Calgary Flames NHL Top-15 Mock Draft

With the Calgary Flames picking 6th overall, who will they end up taking in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft?

The Calgary Flames will certainly be disappointed after the NHL draft lottery awarded Toronto, Winnipeg, and Columbus the first three picks respectively. The Flames now find themselves dropping one selection to pick 6th overall at the draft, but there is still a great chance of adding another good young player to Calgary’s core.

Here is a look at how the top-15 draft selections could unfold:

Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews

No surprise here, the Maple Leafs luck-out and get the franchise centre-men that every team craves. Auston Matthews will bring speed, size, skill, vision, and elite hockey IQ. Expect him to immediately slot-in to Toronto’s line-up for next season.

Winnipeg Jets: Patrik Laine

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the NHL lottery draft came when the Winnipeg Jets moved up all the way up from number six to pick number two in the draft, and they could get a player even better than Matthews. Patrik Laine is an explosive winger who can shoot the puck better than anyone else in the draft, couple that with overwhelming size and speed and you have the makings of another Alexander Ovechkin. Laine can immediately step-in next season and gives the Jets yet another dynamic young player.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Jesse Puljujarvi

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen who happens to be Finnish, will be over the moon to select the second-best Finnish forward in the draft, Jesse Puljujarvi. Puljujarvi is dominant against his age-group showing a tantalizing combination of speed, power, playmaking, and a wicked shot. Matthews and Laine have really separated themselves from Puljujarvi by showing better against men, but don’t sleep on Puljujarvi.

Edmonton Oilers: Jakob Chychrun

Finally, the Oilers lose a draft lottery, but it actually may work out in their favour as they desperately, and I mean desperately need a defence-man. Expect the Oilers to heavily shop this pick, but if they keep it than Jakob Chychrun is the guy they will likely target. Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli likes the big physical blue-liners, so expect Edmonton to go with 6 foot 2, mean, but swift-footed defender Chychrun. His draft-stock has certainly taken a hit, but he is a safe-bet to be a solid 2/3 defence-man in the NHL.

Vancouver Canucks: Pierre-Luc Dubois

Some thought is given to defence-man Olli Juolevi, but the Canucks end up taking the second-best centre in this year’s draft. Dubois is so versatile he can play any forward position, but the Cancuks likely will try and mould him into a number-one centre. He brings size, skill, and lots of smarts. Dubois is one of the most complete players in the draft, and will likely be gone before Calgary is picking.

Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk

The Flames end-up taking one of the best power-forwards in the draft in Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk blends skill and snarl similarly to Sam Bennett, which interestingly enough could create two excellent duos for the Flames in Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk-Sam Bennett. Tkachuk is an all-around offensive talent and is a beast below the goal-line, but questions surround the young man as he is an older prospect who has had tremendous line-mates all season including Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner. While his numbers are inflated, don’t let them talk you out of a great player, Calgary certainly will be happy with this pick, although Tkachuk will likely need at least another year or two of seasoning.

Arizona Coyotes: Olli Juolevi

The Coyotes run to the podium to take the widely-believed best defenceman in the draft Olli Juolevi. Juolevi isn’t as strong as Chychrun or as offensively skilled as defender Mikhail Sergachev, but he is the smartest of them all. He has the potential to become the number one defence-man for a club and could form a deadly pairing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the future.

Buffalo Sabres: Alexander Nylander

The Sabres are shaping into a well-rounded club and thusly take the best player available in Nylander. The skilled Swede has excellent hands, speed, and vision but plays a perimeter game at times. Nonetheless he is a competitor and won’t back down from anyone despite being a smaller player. He could form a potent line playing with either Jack Eichel, or Sam Reinhart some day.

Montreal Canadiens: Tyson Jost

Some thought given to Russian defender Mikhail Sergachev, but Montreal GM Marc Bergevin will instead go with centre-man Tyson Jost. Jost is a shorter player, but he is very thick and very skilled. He brings a tantalizing combination of smarts and skills wrapped into a competitive package, but most impressive is his leadership and character abilities which have some comparing him to Jonathan Toews. Also broke Connor McDavid‘s record for points at the U-18’s.

Colorado Avalanche: Mikhail Sergachev

Next to the Oilers, the Avalance need a defence-man most desperately. They will be quite happy to take big Russian defence-man Mikhail Sergachev as he could end up being the best defence-man in the draft. He is a very fluid skater who likes to rush end-to-end but will need to learn how to defend better to make an impact in the NHL.

New Jersey Devils: Clayton Keller

The Devils are always hungry for offensive talent, and Clayton Keller might just have the most raw skill of anyone in the draft. Despite being a smaller player, Keller makes up for his lack of size with oodles of skill and vision giving some comparisons to Flames Johnny Gaudreau.

Ottawa Senators: Logan Brown

The Sens’s are starved for a true number-one centre, and 6 foot 6 Logan Brown could just give it to them. He is fairly lanky and not very physical, but his vision and offence give comparison to Joe Thornton. He will need some time to develop but could end up as a steal for Ottawa.

Carolina Hurricanes: Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod is one of the fastest skaters in the draft and has good size at 6 foot 2. Projects to be more of a 2/3 line centre, but his grit and two-way prowess could make him a valuable piece to a club not looking for a franchise player, but a really good complimentary one.

Boston Bruins: Jake Bean

Some thought given to hulking winger Julien Gauthier, but the Bruins need defence-man, especially after trading Dougie Hamilton to the Flames during last year’s draft. Bean has great vision and is a smart defender, but lack of size could make defending difficult in the NHL. However, Bean might just have the most offensive upside of any defender available in this draft.

Minnesota Wild: Kieffer Bellows

Plays a power-game despite not being overly big, but has good speed and a heavy shot, all around solid player for Minnesota to add to a nice group of young talented forwards.

So there you have it, the Calgary Flames end up with forward Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights, here is a scouting report on Matthew Tkachuk:

"“multi-dimensional energy winger that plays a pro-style, adaptive game. Well-versed as a guy who can consistently put up points, but also as an agitator who plays with a little bit of bite and nastiness. Skates with excellent balance and speed, outclassing many in his age range. No lack of offensive instincts and knows how to score in many different ways. Confidence in his abilities and playing to the extent of his capabilities strengthens his work ethic and creativity. All-in-all, a unique and effective forward who defines his own limits and seeks to exceed them, along with all on-ice expectations.” –Curtis Joe EP"

Next: Flames Offseason To-Do List

I would prefer if Calgary took Pierre-Luc Dubois, but I wouldn’t expect Vancouver to pass on him unless they really want a defence-man. Overall this draft features lots of high-end skill at the top of the draft, and expect some good value picks all the way down to the 20 spot. But as long as Calgary can get either Pierre-Luc Dubois or Matthew Tkachuk, I will be very happy.

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