Flame for Thought
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Calgary Flames should consider moving back in this year’s draft

By Dan Raicevich

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving announces Samuel Bennett (not pictured) as the number four overall pick to the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving announces Samuel Bennett (not pictured) as the number four overall pick to the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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With only five draft selections in this years NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames should be looking to use their first round pick as an asset to move down in the draft.

Draft picks are always important for teams looking to strive closer to winning the Stanley Cup. While the Calgary Flames do hold a pick in the first round, their next choice after that would not be until the middle of the fourth round. That is a large gap in which to be making selections, even if this years draft class is not as strong as years prior.

The talent will be there at 16, or 25.

While there is skill there in the middle of the first round, there will be that same skill set in the later first round choices. This years draft class is not as strong as it was in years previously. But having stated that, this doesn’t mean that it is a weak draft by any means. There will still be talent at 26 as opposed to 16. Trading into the latter part of the first round and adding a second and/or a third round choice would be more beneficial to the Flames than picking at 16. While this could be a difficult feat to tackle, the chances of this happening is still very possible. At the end of the day, it would make total sense unless there is a cant-miss prospect at 16.

Two Picks Are Better Than One

A team who the Calgary Flames could look to make this kind of trade with is the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal holds two second round choices, #56 and 58, while holding pick #25 in the first round. Marc Bergevin could be looking to acquire an opportunity to replace the prospect hole that Mikhail Sergachev left. Sergachev was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Jonathan Drouin. By moving up in the draft and coughing up a second round selection in the process, it would be enticing for Bergevin to do. There is a strong possibility that a puck-moving defenseman will be available at 16. The Calgary Flames can look to add a forward in the later stage of the first round.

Emphasis On Depth At All Organizational Levels

One thing that Brad Treliving has done well since he arrived onto the scene in Calgary is draft well. He rebuilt the Flames lackluster prospect pool into a strong crop of NHL-potential players. He has rebuilt the defense depth at the prospective level. There are a handful of youngsters that will be biting for the opportunity to become full-time players in Calgary this year. The offensive depth at this level as well is pretty strong too.

Next: 2017 NHL Draft Profile: C Michael Rasmussen

Five draft choices is significantly less than to what the Flames had made in years prior. Adding another pick between 16 and 109 would ease the gap in this years draft. It might also make the scouting staff a little more excited as well.

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