So now there is another draft rankings (NHL Central Scouting) out and it has Sam Bennett ranked as number 1.

The top 7 for North America are:
1. Sam Bennett
2. Aaron Ekblad
3. Sam Reinhart
4. Leon Draisaitl
5. Michael Dal Colle
6. Jake Virtanen
7. Nick Ritchie

So if the Flames pick 5th, and none of the top 4 drop out (hoping Reinhart might although I don't know why he would), who should the Flames pick?


Based on those rankings, they aren't really stretching to take Virtanen or Ritchie over Dal Colle. I think if it gets to that point they will take Virtanen. It's just the combination of his size, his position, and he is easily the player that they have scouted the most whether intentional or not.
- dal_johnson

any of 5-7 work for me for 4th and 5th pick spots.

I still think Florida take Draisiti (or even edmonton if ekblad is gone). And we get bennet or Reinhart if picking 4th

You can thank the Calgary Sun for that...which I seldom read or care for.
- Colin Dambrauskas

ya the sun is good for that.

Baert however does deserve the fake rumour. Good on him for picking up his game down in the AHL.

Also depends on whether Tod Button agrees with Craig Button as Craig has Virtanen rated in the 40's....

I think Virtanen is a 10-15 pick. I compare him to Keith Tkachuk. Gritty scorer but not a play maker.
- Iggysbff

so kesler

Exactly what we need considering what our other top prospects are; smaller and skilled. A Keith Tchachuk type playing beside, say Baertschi and Monahan, would be perfect. He opens up space, can finish and beat the crap out of anyone that bothers the other 2.

If thats what Virtanen can become, I'm sooooooooo on board.
- TandA4Flames

thats what I'm thinking too. and he's a RH shot, so a step above ritchie and Dal colle due to need there. only 3 RH shots on the team once Wideman leaves

I would really like to see us pick up Hunter Smith for our second round pick if he makes it to us

Exactly what we need considering what our other top prospects are; smaller and skilled. A Keith Tchachuk type playing beside, say Baertschi and Monahan, would be perfect. He opens up space, can finish and beat the crap out of anyone that bothers the other 2.

If thats what Virtanen can become, I'm sooooooooo on board.
- TandA4Flames

Except Greg Chase will be better than him....

About where are Virtanen and Richie ranked with Europeans in there too?
- MattWM

They list the Europeans as a separate list, so I'm not sure where they would fall in when combined.

The only two Europeans that have been maybe listed in the top 10 have been Nylander and Kapanen. So they might slot in above. But to be honest I don't think that they are really the style of player the Flames would be looking at.

Except Greg Chase will be better than him....
- Iggysbff

You can hope and dream. Its what you Oiler fans do best. I mean, aside from cheering for a tank.

I would really like to see us pick up Hunter Smith for our second round pick if he makes it to us
- techronsadosa

i don't know anything about him. But I'm hoping they grab D for the 3rd/4th rounds. Jack Dougherty was mentioned some where, seems like he'd be a good pick in the 2nd

Exactly what we need considering what our other top prospects are; smaller and skilled. A Keith Tchachuk type playing beside, say Baertschi and Monahan, would be perfect. He opens up space, can finish and beat the crap out of anyone that bothers the other 2.

If thats what Virtanen can become, I'm sooooooooo on board.
- TandA4Flames

Tkachuk was a 50 goal scoring power forward and had over 500 for his career. Being from Winnipeg originally I have some personal hate for him, but really I would take a player like that on this team very happily. It gives a line with say Monahan and Baertschi or Gaudreau options that the other team has to adapt to. The left side plays the finesse and speed, the right side brings the power and Monahan can adapt to both. As much as I hated them it sounds like then Naslund, Morrison, and Bertuzzi were dominant in Vancouver.

You can hope and dream. Its what you Oiler fans do best. I mean, aside from cheering for a tank.
- TandA4Flames

There you go again....I see Canuck and Leaf fans cheering for a tank. I know of extremely few Oiler fans cheering for a tank.

I think Jack Dougherty might be a bit of stretch hoping for him to be around at 35th, I could see him going a little earlier than slotted in the first round, but if he is still there then I would most certainly agree. I just like the idea of a monster right winger with offensive potential.

There you go again....I see Canuck and Leaf fans cheering for a tank. I know of extremely few Oiler fans cheering for a tank.
- Iggysbff

Oiler fans don't need to cheer for it. At this stage in the season for them it pretty much is just a naturally occurring event.

Gillis...GONE!

I think Jack Dougherty might be a bit of stretch hoping for him to be around at 35th, I could see him going a little earlier than slotted in the first round, but if he is still there then I would most certainly agree. I just like the idea of a monster right winger with offensive potential.
- techronsadosa

I think he was ranked #30. Word is he's not the fleets of foot. But he is a righty and is apparently a smart player.

There you go again....I see Canuck and Leaf fans cheering for a tank. I know of extremely few Oiler fans cheering for a tank.
- Iggysbff

Not as many this year but the horns were blowing loud and proud for the previous 3-4 years.

Anyway, I'm just razzing ya'.

The reality is that this team could still pick as low as 10th. While I will always cheer for them to play hard and compete hard, and am always happy when they win, there is still that thought that in the big picture this would very much hinder this team. Losing one more in regulation will guarantee them at least 6th, 5th if there is nothing too crazy in the lottery. Granted I want the Flames or the Devils to win the lottery.

I'm convinced that if picking first Buffalo will pick Reinhart. Primarily because of the playoffs he has had and because they can still scout him as he, and not Bennett, is still playing.

Edmonton will probably pick Ekblad, but I still see a real chance at them taking Draisaitl to be the large 2nd line center that they need just as much as a defenseman. And they are a team that can't continue to wait, and a forward will always be able to step in before a defenseman.

I think that Florida and the Islanders would both rather forwards. Both teams have decent to good defensive prospects, and I think both would much rather add experienced defensemen. Florida will take Bennett or Draisaitl (if the Oilers don't), and the Islanders will take Dal Colle to be a sniper along side Tavares and Okposo.

Makes me thing that the Flames will get to choose between Ekblad, Bennett, or Draisaitl. I'd rank them in that order and if the first two are gone I would strongly consider taking Virtanen over Draisaitl due to similar size but better suiting position.

Dont forget folks, submit your Q&A questions via PM for the blog tomorrow

Dont forget folks, submit your Q&A questions via PM for the blog tomorrow
- Colin Dambrauskas

Potential u.f.a signings this summer or how has jankowski looked in his second year at providence?

Dont forget folks, submit your Q&A questions via PM for the blog tomorrow
- Colin Dambrauskas

Gillis for next Flames GM????

Gillis for next Flames GM????
- Iggysbff

No but Feaster will be the Nucks next GM

I would really like to see us pick up Hunter Smith for our second round pick if he makes it to us
- techronsadosa

If you go by the NCS ranking, hes #39. He'd likely be available with 1 of our 2 3rd rnd picks.

I think Jack Dougherty might be a bit of stretch hoping for him to be around at 35th, I could see him going a little earlier than slotted in the first round, but if he is still there then I would most certainly agree. I just like the idea of a monster right winger with offensive potential.
- techronsadosa

Uhm.....Dougherty is a defenseman. We talking about the same guy???

We are but I was talking about the Jack first then Hunter, my apologies for the lack of clarity on that.......proper grammar saves lives I am told

We are but I was talking about the Jack first then Hunter, my apologies for the lack of clarity on that.......proper grammar saves lives I am told
- techronsadosa

Ah, got it. Aside from his size snd right shot, have you seen any scouting reports or anything on Hunter?