Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Draft Day Edition

An exciting day for hockey fans everywhere: Draft Day. And this year, the Calgary Flames have five draft selections – the highest at the 16th overall pick.

Hello Calgary Flames fans and welcome to another edition of Monday Roundtable! The segment that we here at Flame for Thought bring you every Monday. Basically, I ask the writers different questions surrounding a different topic each week and we have a virtual roundtable discussion about it.

Last week, we talked about everything to do with a potential new arena in Calgary. This week, it’s going to be all about draft day.

Draft day is always an exciting day for hockey fans everywhere. I mean, unless you’re the Washington Capitals and you don’t even get a draft pick this year until the fourth round. But otherwise, it’s a fun day! The Flames have five picks at this year’s draft. The highest will be at the 16th overall pick (thanks Predators for advancing further than the Flames).

Related Story: Flames Draft Picks at the 2017 NHL Draft

Now, this year’s draft has been somewhat classified as “weak” by some people. I don’t exactly like to use the word weak because it feels kind of mean. However, the skill level of this year’s draft is rather low compared to what it’s been the last few years. Like one of our writers here, Alex, has mentioned before, TSN’s Bob McKenzie breaks down how this year’s draft will be one of the most disappointing ones in recent years.

Via TSN:

While some of the scouts surveyed by TSN do not discount Patrick evolving into that role, the consensus view is Patrick is projected more as a second-line NHL centre and doesn’t have the same “wow” factor as McDavid, Eichel and Matthews. “He’s going to be a good, maybe very good, NHL player,” one scout said, “but he isn’t a dynamic player. His skating isn’t bad but he’s not dynamic like those others [McDavid, Eichel and Matthews].”

Because of this, some people thought that a big possibility would be if the Flames were to trade their first round pick. They did so two years ago with their 15th overall pick for D Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins. And that turned out really well seeing how Dougie’s shaping out to be a top-ten defenceman in the league.

The Flames did have two major problems to address: A starting goaltender and a top-four defenceman. Well, just on Saturday they traded for G Mike Smith from the Arizona Coyotes right before the trade freeze, so looks like they have that area covered. And now there’s the top-four defenceman issue. There are some possible options out there, but there’s also Michael Stone who could re-sign with Calgary since he did pretty decent when the Flames acquired him in February.

Actually, we did a roundtable a few weeks ago about the blue-line and the general consensus seemed to be for Stone to stay. So who knows. They could trade their highest pick, or they could not. Nobody will know until Draft Day on Friday.

But that’s enough babbling, let’s move on to the virtual roundtable discussion.

And keep in mind that I asked these questions before the Mike Smith trade, so some answers may revolve around a goaltender. Hey, we’re all human.

Question 1: Given that this year’s draft selection is rather subpar compared to the last few seasons, do you think the Calgary Flames will be making a draft day trade with their first round pick (the 16th overall pick) this year or do you think they’ll draft someone?

Jonathan Boulanger

I think they’ll draft someone, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for another Dougie Hamilton draft day deal-esque trade. However, having heard Treliving’s recent interviews, it seems likely they will keep the pick. However, if they do decide to trade, a high end TJ Oshie type forward would be very nice.

Alex Hoegler

I don’t think the Flames need to worry about trading the pick right now. There haven’t been any indications about Brad Treliving shopping the draft selection (as far as I know).

Treliving is better off using the draft selection. If anything, he may find a guy who can be a future top-line forward. Or he could package that prospect and draft picks to land a big play in 2018 or 2019. He’s better off using the pick for now.

Dan Raicevich

The likelihood of them moving down should be higher than what Treliving is hinting to the media. The team does not own a second or third round choice. This draft is deeper in the later rounds from what I have heard. I did write an article regarding them trading their first round choice.

Related Story: Flames should consider moving down in the draft

Ramina Shlah

For a while, I thought the Calgary Flames should trade their first round pick for a top-four defenceman or a goaltender. Well, they won’t be getting a goalie for that 16th pick since they already got a number 1 goaltender and they may end up sticking with Michael Stone. And after writing up a few draft profiles, I wouldn’t mind if the Flames kept that draft choice.

There is a lot of forward potential in the 10th-30th selection ranking and some guys who could easily make their NHL debut in a year. There are a lot of solid centers and wingers to choose from and right now, there isn’t really anything they need for a 16th overall pick. And like the others have said, Treliving hasn’t quite been hinting at a trade happening. However, Vegas supposedly already has three first round picks and they’re negotiating some more with other teams and have deals already made with other teams. Who knows what will happen.

Question 2: That being said, do you hope the Calgary Flames make a trade instead of drafting?

Jonathan Boulanger

Yes, very much. This draft seems to be the weakest in quite some time and yes while its true there is guaranteed to be some gems hidden down in the later picks that are ripe for the taking, they are hard to find. A trade would be exciting and smart I think as the Flames have quite a few kids still developing and could do without a 16th overall mediocre player.

Alex Hoegler

I’m not sure if the Flames can land a quality player with a mid-first round pick this year. Given the lack of depth in this year’s draft, it doesn’t make sense to trade down for multiple selections, either. It makes sense to just draft a forward and go from there.

Dan Raicevich

Make a trade unless the prospect at 16 is a slam dunk.

Ramina Shlah

I’m somewhat torn. I wouldn’t be opposed to a trade since it’d most likely be somewhat of a fun, blockbuster type trade. But if they end up drafting, I also wouldn’t be angry about it for the reasons I said above.

Question 3: That being said (again), what position do you think the Calgary Flames would trade for if they do trade? And do you think it would be a blockbuster trade, somewhat like what happened with Dougie Hamilton?

Jonathan Boulanger

I think so. I see it being a package deal including a possible prospect as well such as Oliver Kylington or Rasmus Andersson. The team is in need of one more playmaking/scoring winger because the 3M Line can’t come to the rescue every time Monahan and Gaudreau are in a dry spell. Someone like TJ Oshie or Jakub Silfverberg would be at the top of my list. They could also grab a #4 defenceman but I see that happening in free agency if they choose not to keep Mike Stone.

Calgary Flames

Alex Hoegler

Perhaps a trade for a young goalie who’s NHL ready? How about Philipp Grubauer, who went 13-6-2 as Braden Holtby‘s backup? Perhaps Antti Raanta of the New York Rangers?

That might be overpaying, but the Flames have enough depth at forward on on defence. I don’t see a reason for Treliving to add another skater when goaltending is their main concern.

Dan Raicevich

Honestly, just a swap of picks. They could swap picks with a team per say, Montreal. Montreal holds two picks in the second round, almost back-to-back at 56 and 58, and that could entice the Flames in order to move down.

Ramina Shlah

Since they got Mike Smith, if they do end up making a blockbuster trade, it would most likely be for a defenceman. They need to fill out that top-four spot more than anything right now. Sure, they can use some bottom-six wingers, but that’s somewhat the least of their priorities. And I don’t think a bottom-six guy is worth the 16th overall pick. Like Jonathan said, if they could maybe get a guy like Silfverberg, I wouldn’t be opposed to a trade.

But right now, their top two lines are pretty solid. So it would most likely be for a defence if they don’t re-sign Michael Stone.