Yesterday, the new flavour was Artemi Panarin. Of course, the Calgary Flames are doing their due diligence contacting the Jackets.
The Flames seem to believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are making cap space for Tavares. Therefore, the Flames of contacted the Leafs about Marner and Nylander.
Last but not least, the New York Islanders. The Flames are selling Brodie, but the Islanders are going to another table. I'm not sure they will bite.
Before I start this draft — a little birdie told me that the Flames are looking at Luke Henman. Obviously, they don't care who I pick!
It is time for the annual crapshoot. Otherwise known as the Nightmare on Elm Street, when I try to use all of my common sense and NHL knowledge to pick the players for the draft. This year is even more difficult, knowing that the Calgary Flames do not have a first-round pick. It is common knowledge that the Calgary Flames are working the phones to rectify that problem. The Flames are talking to the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, and even the Montréal Canadiens.
They're all giving all the same answer—thanks but no thanks. Either the Calgary Flames are not offering enough, or the other teams are just not interested in the Calgary Flames package. The Flames apparently want too much for Dougie Hamilton. The other problem is that TJ Brodie does not have enough respect to get a first-round pick. The Flames are being too cheap, or the prices are too high, resulting in the Calgary Flames going nowhere. Otherwise known as "no first round pick for you for one year!"
This year’s draft blog consists of who I think the Calgary Flames will try to pick up in the first round through a trade.
Brady Tkachuk
The chances of the Calgary Flames picking up Brady in the first round are slim to none. This Boston College forward is a monster, with size and talent the boot. Imagine Gijoe on skates. Highly skilled, he can handle the puck and take out the trash.Vitali Kravtsov
I may not be able to pronounce his name, but I know size when I see it. A rugged right winger who stand up for himself. He gives the offence some punch and will score his share of garbage goals. He’s going to get in from the slot and get his share of rebounds chances. He has the ability to capitalize on the opportunities. If the Flames are committed to getting bigger, Vitali is exactly what the doctor ordered.Martin Kaut
An extremely fast skater who will force the defence to back up when carrying the puck into the offensive zone. He will need to beef up and work out in order to stay on his feet when he gets hit.Ryan McLeod
Big nasty centermen who dominates the face-offs. The Flames are one of the weakest teams on the draw. Ryan would be a big boost to the Flames dismal face-off woes. He could be a two-way player in the Flames' futureI guess I will try to figure out now who the Calgary Flames will pick in the fourth round they have two picks.
The rest of the picks, I will just list them without (much) explanation.
105 Michael Ivan
Has decent speed and will fight for the puck. Will be a typical number three or four defenceman.108 Jeremi Gerber
A strong skater with decent puck skills. He will help in the offence game.A very smart hockey player.
167 Mikhail Bitsadze
198 James Maim
Dearen's comments
First of all, I want to say that the annual draft blog by Randy is my absolute favourite. I am sad that Brad Treliving traded away the draft picks this year and robbed me of Randy's CORRECT First Round Selection.Randy asked me to give some response as to who I think the Flames may trade or want to trade for at the draft in terms of a highly-ranked draft-eligible prospect. The Flames do not draft until their two selections in the fourth round. This makes it for a very boring draft if they do not improve their draft position. Ideally, we would want to see the Flames draft in the top ten, especially after missing the playoffs. If this were to happen this draft, it would mean the Flames traded up and gave up a serious asset to do so. I think it is safe to assume that Rasmus Dahlin goes first overall and Andrei Svechnikov follows him at number two. I will even say that Filip Zadina goes number there to Montreal. I believe that neither one of these three draft picks get traded.
So, where can the Flames get into the top ten in terms of a draft pick? Ottawa, Arizona and Detroit follow Montreal at number three. Could one of those three teams be willing to part with their draft pick? If you offer Dougie Hamilton, they may listen. I keep reading that Dougie Hamilton is a trade chip for the Flames and that makes sense, if you are strictly looking at getting something of significant value back in return. However, I just do not know how you trade a 24-year-old right-handed defenseman, under contract, and one who averaged 45.6pts in his last three season with Calgary. Not to mention that he has only missed one game in the past three seasons. Am I Dougie's biggest fan? Nope. But again, how do you remove him from this roster and believe you are a better team? Do you wish Dougie was more physical? Yes. Could there be character issues that are the reason for these rumors of Dougie being available? Sure. Are the Flames a better team with Dougie Hamilton in the line up and arguably still getting better as a player? Absolutely.
Brady Tkachuk. Would the Flames love to bring Brady Tkachuk to Calgary and have him play on the same team as his brother? Of course, the Flames would. Brady who is much bigger than his older brother Matthew would be a welcome addition to any team. I guess my question becomes, do you trade Dougie Hamilton to let say Ottawa or Detroit, draft Brady Tkachuk, and expect the Calgary Flames to be a better team next year or the year after? I don't see it. Sure you would add some cap space that you could use, but I do not believe the Flames would be a better team. Sometimes we get excited and mesmerized with young players, and you turn on the TV and they are making it sound like every prospect in the draft is the next Alexander Ovechkin.
The Flames are starting to create a backlog at defence. You have a young defenseman like Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington and Juuso Valimaki who are expected to make a serious push to take a roster spot at camp this coming October. Looking at our current NHL defenseman group, Michael Stone appears to be a guy you can look to move out. Two years left at $3.5M, but has a modified no-trade clause (15 team no trade list). Perhaps the Flames can look to move Stone to acquire a late round draft pick or a depth player to fill a spot in the AHL. Or the Flames can look to move TJ Brodie who has two more years at $4.65M left on his contract with an eight team no-trade clause. TJ Brodie had a poor season, and his value likely dropped significantly. However, Brodie can skate and is only 28 years old. Then you can look at players like Sam Bennett, Michael Frolik and Micheal Ferland who may offer some trade value, but they will not get you into the top ten of the draft this year.
So, unless you are trading a Dougie Hamilton, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk or Johnny Gaudreau, I do not see the Flames being able to move into the top ten of this year's draft. And to be honest, I don't want the Flames trading into the top ten of the draft, because I feel we will come out of it as a weaker team. I have seen comments like trading Adam Fox and Sam Bennett or Jon Gillies with Oliver Kylington etc., I do not know what kind of return those players may get you, but I would be more inclined to explore trades for younger established players in the NHL that could be available. The Flames may not draft until the fourth round, but perhaps they pick up a second-round pick in a trade where they acquire a right-winger.
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