Calgary Flames: What could happen at the 2018 NHL Draft
With the Calgary Flames not having a draft pick until the fourth round at this year’s NHL draft, let’s look at some possibilities on moves they could make.
The 2018 NHL Entry Level Draft is quickly approaching! In less than two weeks, we’ll get to watch fans from all over get excited about their team selecting a draft pick. Especially for Buffalo Sabres fans, who already know they’re getting Rasmus Dahlin. Unfortunately for Calgary Flames fans, they don’t have that same kind of privilege this year.
At least not for right now.
As we all know and are somewhat dreading, the Flames don’t have a draft pick until the fourth-round this year. I mean, it isn’t always all bad! Let’s not forget that Johnny Gaudreau wasn’t drafted until the fourth round.
Related Story: Former notable fourth-round picks
The Flames traded away all their picks for what was supposed to be their Cup-run year. But as we all know, they didn’t qualify for the postseason. To put it frankly, it sucks.
It was reported that at a GM meeting in March, GM Brad Treliving let it known that he’s planning on trading for a first-round draft pick. While I’m not entirely opposed to that, as long as it’s a smart trade, I’d prefer to trade for a top-six winger instead.
I ran a poll on Twitter to see what our followers thought, and it looks like a vast majority of them also agree with that.
if the #flames do make some sort of move by the draft, what would you preferred trade be?
— Flame For Thought (@Flame_4_Thought) June 13, 2018
Assistant GM Brad Pascall also mentioned how they’re pushing for Rasmus Andersson to have a full-time spot on the Flames roster next season. Which could mean they’re planning on moving a defenceman (hopefully Michael Stone) and could get something in return. What that something in return entails, I’m not sure yet.
So, what are some possible moves on draft day for the Calgary Flames? Let’s take a look.
Trading for a draft pick
As I mentioned, Treliving supposedly has intentions to trade for a draft pick. More specifically, a first-round draft pick. The Calgary Flames have made a few trades under Treliving in the last few years that involved first-round draft picks, but they gave those away. They gave it away with the Dougie Hamilton and, most recently, the Travis Hamonic trade.
After it was revealed that the New York Islanders won the 12th pick with the trade they got for Hamonic, Flames fans were slightly relieved. Especially since the Isles could have had the second overall pick since they would have also had Carolina’s lottery balls if the Flames lost their final game of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Related Story: Flames fans can breathe - Isles get 12th pick from Flames
Some fans (mainly on Twitter) have been speculating (read: wanting) Treliving to trade for the fourth overall pick to draft Brady Tkachuk. In an ideal world, the Flames would have Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and will be well on their way to being the most hated team in the league. But that most likely won’t happen. And I don’t think the Ottawa Senators will want to trade their fourth-overall pick. But who knows.
If Treliving does trade for a first-round pick, I’m thinking it may be more in the middle of the first round.
As I mentioned, I wouldn’t prefer for Treliving to trade for a pick. But, if he does, a fun scenario would be trading for somewhere between the 10-12th pick and draft D Quinn Hughes. He along with Adam Fox at the World Juniors this year were a force together. Imagine them in the same organization together as well? Lethal.
It’ll be funny if the Flames trade the Isles for their pick back. I mean, we know it won’t happen, but just imagine.
Trading a defenceman for a defenceman
A situation that I don’t know if I see that probable, but still possible. The Calgary Flames thought that by trading for Travis Hamonic, they would have one of the best top-four in the league. Unfortunately, nobody quite took into account TJ Brodie.
Brodie has been on somewhat of a decline for the past couple seasons. Last season, everyone attributed it to having the anchor of Dennis Wideman. But this past season, it was clear that Brodie was making his own mistakes and Hamonic wasn’t exactly the one bringing their pairing down.
Basically, ever since Brodie stopped being on a pairing with Mark Giordano, he’s been on a decline. So there have been speculations on if Brodie has played his last game in a Flames jersey. And if he did, who would the Flames trade for? Well, a situation could be that if the Flames were to trade Brodie, Michael Stone would move up to that second pairing and Brett Kulak and Rasmus Andersson would be that third pairing since the Flames have made it vocal that they anticipate Andersson to have a full-time NHL role soon.
Related Story: What's going on with T.J. Brodie?
However, in an ideal situation, Brodie and Stone would both get traded and the Flames could find a different replacement on that second pairing. While it’s probably for Brodie to get traded, the Flames may not get high value for him given he just had his worst season in the past four years.
And Stone is somewhat expensive for a third-pairing (I’m still confused on why the Flames chose to re-sign him, but that’s in the past), so it may be unlikely teams are willing to trade for him as well. And the only way I see the Flames trading for a defenceman is if they also give a defenceman in return.
Like I mentioned, trading a D for a D seems unlikely, but not completely out of line.
Trading for a bottom-six winger
While the Calgary Flames had some issues with secondary scoring, if they’re going to make a big move on draft day, it probably won’t be for a bottom-six winger. But never say never I guess.
Like I said, the Flames had issues with secondary scoring. When they recalled Mark Jankowski, he seemed to do alright on that third-line center. And with the acquisition of Nick Shore to potentially replace Matt Stajan, they might be alright in those areas.
Kris Versteeg was one of the only bottom-six forwards who was actually scoring goals before he got a season-ending injury that required surgery. But hopefully, he’ll have plenty of time to recover during the off-season and be healthy.
Related Story: Reason for season of mishap: Sam Bennett's beard
However, some people (and by that, I mean Twitter) have been wondering if Sam Bennett might be traded. In that case, the Flames could basically trade a bottom-six for a bottom-six. But we all know how Bennett performed this past season and the team may not get a whole lot of value for him. Which could, in turn, end up just fine if it’s for another bottom-six winger, but it’s unlikely the Flames are going to trade him this off-season since they seem quite keen on being patient with him. But I’m always wrong about these things, so always take what I say with a grain of salt.
There are also quite a few upcoming free-agents who have had a primary role of playing on the bottom-six, so the Flames may just hold out until free agency.
Trading for a top-six winger
If the Calgary Flames were to make a move on draft day, this one seems not only the most likely but the ones that fans want the most. If the Flames want to make another run at the Cup soon, trading for a draft pick won’t help them get there any time soon.
The thing the Flames arguably need the most right now is a top-six winger. We’ve seen them try different options with Micheal Ferland, Sam Bennett, and Kris Versteeg, but it seems like none of the options can keep up with the dynamic duo of Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.
Related Story: Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan: Dynamic duo
Nearing the end of the season, the Flames recalled Spencer Foo and he seemed to gel well with Gaudreau and Monahan and held up his own. It begs the question though if he can keep up those NHL top-line minutes for 82 games. If Foo does get more of a full-time role with the Flames, which I can see happening, it might be alternating between a bottom-six and a top-six role. It took Foo a little to get adjusted at the AHL level coming from the NCAA, but once he got settled, he was on a roll. He can definitely do that at the NHL level as well, but it’s hard to tell how well he can keep it up in his first NHL season.
If the Flames were to make a trade for a top-six winger, it seems like they’ll have to make a big trade as well, with either TJ Brodie or Sam Bennett, as some people have been speculating. All I know is that if the Flames were to make a trade on draft day, a top-six winger would be my ideal situation.
Nothing
A legitimate option is for the Calgary Flames to not do anything on draft day. While it seems unlikely given Brad Treliving’s history, we can’t rule anything out. As I mentioned earlier, they could just hold out until free agency. There will be quite a few options at free agency for them to choose from.
Right now, as I again mentioned, the biggest thing the Flames need is a top-six winger. However, if they were to sign someone on free agency, they may have to move some people around if they want to be able to afford it. In that case, an option would be to potentially trade for a draft pick in order to clear up some cap space.
I don’t see this being the case, though. I think if Treliving were to make a move on draft day, it won’t just be for a draft pick. But again, I am always wrong about these things. Remember last year when I wrote about how the Flames shouldn’t re-sign Michael Stone and they signed Stone an hour later? Yeah.
Like I mentioned, this option is highly improbable, and the least likely. If the Flames want to hold out until free-agency, they need to clear up some cap space. Which entails making some sort of move on draft day. Which isn’t nothing.
Next: 2004 Cup run - Where are they now?
If the Flames do nothing and hold out until free agency, I hear there’s a 40-year-old free agent available…