With the 16th overall pick, the Calgary Flames have many names to choose from. Let’s look at a possible draft pick with D Callan Foote.
It’s another day which means it’s time to look at another possible draftee for the Calgary Flames at that 16th overall pick. We don’t know if a trade will happen or not with this year’s draft choices not being what it has been the last few seasons, but for now, let’s just look at some possible options.
The Flames need three things this off-season: Solid, consistent goaltending, some bottom-six wingers, and a solid defenceman to fill out that fourth spot alongside TJ Brodie.
The draft options we here at Flame for Thought have been looking at have been wingers. So let’s change it up a bit. Let’s look at a possible defenceman. Last time, we looked at Canadian center Nicholas Suzuki. Today, let’s look at American defenceman Callan Foote.
Related Story: Flames Draft Picks for the 2017 NHL Draft
Who is Callan Foote?
Name: Callan Foote
Birth place: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Position: RHD
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: 1998-12-13
Height: 6’3” / 192 cm
Weight: 95 kg / 209 lbs
Team: Kelowna Rockets
League: WHL
Stats from 2016-2017
Stats with Kelowna Rockets, WHL, Regular Season (From eliteprospects.com):
G
A
P
PIM
+/-
71651574139
Stats with Kelowna Rockets, WHL, Playoffs (From eliteprospects.com):
GP |
|---|
G
A
P
PIM
+/-
1416714-6
Former Drafts
From eliteprospects.com
2014
- Round 3, 46th overall: Omaha Lancers, USHL Futures Draft
2013
- Round 2, 43rd overall: Kelowna Rockets, WHL Bantam Draft
Rankings for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft
- #12 by ISS Hockey
- “Two-way defenseman with high hockey IQ in all three zones. Almost never out of position on a play.”
- #17 by Hockeyprospect.com
- #25 by Future Considerations
- #30 by McKeen’s Hockey
- #12 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek ranked him at 15th overall in March, which is four spots higher than their previous rankings in January, claiming that he “will be a 12-year NHLer. A really solid, safe pick.”
NHL.com’s Mike Morreale put him at 18th overall in January.
"The 6-3, 213-pound son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote probably won’t be the physical presence his father was, but plays all situations and uses his smarts, reach and strength to contain his opponent and gain position."
Calgary Flames
Scouting Report
"Another kid with NHL bloodlines as Adam Foote’s son plays a rough-and-tumble, minute-munching game with a bit of offensive upside. He is huge and incredibly mobile for his size. Can look a tad sluggish when quickly forced to elevate his tempo, but overall, he is very smooth on the ice […] Has some dangling ability, utilizing his reach and smooth mobility. Has a quick, accurate slap shot, has poise with the puck, not making bad decisions when pressured. Plays a physical game due to his natural size and strength, but could be a little more abrasive. Big, elegant skater who distributes the puck at a high level and can play in all situations. Impressive NHL upside. (Future Considerations)."
Where does he fit in with the Flames?
Like I mentioned earlier, something that the Calgary Flames need right now is a top-four defenceman. Does Foote have potential to be a top-four defenceman? Absolutely! Is he a top-four NHL defenceman right now? Probably not.
That being said, he does somewhat remind me of Dougie Hamilton right now. His height and the fact that he’s somewhat sluggish, but not super physical, compared to his size. He also shoots right which would be an ideal partner for Brodie. However, if Flames don’t want to go outside the box, like Jeff Marek said, he’s a safe pick. But the Flames don’t want to pick safely, they want to pick smart. And they may want someone who’s a little more hard hitting at that size, almost like his dad!
Actually, funny story. Earlier today, I was telling my dad about how I’m doing a draft profile on this kid named Callan Foote. He just stares at me a little confusingly and says, “Foote…” And I go, “Yes dad, his dad was in the NHL.” And he just smiles and goes, “I knew it.”
Moving on, I don’t think he’s the ideal candidate for what the team is looking for right now and I don’t think they’ll find that top-four defenceman they need right now in this year’s draft. They’ll have better luck with either a trade or free agency for that D. That being said, he does put up a respectable amount of points from the blue-line. But again, the intensity in the NHL is slightly different than that of the WHL and he may not make it to the NHL in his first few seasons. Right now, the Flames have a good number of defence prospects and I’m not sure if Foote is the perfect fit.
But nonetheless, you can all make your own conclusions about him! I think he’s great, just not for the Flames. Here are some highlights of him for you to enjoy:
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After every prospect profile, at the end, I talk about who I’d still prefer for that 16th pick. And I have to go with forward Lias Andersson which his draft profile can be found here and you’ll see why I prefer him.