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Flames Want Shanahan? - Potential Trade for 1st Overall? - Draft Selections

June 18, 2013, 9:50 AM ET [109 Comments]
Colin Dambrauskas
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter!: @ColinDJD

No, there’s nothing wrong with the title…the Calgary Flames have been reportedly speaking with former NHLer Brendan Shanahan about potentially replacing Ken King as team President. Bob McKenzie of TSN, however, states that no job offers have been proposed to Shanahan during his recent visit to Calgary, despite the rumored conversations.

It shouldn’t be to anyone’s surprise that the Flames are looking to shake things up anywhere from their draft selections to their management group. While I am not entirely sure we will see any big changes in office for Calgary this summer, I do expect their phones to be busy just the same. With that being said, Flames fans may have breathed a sigh of relief during Feaster’s most recent press conferences and interviews when he wholeheartedly acknowledged that his team is in a rebuild and not a retool and that further, there will be no shortcuts made by his team.


“I don’t think there’s a quick fix,” Jay Feaster, general manager of the Flames, said Friday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “The fact of the matter is, we have to do a better job as an organization in drafting. There’s not enough players that are pushing through right now. We have to do a better job of developing players.

“And we have to continue to add assets. We can’t keep trading away high draft picks and trying for that solution that gets us into the playoffs ... at the expense of the foundation.”
While I certainly respect this thought process from the Flames GM, it seems as though he may be a little confused by what it means to “continue to add assets”.



It has been noted by several, including Elliotte Friedman, that Feaster and the Flames have been looking to move up in that draft and that they have tabled an offer with all three of their first round draft picks for Colorado’s first overall selection. Sorry, but what was that about not trading away draft selections again Jay?


“We have had extensive conversations with teams about trying to move up in the draft — into the top five,” said Feaster. “We at least know which teams are willing to do something, and, if they are, what it would take to do that. There’s a good understanding of which picks are in play.”



Now don’t get me wrong, being able to add a guy like Mackinnon to the Flames organization depth would do wonders for Calgary, but at what price? Giving away three selections to pick first overall when your team is arguably toward the start of a rebuild may not be so wise. The Flames need to stock pile assets and develop as many prospects as they can get their hands on. Having three first round selections from this year’s ostensibly deep draft, in this writers opinion, would serve the team far better in the long run than selecting first overall and then nothing again until the 3rd round, given their lack of a 2nd round selection this year.

With their 6th overall selection, I have held that the Flames would be best suited to select Ottawa 67’s captain, Sean Monahan. Given their lack of depth down the middle, the Flames will certainly be looking hard at Monahan with their first selection and rightfully so. The big bodied center has the ability to not only be a play maker, but he is also gritty, plays an aggressive style hockey, gets into the corners and isn’t too bad at the faceoff dot, either! While not necessarily a strong offensive prowess, Monahan provides a very solid two way game and leadership qualities which are key to a long and successful NHL career.

Despite not being known for his offensive game, Sean has put up two 78pt seasons during his last two years in 58 and 62 games with Ottawa, respectively. Not bad for a guy who is known as a two way centerman, no? It is still uncertain if Monahan can be the first line center that the Flames have been seeking for years, however there’s only one way to find out – draft him, develop him, and give him a chance to earn it.

Conversely, Calgary has another big forward who could be available at the 6th overall selection in Aleksander “Sasha” Barkov. The 6’2, 210lbs center has shown his ability to be not only creative with the puck, but also a strong hockey sense and composed game which has been noted to be an important quality by the Flames management group. As previously noted, Sasha is already playing against older and bigger players with his current Finnish squad, so his game could potentially crossover to the NHL better than previous prospects have shown. Additionally, and like Monahan, Barkov is a two way center who understands his responsibilities to defend in addition to scoring, which should be another big point for Calgary.

By electing to keep their current draft selections, the Flames have the potential to select the centerman they need at 6th in either Monahan or Barkov or even a guy like Lindholm, grab some solid defensive depth with a guy like Josh Morrissey with their 22nd selection, or pick up one of Kerby Rychel or Valentin Zykov if they are still around. The Flames could then complete their 1st round by grabbing some added depth in a guy like Steve Santini or Dillon Heatherington with their final selection. Best case scenario, the Flames walk away with Monahan, Morrissey and Santini.

So, you tell me hockey fans – would acquiring the first overall selection and drafting Mackinnon be worth giving up three potential prospects in Monahan, Morrissey and Santini? Heck, even if they were to acquire Lindholm, Rychel and Heatherington instead…would they be worth giving up?

What do you guys think? If the trade is available make the move for that first overall selection, or keep your three picks and stick it out?

Also, out of curiousity, who do you fans feels the Flames will draft in the first round?








That’s all for today folks, thanks for reading!
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