Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames: On The Draft & Fixing The Bottom-6

What's wrong with the bottom 6?

All the Flames fans say the only problem is goaltending. Fix that and youre a cup contender amirite?

If the Flames are in the 5-7 range, I wouldn't mind them drafting a Dman. D for some reason is not currently in favour in recent years at the top of the draft so if they can have their pick of Dmen, I'd do that. Flames have a good thing going with developing D so adding another high end talent would be great.

Agree on the bottom 6. Sorry Lance, but $1million per goal doesn't cut it.

If we pick in that range and Dubois is available you take him. A 6'3 200 pounder who can play all forward positions and doesn't turn 18 until June. Yes please!

I've been looking forward to your draft reports, Todd. I believe it was you last year that gave the report on Rasmus Andersson, a player I had heard a bit about but after your report I started looking even more and he became one of my favourite targets in the draft (so glad we got him!).

I'm hoping you do a few other sleeper prospects reports. Personally, if CGY gets DAL 1st I'm hoping they can grab Laberge- I'd love to see your report on him.

Out of the obvious top 3, Dubois is my choice so I hope we, at least remain in range of snagging him.

Grabbing a D man doesn't seem like good strategy for the Flames as we already have more developing than we actually have room for. If we end up in the middle of the D run, I wouldn't at all mind trading down, grab another asset and then go for a fwd like McLeod. He's big, shoots right and has some nasty to him. Ultimately, we need big, strong, good skating wingers to play with Johnny, Mony and Bennett.

I've been looking forward to your draft reports, Todd. I believe it was you last year that gave the report on Rasmus Andersson, a player I had heard a bit about but after your report I started looking even more and he became one of my favourite targets in the draft (so glad we got him!).

I'm hoping you do a few other sleeper prospects reports. Personally, if CGY gets DAL 1st I'm hoping they can grab Laberge- I'd love to see your report on him.
- TandA4Flames

Thanks a lot. I appreciate that. And yes, you remember correctly. Rasmus Andersson is a guy I was sky high on and, as I said prior to the draft, I gave him a 1st round grade.

Out of the obvious top 3, Dubois is my choice so I hope we, at least remain in range of snagging him.

Grabbing a D man doesn't seem like good strategy for the Flames as we already have more developing than we actually have room for. If we end up in the middle of the D run, I wouldn't at all mind trading down, grab another asset and then go for a fwd like McLeod. He's big, shoots right and has some nasty to him. Ultimately, we need big, strong, good skating wingers to play with Johnny, Mony and Bennett.
- TandA4Flames

Can anyone compare Dubois's style to a former player?

What's wrong with the bottom 6?

All the Flames fans say the only problem is goaltending. Fix that and youre a cup contender amirite?
- Iggysbff

I know it is hard for you.....but dont be a douche!

Nice comments on the Pitt bottom 6 Todd....I have been thinking the same thing.

I'm really hoping that in the future guys like Grant, Poirier, Pribyl, Agostino, and in the future Mangiapane can come in and do the things that Sheary and Rust are doing for Pitt. I think there are guys in the system but we need to make some room i.e. see ya later Stajan, Bouma, Bollig.

Note: I am a Bouma fan. I am not ready to write him off just yet but he needs to bounce back next year. I know he's not gonna score as much as he did in the 2014-2015 season but he just wasn't effective at all last year.

I know it is hard for you.....but dont be a douche!
- The-O-G

says the guy with the King of the Douche avis

I know it is hard for you.....but dont be a douche!
- The-O-G

What? You guys are all allowed to come into our thread and lay a big pile of poo but we can't respond?

Can anyone compare Dubois's style to a former player?
- DuranDuran

Elite prospects says he reminds scouts of a James Neal type player.

What's wrong with the bottom 6?

All the Flames fans say the only problem is goaltending. Fix that and youre a cup contender amirite?
- Iggysbff

What's wrong with your entire team? According to Oiler fans you have the best young group in the league and yet you've hung out in the basement for nearly a decade?

Idiot.

What's wrong with your entire team? According to Oiler fans you have the best young group in the league and yet you've hung out in the basement for nearly a decade?

Idiot.
- TandA4Flames

Next year's the year!!!!!!!!

What? You guys are all allowed to come into our thread and lay a big pile of poo but we can't respond?
- Iggysbff

Exactly! When you start to cheer for a team that shows they are trying to legitimately do something to improve the team, other than tank for another high draft pick, come and have at'er. Until then, your troll has no basis of legitimacy.

What? You guys are all allowed to come into our thread and lay a big pile of poo but we can't respond?
- Iggysbff

Coiler fans deserve trolling. Calgary had an off year, we get decent goal tending and we are in the playoffs. We will be winning playoff rounds before Edmonton cracks 25th

Out of the obvious top 3, Dubois is my choice so I hope we, at least remain in range of snagging him.

Grabbing a D man doesn't seem like good strategy for the Flames as we already have more developing than we actually have room for. If we end up in the middle of the D run, I wouldn't at all mind trading down, grab another asset and then go for a fwd like McLeod. He's big, shoots right and has some nasty to him. Ultimately, we need big, strong, good skating wingers to play with Johnny, Mony and Bennett.
- TandA4Flames

Top 8 pick is gonna be BPA.

Not sure about Dubois' ability to receive and handle the puck at high speed. That said, hes definitely climbed a lot of lists. I'd rather McLeod personally if it's a forward.

Joulevi is my pick if we're going BPA. Some team is getting a top 2 defenseman when they draft him.

Top 8 pick is gonna be BPA.

Not sure about Dubois' ability to receive and handle the puck at high speed. That said, hes definitely climbed a lot of lists. I'd rather McLeod personally if it's a forward.

Joulevi is my pick if we're going BPA. Some team is getting a top 2 defenseman when they draft him.
- fry

Are you saying that with the 5th overall pick (assuming we don't move up or down) you're picking Joulevi.....you think he's the BPA at 5th OA?

I rank them:

Matthews
Laine
Puljijarvi

Then between Tkachuk and Dubois, which ever one would best match with and complement Bennett. Need to find him a partner in the same pattern of Gaudreau and Monahan. Somebody on a similar skill level as he is so that they can play off of and create.

If they fall out of the top 5, then I don't know what to say. I understand "best player available", but for my Nylander is too small and not near physical enough for what this team needs. And while it is overstating it to an extent another defenseman prospect seems like a waste to me as they have good prospects in the system already. I'm always hesitant to trade down too far, but there are much much bigger holes on this team then defense. Maybe if they draft 6 thru 8 it may be worth a run at a trade for a legit power forward or even Hamonic. I'm not necessarily saying a straight up trade, but something along that lines.

I rank them:

Matthews
Laine
Puljijarvi

Then between Tkachuk and Dubois, which ever one would best match with and complement Bennett. Need to find him a partner in the same pattern of Gaudreau and Monahan. Somebody on a similar skill level as he is so that they can play off of and create.

If they fall out of the top 5, then I don't know what to say. I understand "best player available", but for my Nylander is too small and not near physical enough for what this team needs. And while it is overstating it to an extent another defenseman prospect seems like a waste to me as they have good prospects in the system already. I'm always hesitant to trade down too far, but there are much much bigger holes on this team then defense. Maybe if they draft 6 thru 8 it may be worth a run at a trade for a legit power forward or even Hamonic. I'm not necessarily saying a straight up trade, but something along that lines.
- dal_johnson

For me,

Matthews
Then I keep flipping between Laine and Puljujaarvi
Then it's Dubois. Tkachuk is probably next.

I agree with you on Nylander. I don't think he fits our needs very well. I don't like trying to use that pick on getting Hamonic. That would make 4 D that we would have to protect in an expansion draft. I'd love to get him but I think it's a case of bad timing. We could end up losing him, in essence. That high 1st pick, for nothing. I would consider trading down, though to add a good young RW. We don't need to add a D prospect, BPA or not. Picking BPA isn't always the way to go.

To continue my argument from November, f Hartley, bring in Boudreau (and Gibson or Andersson)

To continue my argument from November, f Hartley, bring in Boudreau (and Gibson or Andersson)
- FLflames34

Yeah that would be real smart, bring in a guy that can't adjust in the playoffs. Bring back Sutter!