See If You Can Follow The Calgary Flames As They Select In The 2010 Draft

In the 2010 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers began their streak of first selection which they will be carrying on this Friday for the zillionth time, okay not zillionth but seriously.  Their selection was left winger Taylor Hall, who was the start of the Kid Line the team has become so heavily reliant on.  And the Calgary Flames?  Well they didn’t select until the third round.  How did this happen?

Back in 2009, the Calgary Flames send their first round draft pick (as a conditional) to the Phoenix Coyotes plus Matthew Lombardi and Brandon Prust in exchange for Olli Jokinen and a third round pick.

The Flames’ second round draft pick was even more complicated and convoluted.  In 2008 Calgary set up a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, they sent a conditional 2nd round draft pick and part of the return was Rene Bourque.  The pick was forced into a 2010 draft pick when the Flames traded their 2009 2nd round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche.  The following year, Chicago traded the 2010 draft they received from Calgary to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Jimmy Hayes.  Follow all of that?

So that means that in the 2010 Draft, the Flames didn’t pick until the 3rd round. Twice.

Calgary picked up an additional pick in the third round from the Columbus Blue Jackets that sent Anton Stralman to the Jackets.  With that pick, they selected Max Reinhart, a Kootenay Ice centerman.  This season, in 61 games, Reinhart had 28 goals, 50 assists.  Very possible that up to this draft, Reinhart is the most promising pick the Flames have made.  And he went in the third round!

The Calgary Flames also selected Joey Leach who has not left his junior team, the Kootenay Ice and has not signed an entry level contract with the Flames.  In Leach’s most recent season with the Ice lead to 72 games, 12 goals, 31 assists.  Not the stats that Reinhart had, but still a decent play maker by those numbers.

With the Flames seeming to have one at least one of those picks, it’s hard to imagine them selecting any one better that late in the draft.  It’s hard to say if the Calgary Flames could have done better with their drafting, as most of the draftees from that class are still in the juniors. While their stats may be impressive now, we all know it can change once they join the NHL.

One more draft class before it’s the 2012 NHL Draft.  Who will the Calgary Flames pick this Friday?  Make sure to tune in!

Go Flames Go!