Todd Cordell: Suzuki an ideal target for the Flames + notes on Jankowski and Lazar

Hey Todd! I think Lazar is being moved into a winger. He's a scrappy right shot so it wouldn't surprise me if that's where they move him. I know his limited play time with the Flames saw him playing that RW position.

Suzuki, moved to the wing, sounds like a sold option, I do wonder if the Flames start to target size and two way games as opposed to pure skill type players, just given how their depth and lack of gritty size seemed to get exposed vs Anaheim. That said, having two dynamic scoring lines with skill does start to create matchup nightmares for opponents - you can't play Kesler 30+ minutes a game.

BTW, anyone see Johansen calling him out? Glad to see some players coming out and talking about Kesler's style of play. What a tool

You don't need Kesler to play 30+ minutes a night when you have Ryan Getzlaf anchoring the top line.

Suzuki, moved to the wing, sounds like a sold option, I do wonder if the Flames start to target size and two way games as opposed to pure skill type players, just given how their depth and lack of gritty size seemed to get exposed vs Anaheim. That said, having two dynamic scoring lines with skill does start to create matchup nightmares for opponents - you can't play Kesler 30+ minutes a game.

BTW, anyone see Johansen calling him out? Glad to see some players coming out and talking about Kesler's style of play. What a tool
- rmull905

I don't think size and grit had much to do with it. Not finishing on scoring chances, along with an inability to defend a lead might have been a factor though.

trade up for Rasmussen.

i know BPA is the common theme but it's so hard to acquire top 4 D. I think targeting Best Dman available would be the way i'd go. Calgary has some young high end forwards already so IMO a stud Dman would be more valuable to the team. Valimaki or Foote ? Not sure what high end D are available but there's usually a few good ones.

i know BPA is the common theme but it's so hard to acquire top 4 D. I think targeting Best Dman available would be the way i'd go. Calgary has some young high end forwards already so IMO a stud Dman would be more valuable to the team. Valimaki or Foote ? Not sure what high end D are available but there's usually a few good ones.
- tincup

Why? CGY already is looking pretty solid at D. Rasmus, Kylington, Hickey,Fox and you could also add in Falkovsky not to mention Kulak and Wotherspoon and some others in the system. And I disagree we have some high end fwd prospects. Right now Mangiapone, Phillips, Dube and Janko are our top fwd prospects and I wouldn't consider either of them 'high-end.' We need to draft wingers,specifically right wingers that have potential to score lots of goals. That is what we really lack.

Why? CGY already is looking pretty solid at D. Rasmus, Kylington, Hickey,Fox and you could also add in Falkovsky not to mention Kulak and Wotherspoon and some others in the system. And I disagree we have some high end fwd prospects. Right now Mangiapone, Phillips, Dube and Janko are our top fwd prospects and I wouldn't consider either of them 'high-end.' We need to draft wingers,specifically right wingers that have potential to score lots of goals. That is what we really lack.
- TandA4Flames

I mean young high end NHL talent. Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, tkachuk, then there are a few good prospects. At D we don't have anyone in the early 20s who is young high end NHL talent. Yes we have few prospects but that, imo is not enough. Edit: Hamilton is young high end but IMO still would like to add to that.

Why? CGY already is looking pretty solid at D. Rasmus, Kylington, Hickey,Fox and you could also add in Falkovsky not to mention Kulak and Wotherspoon and some others in the system. And I disagree we have some high end fwd prospects. Right now Mangiapone, Phillips, Dube and Janko are our top fwd prospects and I wouldn't consider either of them 'high-end.' We need to draft wingers,specifically right wingers that have potential to score lots of goals. That is what we really lack.
- TandA4Flames

I'm hoping Tolvanen is still there when we pick.

I mean young high end NHL talent. Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, tkachuk, then there are a few good prospects. At D we don't have anyone in the early 20s who is young high end NHL talent. Yes we have few prospects but that, imo is not enough. Edit: Hamilton is young high end but IMO still would like to add to that.
- tincup

I get that but what I being at is that we have enough high level potential to fill out our D core in the next couple of years. We still don't have high end scorers to add to guys like Mony, Johnny and Bennett. You need multiple prospects with high potential at every position to keep pushing each other o achieve greater things. Yea, you can never have too many High level D men/prospects but imo at this point, we really need to add to our wing prospects to hope that 2-3 of them can become legit, high offensive NHL talents. Yes BPA, but my hope is that a top right shooting fwd, especially one that can play the right side, falls to #16. And sure, Suzuki has offence but I hate to say it but we're going to need to add size and grit along with that skill.

I'm hoping Tolvanen is still there when we pick.
- fry

Wouldn't Owen Tippet be nice.

Suzuki is the answer to all problems

Kid is absolutely an elite talent! Volume shooter, excellent skater, dogged determination and a lot stronger in board battles than you'd think for a smaller guy! I've been hoping the Oil would grab him, but he's been climbing the draft board to the point where I can't see him getting past 13-15.

trade up for Rasmussen.
- shayne

He is a guy I would not touch, which I'll write about in the coming weeks

He is a guy I would not touch, which I'll write about in the coming weeks
- ToddCordellVAN

Hah agreed. I'm sure you'll touch on it as well, but any opinion on Nic Hague? I haven't seen the Ice Dogs play this year at all.

What we need are wingers who can score, preferably who shoot right and can play on the RW. We've needed a top li ne RW for several years now to play with Johnny and Mony. We're loaded with centres and depth forwards, and we'll be fine on defense for a few more years, and even our goaltending depth is pretty good right now. The only thing we don't have in the system right now is top 6 scoring guys. We need to draft BPA, plain and simple. We need scorers.

As for Lazar, I don't think the plan is to keep him at centre. He'll probably slot in on RW 3rd or 4th line alongside Bennett or Janko/Staj depending on what happens during the offseason. Jankowski could very well crack the lineup (as could several of our other prospects), but I don't think Lazar is the guy he'll jump, not of we're slotting Janko in as 4C.

Suzuki, moved to the wing, sounds like a sold option, I do wonder if the Flames start to target size and two way games as opposed to pure skill type players, just given how their depth and lack of gritty size seemed to get exposed vs Anaheim. That said, having two dynamic scoring lines with skill does start to create matchup nightmares for opponents - you can't play Kesler 30+ minutes a game.

BTW, anyone see Johansen calling him out? Glad to see some players coming out and talking about Kesler's style of play. What a tool
- rmull905

Typically I'm all for drafting skill over anything but we have a lot of small skilled wingers already either on the team with johnny ...or in Stockton with mangiapne and Phillips ....not saying I'd be disappointed with drafting him but it might be better to go a different route

I think take BPA. You can get those big RW in the second round. If this Suzuki guy is right and climate change is upon us he might be good to have in the top 6.

I just don't want to see a trade that depletes the farm. That would really piss me off.

I think take BPA. You can get those big RW in the second round. If this Suzuki guy is right and climate change is upon us he might be good to have in the top 6.

I just don't want to see a trade that depletes the farm. That would really piss me off.
- DuranDuran

I think it all depends on who you get though ...I don't want to trade away a bunch of prospects either but there comes a point when you have to

I think take BPA. You can get those big RW in the second round. If this Suzuki guy is right and climate change is upon us he might be good to have in the top 6.

I just don't want to see a trade that depletes the farm. That would really piss me off.
- DuranDuran

Except we don't have a 2nd rounder. And I agree with Redmile, eventually if a prospect isn't going to be part of the long term plan, then a trade for a piece we actually need makes more sense.

I think it all depends on who you get though ...I don't want to trade away a bunch of prospects either but there comes a point when you have to
- Redmile247

IDK, it seems like the really good teams have depth in the farm. Look at how Detroit was constantly able to bring guys up, Chicago and the Pens have shown that ability as well. Boston and LA not so much.

Except we don't have a 2nd rounder. And I agree with Redmile, eventually if a prospect isn't going to be part of the long term plan, then a trade for a piece we actually need makes more sense.
- TandA4Flames

For sure if a guy is not going to make the team or there is no place for him, i.e. Granlund, you gotta get something for him.

I am talking about trading away everything of value just to patch a hole. Gotta make sure we are developing properly. Part of that are playoffs runs for the farm team. A long run is almost like another season. Good for development.

IDK, it seems like the really good teams have depth in the farm. Look at how Detroit was constantly able to bring guys up, Chicago and the Pens have shown that ability as well. Boston and LA not so much.
- DuranDuran

I just wrote a long response and this (frank)ing site (frank)s it up

IDK, it seems like the really good teams have depth in the farm. Look at how Detroit was constantly able to bring guys up, Chicago and the Pens have shown that ability as well. Boston and LA not so much.
- DuranDuran

Flames prospects not playing in cgy that I think can be nhlers at some point are :

Janko
Dube
Phillips
Klimchuk
Shink
Hathaway
Ras
Kylington
Fox
Hickey
Kulak

Obviously not all will ...but these are some that are almost ready or in the case of a fox or dube look like locks

There's are more than enough to trade a few if it means getting a top 6, top 4 guy who isn't old

Flames prospects not playing in cgy that I think can be nhlers at some point are :

Janko
Dube
Phillips
Klimchuk
Shink
Hathaway
Ras
Kylington
Fox
Hickey
Kulak

Obviously not all will ...but these are some that are almost ready or in the case of a fox or dube look like locks

There's are more than enough to trade a few if it means getting a top 6, top 4 guy who isn't old
- Redmile247

Gillies
Parsons
Rittich