This is the second installment of our Draft Decisions series, which takes an in-depth look at some of the biggest decisions facing each of the seven Canadian NHL franchises as we approach the NHL Draft on June 24.
Drafting defencemen is rarely sexy.
No matter how important blueliners are to every team’s success, fans have a hard time getting jazzed about a first round draft selection being used on a player who is a 10- or 15 goal-scorer at best.
Taking that defenceman has to be particularly hard to do when your club already has one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL in Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie and recently loaded up on prospects like Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson.
However, Calgary Flames brass insist their draft mantra revolves entirely around taking the best player available with every pick, regardless of organizational needs.
Outside of starting goaltending, which the Flames won’t be addressing via the draft, the club’s greatest need is skilled forwards.
There will undoubtedly be several to choose from when the Flames are slated to pick sixth overall next Friday in Buffalo.
The question is, do they rank the handful of available snipers ahead of a quartet of talented blueliners?
Here are the Flames’ options:
1. The Flames draft at No. 6.
If London Knights power winger Matthew Tkachuk or sizeable Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward Pierre-Luc Dubois are available, they would appear to be no-brainers.
Both would have a legitimate shot at stepping right onto the Flames’ top line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.
Tkachuk proved he’d be perfect for such a role at this year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup, while Flames scouting director Tod Button said part of Dubois’ brilliance is that he’s so versatile he could play a healthy third-line role in the NHL even if he isn’t ready to immediately start scoring.
That said, they are widely expected to go fourth and fifth overall.
After that, the list of possibilities is endless as there’s little consensus on which player goes next.
Up front, they could nab the son of former Flames forward Michael Nylander, Alexander, who is a 178-pound Mississauga Steelheads winger.
Windsor’s 6-foot-6, 209-pound centre Logan Brown, mid-sized Penticton centre Tyson Jost or perhaps diminutive U.S. development team hotshot Clayton Keller could also be of interest.
Alternatively, they could pick from a host of talented defencemen like Calgary’s Jake Bean, London’s Olli Juolevi, Windsor’s Mikhail Sergachev or Sarnia’s Jakob Chychrun.
“We’re definitely getting one of our guys if we stay at six,” said Button, insisting his top ten list is secure.
Our take: The Flames really do covet and need high-end skill up front, making it clear they need to take advantage of this high pick by taking a proven sniper. This is their most likely course of action.
2. The Flames trade the No. 6 pick.
The Flames need a starting goalie and would love to immediately find a skilled winger capable of playing on the top line.
However, the goaltending issue can be addressed without coughing up a first rounder.
Our take: Can’t see it happening, as management has made it very clear they are happy with their top-six list and are excited about the player they’ll get.
3. The Flames trade down to get a top-line forward as well as a lower first rounder.
Given how many attractive options there are in the top dozen, the Flames could be convinced to swap the No. 6 pick for a pick in the seven to 12 spot and a veteran winger who could play a top-three or top-six role.
Flames GM Brad Treliving says he is aware of which teams are looking to move up in the draft and will keep such a possibility open as the first few picks leading up to No. 6 are made.
Our take: It would certainly be an enticing possibility if the Flames could not only get a top-nine or 10 draft pick they’re happy with, but also a star up front. It would require a risky draft floor move the Flames may be best to simply avoid.