MatthewFlames
Registered User
The Flames came into day 1 with only the 8th overall pick.
There were three players (outside of McDavid and Eichel) that the Flames wanted to fall to 8. Only one made it to 8, so despite shopping the pick for a couple weeks to see if someone would overpay, I had no hesitation taking...
1.8 Mathew Barzal - C - Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL
Mathew Barzal in action for Seattle
For me, there is little downside in selecting Barzal. Super high hockey IQ, combined with creativity, passing and the much desired puck possession attributes needed by centers in today's NHL, make him a very safe pick. His skating is fantastic, he isn't afraid to mix it up, and his compete level is extremely high. This is a kid that doesn't like to lose and he will do what it takes to be better.
He's one of the younger players in the draft, and he improved throughout the year. Accusations that he is a perimeter player are unfounded, he is a player that finds holes and seams and works them. His confidence grew as the year went on and he was dominant World under-18's.
He is self aware enough to comment on his need to improved defensively (even though he is willing and more refined in this area than most 17 year olds) and the need to put his good shot to use instead of being a pass first player. Parts of his game remind me of both Matt Duchene and Sean Monahan.
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The Flames list beyond the first round was very short, two players for the 2nd, two players for the 3rd, and then a list of BPA. The Flames then attempted to trade into the 2nd round but were unable to package the right elements to do so in time to nab the players they wanted, both of whom were taken by the 40th pick.
The action then settled on finding a way to grab two earlier thirds to nab the next players on the list.
The earliest the Flames could get back on the board at a reasonable level, and grab another early/mid third, was 65, and as always happens, the player the Flames wanted was the pick before the Flames could pick (Rob ended up with 2 of the 4 players I wanted... bah
)...
Regardless, the Flames had the 65th pick now and one of the 4 was available...
3.65 Alec Dillon - G - Edmonton Oil Kings - WHL
Flames 2014 draft pick Brian Bowen scores on Dillon in USHL action
Alec Dillon was a Flames target for almost a year (he was drafted by the LA Kings in the 5th round last year) and when Roy traded into the 3rd round with the 63rd pick, I was convinced that the chance was gone. Instead, he took Booth, and Dillon became a Flame. The Vancouver Island native is 6'5", yet athletic and mentally strong with good fundamentals. He's improved dramatically over the last two seasons (in the BCHL and then USHL) and has now signed to play with Edmonton in the WHL for the coming season.
He was the LA Kings prospect of the year (per The Hockey News), the USHL rookie goalie of the year and USHL 2nd All Star Team goalie. He led the USHL in GAA.
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At 79th, the Flames were onto the Lightnings favorite players available list....
1.79 AJ Greer - W - Boston University - NCAA
AJ Greer went the final of the Frozen Four with BU
Rather than being a total stat watcher, the Flames went with attributes when picking Greer. He's big (just shy of 6'3" and 210lbs at the combine), he can really skate, he loves the physical play, and he improved all year, from limited 4th line minutes at the start of the year to the second line by the time the Frozen Four rolled around.
He's an old school styled winger, strong on the boards and as a forechecker, but he has the skating ability to play in the new NHL. Players like this are valuable to NHL teams come the playoffs and I could see him going much earlier in the NHL draft. Greer has plenty of offensive upside as well, he scored at over 2PPG the year before accelerating to go the college route and has an incredible slapshot. And the Flames have had previous success with Quebec kids who go to the NCAA's (Killorn), so no fear there. He's coachable but needs a lot of time to round out his defensive game and let his hands and hockey IQ catch up to his body.
There were three players (outside of McDavid and Eichel) that the Flames wanted to fall to 8. Only one made it to 8, so despite shopping the pick for a couple weeks to see if someone would overpay, I had no hesitation taking...
1.8 Mathew Barzal - C - Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL
Mathew Barzal in action for Seattle
For me, there is little downside in selecting Barzal. Super high hockey IQ, combined with creativity, passing and the much desired puck possession attributes needed by centers in today's NHL, make him a very safe pick. His skating is fantastic, he isn't afraid to mix it up, and his compete level is extremely high. This is a kid that doesn't like to lose and he will do what it takes to be better.
He's one of the younger players in the draft, and he improved throughout the year. Accusations that he is a perimeter player are unfounded, he is a player that finds holes and seams and works them. His confidence grew as the year went on and he was dominant World under-18's.
He is self aware enough to comment on his need to improved defensively (even though he is willing and more refined in this area than most 17 year olds) and the need to put his good shot to use instead of being a pass first player. Parts of his game remind me of both Matt Duchene and Sean Monahan.
__
The Flames list beyond the first round was very short, two players for the 2nd, two players for the 3rd, and then a list of BPA. The Flames then attempted to trade into the 2nd round but were unable to package the right elements to do so in time to nab the players they wanted, both of whom were taken by the 40th pick.
The action then settled on finding a way to grab two earlier thirds to nab the next players on the list.
The earliest the Flames could get back on the board at a reasonable level, and grab another early/mid third, was 65, and as always happens, the player the Flames wanted was the pick before the Flames could pick (Rob ended up with 2 of the 4 players I wanted... bah
)... Regardless, the Flames had the 65th pick now and one of the 4 was available...
3.65 Alec Dillon - G - Edmonton Oil Kings - WHL
Flames 2014 draft pick Brian Bowen scores on Dillon in USHL action
Alec Dillon was a Flames target for almost a year (he was drafted by the LA Kings in the 5th round last year) and when Roy traded into the 3rd round with the 63rd pick, I was convinced that the chance was gone. Instead, he took Booth, and Dillon became a Flame. The Vancouver Island native is 6'5", yet athletic and mentally strong with good fundamentals. He's improved dramatically over the last two seasons (in the BCHL and then USHL) and has now signed to play with Edmonton in the WHL for the coming season.
He was the LA Kings prospect of the year (per The Hockey News), the USHL rookie goalie of the year and USHL 2nd All Star Team goalie. He led the USHL in GAA.
__
At 79th, the Flames were onto the Lightnings favorite players available list....
1.79 AJ Greer - W - Boston University - NCAA
AJ Greer went the final of the Frozen Four with BU
Rather than being a total stat watcher, the Flames went with attributes when picking Greer. He's big (just shy of 6'3" and 210lbs at the combine), he can really skate, he loves the physical play, and he improved all year, from limited 4th line minutes at the start of the year to the second line by the time the Frozen Four rolled around.
He's an old school styled winger, strong on the boards and as a forechecker, but he has the skating ability to play in the new NHL. Players like this are valuable to NHL teams come the playoffs and I could see him going much earlier in the NHL draft. Greer has plenty of offensive upside as well, he scored at over 2PPG the year before accelerating to go the college route and has an incredible slapshot. And the Flames have had previous success with Quebec kids who go to the NCAA's (Killorn), so no fear there. He's coachable but needs a lot of time to round out his defensive game and let his hands and hockey IQ catch up to his body.
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So this is a classic Flamettes pick. He's a defensively reliable player who is a good skater despite being a bit unorthodox, he's got soft hands and uses his frame well, so what's not too love? Pavlychev probably won't be drafted in the NHL, and he'll spend another season in the USHL before going to Penn State, but he seemed to be a worthwhile investment.
