with good speed and all-compass mobility, and equally impressive offensive instincts. Will fill out to be an even larger pro, he has a nice first step and ability to control play down low and along the boards. A fine scorer with a quick release, he could play in phone booth with success, as he stick handles and moves as well as any smaller skilled forward, but can still beat teams with his power game.

Other Notables - Elias Lindholm and Valery Nichushkin

Bottom 5 guys

Shea Theodore - D

Strong skating defender with a strong offensive game. Reads the ice well and is a good passer. His all-compass agility allows him time in all zones. Power play pointman with accurate shot.

Nic Petan - C

Highly competitive little man with excellent acceleration and a really heavy shot. Can go wide on defenseman and battles for the puck and drives the net. Backchecks, and attacks with the same quickness.

Robert Hagg - D

Big sturdy D-man with significant upside on both sides of his game. Is a quick-stick player who loves to turn it up-ice and go. Plays with calm and confidence, especially when on the point, setting up the attack.

Andre Burakowsky - LW

Has a burst to beat defenders outside, has ability to get open in the attack, and quickly releases his shot. Very agile and can play to the speed of his feet. Soft hands and shot, but sometimes hogs the puck because of his faith in his own ability to score and doesn't distribute when he probably should.

Anthony Duclair - LW

A year ago scored at a point-per-game pace and hasn't slowed much. Great speed and dangle. Possesses great vision and is an offensive generator. Top-end elusiveness and puck skills. Can go wide on a defender and cut to the front. Needs to build strength and aggressiveness.

Other Notables - Zack Fucale, Curtis Lazar

Scouting info - http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2013/

Good site to track Mock drafts - http://dcprosportsreport.com/NHLMocks.htm

Right now where we're at I'd go with Mackinnon/Drouin with the top pick and Theodore with the Pit pick.

Some good prospects, cmon Feaster couple more firsts.

[kyuss275]

Might as well start looking at the top 5 for the 2014 draft also.

[dammage79]

I think the Flames under Weisbrod and Feaster will likely target a guy like Ryan Hartman with their PIT pick.

[nik-]

MacKinnon, Jones, Barkov, Drouin, Lindholm ... in that order.

[PlayfulGenius]

I know everyone's focus is on the elusive #1 C, but I hope the Flames somehow end up landing Seth Jones. I imagine both the Panthers and the Avs take him, so Flames will have to finish lower or win the lottery.

[StrykerSteve]

Just the fact that they are almost guaranteed a top 5 pick and a second pick in the 1st round, both of which have never happened in this franchise's history, makes this whole fiasco of a season kind of worth it.

I'm rarely excited about the Draft, but this year I'm genuinely into it.

If Calgary manages to get Mackinnon or Drouin, I would be over-the-moon excited.

Theodore would be a solid choice with their second pick.

[drPepper1]

Think we go off the board and target an NCAA player or another high schooler

[calgARI]

Good timing to suck at least with this being such a strong draft.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by drPepper1

Think we go off the board and target an NCAA player or another high schooler

With the earlier pick???? Hehe!! It would be awesome to see the reaction in here...myself included

[FlameyMcFlameFace]

Jones or Drouin would be amazing! yes Mackinnon too, but I'm not sold on him yet.

However, now that we have a 2nd pick and maybe a 3rd with jaybow. I wouldnt mind drafting the best forward with our top pick followed by dman.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Good timing to suck at least with this being such a strong draft.

And only 48 games to tolerate.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by drPepper1

Think we go off the board and target an NCAA player or another high schooler

I'm really pessimistic about his management team, but after thinking about this more, I don't see how they could possibly go off the board with a top 4 pick or trade down. They need an elite player and a name to market now. It's not going to rest solely on Sven.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Might as well start looking at the top 2 for the 2014 draft also.

fyp

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

And only 48 games to tolerate.

Yup, pretty soon the count down for the last 10 remaining games will start

[Mith]

The more I look at Drouin the more I have a hard time passing on him. As much as the flames need a strong center, drouin looks like he projects to a superstar forward.

[PlayfulGenius]

Both Mackinnon and Drouin missed 20 games or so this season...any injuries that might affect their draft position?

Also, Drouin had 30 points on Nate...and played better at the WJC...what has him rated lower by many in here?

[North East Goon]

I have been studying Monahan lately, kid looks to be a top line Centre too me. Don't overlook this kid.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by nik-

MacKinnon, Jones, Barkov, Drouin, Lindholm ... in that order.

Exactly

I know that it should always be BPA, but at the end of the day, there are no certainties. Drouin is better than Barkov IMO, and generally agreed, but the Flames need a C. If we got our first top 3 in team history and used it on an LW, when our two best prospects are already LWs, and we have very little else, well that is just silly. Have to take Barkov before Drouin.

However, I think there is enough of a difference between Drouin and Lindholm, that I would have to go with the BPA. Then the Flames would have to look at trading one of them (BAertschi, Gaudreau and Drouin)


Exact same logic applies between MacKinnon and Jones for me. MacKinnon first, but otherwise Jones is too good to pass up.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Both Mackinnon and Drouin missed 20 games or so this season...any injuries that might affect their draft position?

Also, Drouin had 30 points on Nate...and played better at the WJC...what has him rated lower by many in here?

It's about NHL tools, not who is the best player right now, in junior.

MacKinnon's speed, tenacity and leadership are undeniably elite. And he is a C.

[Wronskian]

I really like Monahan, it seems that people have him a level below Mack, Drouin Barkov Jones, but I would consider Monahan ahead of Barkov, he plays alot like Toews