Center is locked up.....you're forgetting about Stajan and Jankowski
- The-O-G

The Flames need to target centers and defencemen. When it comes to forwards they need to go after top 6 potential, and there is already some "stock" on the wings in that department.

They need to draft a Center as the top priority, regardless of if it is MacKinnon, or Barkov, or Monahan. The only exception to this is if Jones is still available, which probably means that they will have the first over all pick. If that is the case then they do all they can to trade up and get one of those centers.

Trying to trade up should be a must anyways, but especially if they are in a position to pick Jones.

- Feeling Glucky?

You again?!?!?

Want Kipper?

3rd liner at best I think. But he could be a good 3rd liner. I would put him there instead of Stajan right now, considering our attemt at a youth movement.
- TandA4Flames

Agreed!

The Flames need to target centers and defencemen. When it comes to forwards they need to go after top 6 potential, and there is already some "stock" on the wings in that department.

They need to draft a Center as the top priority, regardless of if it is MacKinnon, or Barkov, or Monahan. The only exception to this is if Jones is still available, which probably means that they will have the first over all pick. If that is the case then they do all they can to trade up and get one of those centers.

Trying to trade up should be a must anyways, but especially if they are in a position to pick Jones.
- dal_johnson

What if they get first pick??? I think they should trade down to 2nd, get another pick maybe, and draft MacKinnon.

What if they get first pick??? I think they should trade down to 2nd, get another pick maybe, and draft MacKinnon.
- The-O-G

All the possibilities... It's killing me.

You again?!?!?

Want Kipper?
- The-O-G

SO glad he decided to retire.

AND Nonis turned down Gillis's attempts.

Perfect deadline.

What if they get first pick??? I think they should trade down to 2nd, get another pick maybe, and draft MacKinnon.
- The-O-G

If they have first overall then it depends on how high they may be able to trade up to get a second pick, and who they think the other high picking teams will pick.

I've said this in a previous thread that a lot of the high picking teams (based on the current standings) are very rich with Centers. Colorado (O'Reilly and Duchesne), Tampa (Stamkos and Lecavalier), Carolina (Staal Brothers), Philadelphia (Girioux, Schenn, Couturier), Buffalo (Grigs, Girgs, and Hodgson) will all be after wingers and Defencemen. (or at least they should be). Even though he is ranked higher, it makes me think that Barkov may drop in the draft. I think that Mackinnon is the more popular pick and he will go before Barkov. If the Flames can get a second pick into the top 6 then they can still get a center.

While I would prefer MacKinnon over Barkov or even Monahan. To me Jones and either Barkov or Monahan is better than MacKinnon and another high pick (assuming that they still try to trade up).

Also to trade down from first and still get Mackinon means they can trade no lower than 4th (and that is being hopeful). I don't really see anything to offer from Colorado, Florida, Tampa, or Carolina that would convince me to do that.

What if they get first pick??? I think they should trade down to 2nd, get another pick maybe, and draft MacKinnon.
- The-O-G

Yup.

Yup.
- TandA4Flames

Who honestly is going to trade down with us to give us a 2nd top 10 pick?

Who honestly is going to trade down with us to give us a 2nd top 10 pick?
- KABLOOEY

Nobody has a 2nd top 10. It would have to be for another later pick or likely a prospect/player. If Drouin is indeed coveted by one of those teams (CAR, TBL, FLA, COL) one may look to get in front of the other teams to get him. Risky for us so as long as we have a couple of good targets, it may be worth it.

So much value put on Monahan, not saying he isn't a good player but you've got to use your head. This guy's stock has dropped a bit because there are better players available, plain and simple. Like I said, not that he wont necessarily be good, but I think putting him in the same skill category as Mackinnon, Drouin, or Nichushkin isn't smart. Unless feaster can stay within top 3 or 4, and the return is big, I don't think he should trade down at all. The top tier talent is top tier talent, plain and simple, the draft may be deep but those guys are at the top for a reason.

Who honestly is going to trade down with us to give us a 2nd top 10 pick?
- KABLOOEY

May have to do it in stages. Package the St. Louis pick (assuming they make the playoffs) with a player to move up some. Package that aquired pick with another player to move up even more. It's not necessarily as simple as that, but it is doable. It is how Vancouver got the Sedins. It is also a very rich draft, so after the first 4 or 5 picks the available players are all very good.

Beyond that I think that Philadelphia would be a team willing to move their pick. This season has to be pretty much a write off for them and nobody expected them to have the difficulties that they did this year. I think that they would still be in more of a "go for it now" mentallity that they can apply in a normal, full season. They may be open to a trade of a good player (winger or defenceman) and a later first round pick. As an example maybe, as a starting point, Cammalleri and the St. Louis pick. To make it more attractive there is still the Pittsburgh pick, and the Flames should consider eating some of Cammalleri's salary to try and get a better return. Cammalleri at 6 million may not be great, but Cammalleri at 3 or 4 million is much much better. And if the Flames attempt a "youth movement" then cap space should become available.

May have to do it in stages. Package the St. Louis pick (assuming they make the playoffs) with a player to move up some. Package that aquired pick with another player to move up even more. It's not necessarily as simple as that, but it is doable. It is how Vancouver got the Sedins. It is also a very rich draft, so after the first 4 or 5 picks the available players are all very good.

Beyond that I think that Philadelphia would be a team willing to move their pick. This season has to be pretty much a write off for them and nobody expected them to have the difficulties that they did this year. I think that they would still be in more of a "go for it now" mentallity that they can apply in a normal, full season. They may be open to a trade of a good player (winger or defenceman) and a later first round pick. As an example maybe, as a starting point, Cammalleri and the St. Louis pick. To make it more attractive there is still the Pittsburgh pick, and the Flames should consider eating some of Cammalleri's salary to try and get a better return. Cammalleri at 6 million may not be great, but Cammalleri at 3 or 4 million is much much better. And if the Flames attempt a "youth movement" then cap space should become available.
- dal_johnson

Except that calgary would need to absorb around $4.75 million dollars for Philly to remain under the cap next year...

Who honestly is going to trade down with us to give us a 2nd top 10 pick?
- KABLOOEY

Nobody necessarily....BUT if we moved to second and got a late first rounder for doing so, we could trade that pick, with the ST Lou pick to move up to say 7th or 8th if Barkov falls. Maybe even all three picks (pick for trading down, pick from STL, pick from PIT).

MacKinnon AND Barkov.

Then we can trade JANKO for 3 first rounders next year....we wont even need him!

Drouin is actually about the same size as bartschi. 5'11 and conflicting reports put his weight between 186-194. At 18 years old the kid will only get bigger. Drouin also weighs more than Mackinnon, and played center in AAA.
- RyanGosling

Drouin neither looks nor plays bigger than MacKinnon. Mackinnon looks like Toews and Drouin looks like a Giroux/Kane hybrid - skilled so he's hard to knock off the puck, but not a physical guy per se.

That being said, Drouin has better hands than MacKinnon.

Drouin neither looks nor plays bigger than MacKinnon. Mackinnon looks like Toews and Drouin looks like a Giroux/Kane hybrid - skilled so he's hard to knock off the puck, but not a physical guy per se.

That being said, Drouin has better hands than MacKinnon.
- Morris

Who are the oilers going to take at 13?









I kid....I kid

Except that calgary would need to absorb around $4.75 million dollars for Philly to remain under the cap next year...
- Talking_hockey1

It was just an example, but there are also options there that can be done in addition to eatingsome of Cammalleri's salary.

Calgary could take a player back to help with they cap space.

Philadelphia still has their two compliance buy-outs that may be used. There have been talks of them using them on players like Briere, or Bryzgalov. Could even buy out Pronger. There is at least 5 million a player right there.

Who are the oilers going to take at 13?









I kid....I kid
- The-O-G

Bo

Who are the oilers going to take at 13?









I kid....I kid
- The-O-G

The Philadelphia flyers will take someone with the Oilers 13th pick, in a move they'll make to shed cap e4.

The Philadelphia flyers will take someone with the Oilers 13th pick, in a move they'll make to shed cap e4.
- Morris

This could be very likely as well.

It was just an example, but there are also options there that can be done in addition to eatingsome of Cammalleri's salary.

Calgary could take a player back to help with they cap space.

Philadelphia still has their two compliance buy-outs that may be used. There have been talks of them using them on players like Briere, or Bryzgalov. Could even buy out Pronger. There is at least 5 million a player right there.
- dal_johnson

Yeah but as soon as you need to take a player back the other way, especially one with enough salary to take on Cammy's contract you would need to add more to the trade. I know it is an example but it doesn't make much sense for either team.

Also, Nikita Zadorov, plays for the London Knights, ranked 6th in ISS rankings, 6'5" 230 lbs...

Also, Nikita Zadorov, plays for the London Knights, ranked 6th in ISS rankings, 6'5" 230 lbs...
- Talking_hockey1

Frenchie likes this guy. As do I. Sounds like his offense is underrated.

There sure is some size in this draft.

Yeah but as soon as you need to take a player back the other way, especially one with enough salary to take on Cammy's contract you would need to add more to the trade. I know it is an example but it doesn't make much sense for either team.
- Talking_hockey1

The sense comes in the Flyers being able to gain some salary cap space (if they have a player that the believe is no longer worth the money to them), and the Flames gaining another top 10 pick. It's not like the Flyers would be sending one of their top guys Calgary's way.

Regardless of trades or anything, the Flyers are going to have to use their buyouts to deal with their cap issues. With that the option of the flames eating say half of Cammalleri's salary helps out.

If they bought out Briere (6.5 million) and Pronger who may not play again (5 million) and took on Cammalleri at say 4 million then they have gained 7.5 million in cap space right there. Cammalleri replaces the top 6 forward that they would lose in Briere, and Pronger wasn't going to play anyways and was just taking up Cap space.

They don't even have to buy out Pronger and can just put him on LTIR and he no longer counts against the cap anyways.