MatthewFlames
Registered User
The Flames got lucky. Super Lucky. Super Lucky Twice.
Luck #1 - The Flames were angling for a top pairing D from the summer on - but one in which they would not have to part with anyone from their prospects pool. That meant trading their 1st round pick for 2018. And nothing else. It took a while but a suitor was found. The problem was the Flames were 9th in the standings and it didn't look like they would make the playoffs. So, the Flames asked in some lottery protection to the pick. If it was top 12, the Flames would keep the pick. Luckily, the other GM agreed.
Luck #2 - The Flames were paired with the Carolina Hurricanes in the draft lottery and won the right to pick second overall.
It's pretty much a given that top end drafted forwards are impact players in the NHL. It's where most of them are found. For the Flames, who've only picked in the top 5 once, and in the top 10 twice apart from that (Barzal at 8 and Backlund at 10), this is new territory and at a time when the franchise lacks an elite winger.
Pretty darn lucky all around.
Of course, that one top 5 pick was spent on Valeri Nichushkin. But we love him anyway and we've never had a problem with drafting Russians. In fact, we're a defender of how good and how competitive they can be. Our only fear was that Tom would not actually pick Dahlin 1st...
LEADING UP TO THE DRAFT
The Flames entertained many offers and inquiries, from the Putasdelfias dangling Hall (probably should have done it) to a package including Landeskog, Dube and more (probably should have done it), to Josh offering 3 plus, to Roy offering multiple firsts and a high second. But nothing came really close to tempting the Flamettes. The Flames did put out one offer, which was shot down: it was Matthew Tkachuk and the 3 for the 2 - it was a mild attempt at reuniting the Tkachuk brothers on the Flames roster.
DRAFT - DAY ONE
2nd Overall - 2nd in NHL - Andrei Svechnikov - Barrie Colts - W
He's really, really good at hockey.
ALSO CONSIDERED: Zadina, Tkachuk, Dahlin (if he'd fallen), Kotkaniemi and some of the others. Before the lottery, my focus was on Evan Bouchard until he really blew up - and then Kotkaniemi, who also blew up after the lottery.
The Flames had a 2nd fetish after Alvaro's saunas.. I mean, after Svechnikov, and that was the player in the draft with the most upside that's not talked about. In a draft with all these smaller, skating defensemen, the player that stood out to me was a guy whose skating is right up there with the best in the draft class - but comes in a 6'4" 200+ lb package - a player who doesn't make mistakes, is smooth as butter, but still has a physical presence. A player with hidden offensive talents, a good shot, and some dangle - he started to break out offensively in his second year in the WHL. The Flames had him ahead of Boqvist, any of the American D, in fact, it was a toss-up between him and Ty Smith for 5th on the Flames list of D prospects - eventually, we moved him ahead of Smith.
But, the Flames only had one pick and had spent it. Caught up in the mayhem of draft day hormonally driven blindness, even at my advanced age, the Flames scoured their roster for a player who they could trade and found one and started offering him for pretty much every pick in the 20's and 30's and 40's. The eventual suitor was at 34 and once the pick came it was a deal that made sense for both sides. Adam (EDIT: er, Jacob...) Larsson went to the Golden Knights.
34th Overall - 31st in NHL - Alexander Alexeyev - Red Deer Rebels - D
It helps that he's Russian too.
But for reals, this kid is so well rounded, mature and passionate. Had some injury problems and missed time but showed heart and grit and determination. This is the kind of defenseman you win with, so, I think he could be quite popular on draft day. I've been comparing him to Mattias Ekholm but in some ways, he also reminds me of Colton Parayko and Brendan Guhle - talent right in front of your eyes but for some reason drops in the draft.
34th overall actually turned into great value for him but the Flames would have drafted him in the top 20 and been happy.
ALSO CONSIDERED: Right after consummating the deal I had to look and make sure there wasn't somebody who'd fallen or who I liked more. Looked at Akil Thomas, mostly, but also Liam Foudy and Yessie Ylonen, who was very high on my list. But this was all about AA -- I'd been talking him up for a while and he was the target.
The Flames have added some late picks to chase some of their favorite hidden gems - and have 5 picks remaining in the draft.
Luck #1 - The Flames were angling for a top pairing D from the summer on - but one in which they would not have to part with anyone from their prospects pool. That meant trading their 1st round pick for 2018. And nothing else. It took a while but a suitor was found. The problem was the Flames were 9th in the standings and it didn't look like they would make the playoffs. So, the Flames asked in some lottery protection to the pick. If it was top 12, the Flames would keep the pick. Luckily, the other GM agreed.
Luck #2 - The Flames were paired with the Carolina Hurricanes in the draft lottery and won the right to pick second overall.
It's pretty much a given that top end drafted forwards are impact players in the NHL. It's where most of them are found. For the Flames, who've only picked in the top 5 once, and in the top 10 twice apart from that (Barzal at 8 and Backlund at 10), this is new territory and at a time when the franchise lacks an elite winger.
Pretty darn lucky all around.
Of course, that one top 5 pick was spent on Valeri Nichushkin. But we love him anyway and we've never had a problem with drafting Russians. In fact, we're a defender of how good and how competitive they can be. Our only fear was that Tom would not actually pick Dahlin 1st...
LEADING UP TO THE DRAFT
The Flames entertained many offers and inquiries, from the Putasdelfias dangling Hall (probably should have done it) to a package including Landeskog, Dube and more (probably should have done it), to Josh offering 3 plus, to Roy offering multiple firsts and a high second. But nothing came really close to tempting the Flamettes. The Flames did put out one offer, which was shot down: it was Matthew Tkachuk and the 3 for the 2 - it was a mild attempt at reuniting the Tkachuk brothers on the Flames roster.
DRAFT - DAY ONE
2nd Overall - 2nd in NHL - Andrei Svechnikov - Barrie Colts - W
He's really, really good at hockey.
ALSO CONSIDERED: Zadina, Tkachuk, Dahlin (if he'd fallen), Kotkaniemi and some of the others. Before the lottery, my focus was on Evan Bouchard until he really blew up - and then Kotkaniemi, who also blew up after the lottery.
The Flames had a 2nd fetish after Alvaro's saunas.. I mean, after Svechnikov, and that was the player in the draft with the most upside that's not talked about. In a draft with all these smaller, skating defensemen, the player that stood out to me was a guy whose skating is right up there with the best in the draft class - but comes in a 6'4" 200+ lb package - a player who doesn't make mistakes, is smooth as butter, but still has a physical presence. A player with hidden offensive talents, a good shot, and some dangle - he started to break out offensively in his second year in the WHL. The Flames had him ahead of Boqvist, any of the American D, in fact, it was a toss-up between him and Ty Smith for 5th on the Flames list of D prospects - eventually, we moved him ahead of Smith.
But, the Flames only had one pick and had spent it. Caught up in the mayhem of draft day hormonally driven blindness, even at my advanced age, the Flames scoured their roster for a player who they could trade and found one and started offering him for pretty much every pick in the 20's and 30's and 40's. The eventual suitor was at 34 and once the pick came it was a deal that made sense for both sides. Adam (EDIT: er, Jacob...) Larsson went to the Golden Knights.
34th Overall - 31st in NHL - Alexander Alexeyev - Red Deer Rebels - D
It helps that he's Russian too.
But for reals, this kid is so well rounded, mature and passionate. Had some injury problems and missed time but showed heart and grit and determination. This is the kind of defenseman you win with, so, I think he could be quite popular on draft day. I've been comparing him to Mattias Ekholm but in some ways, he also reminds me of Colton Parayko and Brendan Guhle - talent right in front of your eyes but for some reason drops in the draft.34th overall actually turned into great value for him but the Flames would have drafted him in the top 20 and been happy.
ALSO CONSIDERED: Right after consummating the deal I had to look and make sure there wasn't somebody who'd fallen or who I liked more. Looked at Akil Thomas, mostly, but also Liam Foudy and Yessie Ylonen, who was very high on my list. But this was all about AA -- I'd been talking him up for a while and he was the target.
The Flames have added some late picks to chase some of their favorite hidden gems - and have 5 picks remaining in the draft.
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