No. 35 overall: Original Selection - RW Mathis Preston
While we mentioned that the Flames don't need more wingers with the last pick, the writers went ahead and took another one here, but given who is available, they didn't go wrong with picking another winger. Some could question Preston as the selection, but given that he's also from Western Canada and has the skill that Craig Conroy has clearly coveted in recent times, it's a pick that wouldn't upset too many Flames fans.
This past year between Spokane and Vancouver in 46 games played, Preston notched 18 goals and 44 points, and given that he's got an NHL ready shot and is already used to the spotlight, playing in Canada would be no issue for him in the league. Unfortunately, he goes missing often in games, and at the NHL level, you simply can't have that, so while the Flames may land a good player here, there's a few other options out there.
Revised No. 35 Selection: LW Marcus Nordmark
Other options: LHD Xavier Villeneuve, LHD Ben MacBeath
If the Flames did want to change from The Athletic's pick here, and if they followed our selection of Viggo Bjorck early, there's a no-brainer pick in his Djugardens teammate Marcus Nordmark, who has gone heavily underrated in the pre-draft process thus far. Standing at 6-foot-2, Nordmark brings the size that the veteran people in the Flames front office love, but he also brings the skill, the confidence and the hockey IQ that negates plenty of risk as a prospect.
This past season, Nordmark posted 23 points in just 11 playoff games alongside Bjorck for Djurgardens Jr., and after a dominant regular season, he could easily become a top-six player in the NHL. In the second round, that's much less of a guarantee, but if the Flames could add two high level players from Sweden in the first two rounds, it makes all the sense in the world.
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