All the scouts say Jones is better than Ekblad. Yet last year 3 teams all in dire need of Dmen all let Jones go by for forwards....
- Iggysbff

The quality of fwds were to good to pass on.

The quality of fwds were to good to pass on.
- TandA4Flames

Yet Jones was ranked 1st above them all.

Yet if the Oilers end up taking a Bennett/Draisaitl over Ekblad? All we'll hear is "har har Oilers so stoopid...draft another forward....derp...."
- Iggysbff

If the Oilers plan to trade/sign some dmen, then I do not think it is a stupid idea. If they take a forward and don't get a dman, that is when you will hear the stupid Oilers remarks.


I think the biggest problem for Mac T and the Oilers will be the common Oiler fan, who does not follow very closely. Those fans will be very vocal if Ekblad is not chosen, which puts pressure on Mac T to do something.



Oilerzzz suck lolzz

P.S
It does feel good to say that.

Nope new rules. Whoever wins gets 1st. Everyone else dropped one spot.

Edit: Thats why the odds have changed. When you could only move 4 spots the top 5 only had a chance at first. Effectively giving the 30th spot a 48% chance at 1st. Now with all teams eligible the odds for the 30th place team are dropped to 25%
- Iggysbff

Oh really, thought this was next year. Thanks for the info

Yet Jones was ranked 1st above them all.
- Iggysbff

I put last draft as a true example of best player available versus drafting for positional need. Both happened in the early picks.

In the end MacKinnon was definitely he best player available, so Colorado when that route, even though most believed they positionally needed a defenseman more.

Florida wanted a big center to be able to play with Huberdeau so positionally took Barkov (Both Jones and Drouin were extensively ranked ahead of him)

Tampa positionally wanted to bring in a play making winger that would be able to step in with Stamkos for when St.Louis was done. At the time (since St. Louis is now gone) they saw this in Drouin and thought he would be ready for when all that happened.

Nashville just coundn't any longer pass on Jones as the best player still available, even though positionally they could use a forward (and there was a pretty good one selected at 6th overall).

Yet Jones was ranked 1st above them all.
- Iggysbff

I don't like to compare like this....Jones drops last year then all of sudden every high rated D man is going to drop? I dont think so. Reminds me of the Gaudreau = Gerbe comparison. Not to mention the fact that Jones looked awesome this year in Nashville

Anyway, we'll see what happens. It wouldn't surprise me if he did drop to 4th. If the Flames scooped him then I would be all for it.

I don't like to compare like this....Jones drops last year then all of sudden every high rated D man is going to drop? I dont think so. Reminds me of the Gaudreau = Gerbe comparison. Not to mention the fact that Jones looked awesome this year in Nashville

Anyway, we'll see what happens. It wouldn't surprise me if he did drop to 4th. If the Flames scooped him then I would be all for it.
- The-O-G

Again. I'm happy with any of the top 4, even if my preference is Reinhart.

I don't like to compare like this....Jones drops last year then all of sudden every high rated D man is going to drop? I dont think so. Reminds me of the Gaudreau = Gerbe comparison. Not to mention the fact that Jones looked awesome this year in Nashville

Anyway, we'll see what happens. It wouldn't surprise me if he did drop to 4th. If the Flames scooped him then I would be all for it.
- The-O-G

I don't think Jones would have looked as good or did as well if he didn't have a Shea Weber to learn from.

I don't think Jones would have looked as good or did as well if he didn't have a Shea Weber to learn from.
- TandA4Flames

Well Gio and Brodie can show Ekblad the ropes!

Again. I'm happy with any of the top 4, even if my preference is Reinhart.
- Saskabush

I'm with you on this one!

I think all of the top 4 or 5 ranked guys will be very good players.

I also think that Draisaitl realized he had that rep after the World Juniors and it gave him a bit of a wake up call. He was dropping in rankings then, and his play at the world junior (getting kicked out of 2 games) left him in a bad position. So he busted his ass like he did in the second half of the season to overcome it and eliminate that thought about his game.
- dal_johnson

sounds like rene bourque part 2 to me.

Bennet/reinhart/ekblad are what I'd love to get. Dalcolle if any of those are gone at are pick.

If all 4 are gone by our pick....I'd be fine with them grabbing Ritchie/virtanen. It seems a couple picks high but just watching some of their play I feel like they fit the hartley system more then Draisiti.

Bennett.
- Nucker101

its a tough call...I lean to reinhart due to the RH shot....we have none in our forwards right now (expect Knight I think)

its a tough call...I lean to reinhart due to the RH shot....we have none in our forwards right now (expect Knight I think)
- numbear

Arnold is a right shot as well.

Arnold is a right shot as well.
- Talking_hockey1

true, but I think he's going to be a 3rd liner at most.

Yet Jones was ranked 1st above them all.
- Iggysbff

When there is no clear cut number one, the top few guys are always subject to fluctuation. It just depends on the general manager and the scouting staff. If its feaster, and its an option between Reinhart and Ekblad (theoretically), than he probably takes Reinhart for the hockey I.Q.. Thats what feaster valued most. Burke most likely takes Ekblad, big, strong, with plenty of Truculence. They say take the best player available, but in cases where there is no clear cut #1 or 2 or in this case 5, the definition of the best player available changes with the team.

I wish the draft was tomorrow……going to be a long couple of months. I miss being in playoffs. I am gaining a new respect for leafs fans……not good thing.

true, but I think he's going to be a 3rd liner at most.
- numbear

I liked what I saw from Arnold....I think he can play.

true, but I think he's going to be a 3rd liner at most.
- numbear

Likely the sAme with Knight. One of them will be a RW.

Likely the sAme with Knight. One of them will be a RW.
- TandA4Flames

most likely arnold, Knight is to solid on face-offs for his age. I see him becoming a good 3/4 face-off shut down kind of guy

So does anyone know more about the Heat situation? Will another city step up to take the franchise? Will the AHL just let the team fold? Where do our players go next year? etc

I remember hearing rumours that Saskatoon wanted to bring in an AHL team (a step towards an eventual push for an NHL team). I'd love that, it would put flames rookies right in my backyard, and would still be close enough for the Flames to make call ups easily.

So does anyone know more about the Heat situation? Will another city step up to take the franchise? Will the AHL just let the team fold? Where do our players go next year? etc

I remember hearing rumours that Saskatoon wanted to bring in an AHL team (a step towards an eventual push for an NHL team). I'd love that, it would put flames rookies right in my backyard, and would still be close enough for the Flames to make call ups easily.
- Saskabush

could move to seattle for those reasons as well. similar situation of them wanting an NHL team and having an WHL team at the moment. good test to see how they handle the hockey market.

So does anyone know more about the Heat situation? Will another city step up to take the franchise? Will the AHL just let the team fold? Where do our players go next year? etc

I remember hearing rumours that Saskatoon wanted to bring in an AHL team (a step towards an eventual push for an NHL team). I'd love that, it would put flames rookies right in my backyard, and would still be close enough for the Flames to make call ups easily.
- Saskabush

I'd heard they are going somewhere in NY. Rumours that the canucks are bringing the comets to abbotsford so they can have their farm team nearby.

I'd heard they are going somewhere in NY. Rumours that the canucks are bringing the comets to abbotsford so they can have their farm team nearby.
- Iggysbff

According to King, there are several opportunities. NY seems the most likely , I'd really like to see them approach Saskatoon, I think the city would take well to it (especially if strong attendance meant a possible NHL franchise). Saskatchewan is different than B.C, there is no 1 team that everyone cheers for, so an AHL team should do well here.

According to King, there are several opportunities. NY seems the most likely , I'd really like to see them approach Saskatoon, I think the city would take well to it (especially if strong attendance meant a possible NHL franchise). Saskatchewan is different than B.C, there is no 1 team that everyone cheers for, so an AHL team should do well here.
- Saskabush

Might hurt the blades.

Might hurt the blades.
- Iggysbff

Ya the blades would have to go. Putting the Blades in Abby could work well. The thing with Saskatoon is that the city is comprised of people from all around the province (especially with the U of S in town) and it's hard for many to root for the Blades when they grew up in Moose Jaw, P.A, Regina, Swift Current, etc. An AHL team could solve that, but I may just be dreamin...