Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Calgary Flames hold nine picks in the upcoming NHL Draft that will take place in Sunrise, Florida on June 26th and 27th. Thanks to their successful NHL season they will be selecting a little later than they have in the past few years. Sean Monahan was taken 6th overall in 2013 and Sam Bennett went 4th to the Flames at last year’s event.
After finishing this season with 97 points and defeating the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the postseason, Calgary is set to take the podium with the 15th selection. This draft is going to be a very deep one, perhaps as good as any since the infamous 2003 draft that saw players such as Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf go in the second half of the first round, and Shea Weber and Patrice Bergeron picked in the second round.
This will leave the Flames with a chance to add a very interesting prospect at 15th overall and also a chance to add future NHL talent with their trio of second round picks and pair of third rounders. Unfortunately, the Flames provincial rivals hold the first overall pick again and will come away with Connor McDavid, the best prospect since Sidney Crosby.
Without further ado, here is how I see the first round shaking out when the draft takes place in less than two weeks.