2025 DRAFT

So 18th and somewhere 28-32 probably. Are those two picks alone enough to get into the top 10? Likely not but teams like Buffalo and Anaheim have got to be looking for a vet RHD.

I would seriously take nothing but best available centers in this draft. But there's probably good reason they don't put me in charge of these things.
 
So 18th and somewhere 28-32 probably. Are those two picks alone enough to get into the top 10? Likely not but teams like Buffalo and Anaheim have got to be looking for a vet RHD.

I would seriously take nothing but best available centers in this draft. But there's probably good reason they don't put me in charge of these things.
We got an arena deal and broke ground, we're winning the lottery... that's how it works isn't it?
 
We got an arena deal and broke ground, we're winning the lottery... that's how it works isn't it?

maybe

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I think Cootes is playing himself out of our range, Captain of U18 Worlds
Gastrin & McKinney back on the radar

Cootes and Will Horcoff seem like the two best options now that could still be on the board when it’s our turn to pick at #18 and #22. I still like Gastrin as well, but I’ve seen him ranked everywhere from 15th to mid 2nd round. It’s hard to say for sure where he’ll end up, but it would be cool if he was still available when it comes our turn to pick in the 2nd round, though I have doubts that he will be. Cootes, Horcoff, and Gastrin would be a monster draft. Interesting that Zonnon is projected to go in the 1st round now.
 
Would be a total Flames move to win the lottery in the year where we go from 16th to 6th and not, you know, a top 3 pick.
 
The draft order outside the top-10 is all over the place from one list to another. O’Brien was my guy back when he was ranked 19th, now it seems all but certain that he’ll go top-10. I don’t think I’ve seen Bear ranked outside the top-15 on any list. Reschny is definitely skilled, definitely swaggy, and can put up the numbers, but Cootes plays a complete 200-ft game, 77% at the dot, captain for Seattle, captain at the U18 Worlds, bigger frame than Reschny, and addresses the need we have for quality centers. I’d still lean towards the pick that ticks all those boxes at #18. We’d probably be lucky to land any one of Gastrin, Zonnon, Nesbitt, or even Ryabkin at #22. Gastrin is the one I’ve watched the most tape on, and I like what I see. Zonnon isn’t a natural center, but he’s tough and can score in piles, the only real knock against him was his skating. I’ve not seen a whole lot of tape on Nesbitt, but from his stat line and reports I’ve read, he fits the profile of the type of player I’d love to go for: 25-goal, PPG center with a great shot, shows flashes of offensive brilliance, who can play physical, and has a 6’4” frame to fill out. I’d be more than content with Cootes/Nesbitt combo with our two 1sts.

One thing I forgot is that we sent our 2025 2nd to Philly in the Frost/Farabee deal, which means the 2nd we have is the one we got from the Caps in the Mangi trade, which is actually the Avs 2nd, and will probably be late-50’s, so Horcoff—not at all a reach there. Some lists have him going as high as top-25, but tankathon has him at #59. Already a man’s body, 6’4”, 181 at 18 years old, this guy’s teenage numbers were re tarded, 80 goals and 173 points in 80 games at 15 years old lol same deal though, is an excellent playmaker that can play physically and use his frame to create space for himself. I would have been happy to take him with our own pick at #48, I’ll be even happier to have him at #59 if he’s still there. Surely at least one of Cootes, Nesbitt, and Horcoff would pan out for us. That’s some pretty decent size and skill down the middle.

 
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I think most of us understand we need a stud centerman, likely with both 1st rnd picks.
But what if Wingers like Lakovic, Bear or Carbonneau fall?
DMen like Smith or Mrtka?

Personally I hope all those guys are gone, as that'll mean Martin or Cootes are there. Sucks that Both Mont & Van fans say they'd be all over those 2 though.
 
I think most of us understand we need a stud centerman, likely with both 1st rnd picks.
But what if Wingers like Lakovic, Bear or Carbonneau fall?
DMen like Smith or Mrtka?

Personally I hope all those guys are gone, as that'll mean Martin or Cootes are there. Sucks that Both Mont & Van fans say they'd be all over those 2 though.

In jest (only kind of serious heh) I said we should draft only centers for every pick, but really we need gamebreakers in any position and with all the "good" centers probably gone before 18, just go BPA. That includes d-men, if there is a defenseman prospect that the scouts think has top pairing/game breaker potential I will not question going d-man. This is still a re-build and we need guys at every position except goalie.

I'd take a gamebreaking left winger 10/10 over a centerman who tops out as a 2nd line player.
 
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In jest (only kind of serious heh) I said we should draft only centers for every pick, but really we need gamebreakers in any position and with all the "good" centers probably gone before 18, just go BPA. That includes d-men, if there is a defenseman prospect that the scouts think has top pairing/game breaker potential I will not question going d-man. This is still a re-build and we need guys at every position except goalie.

I'd take a gamebreaking left winger 10/10 over a centerman who tops out as a 2nd line player.
We still need goalies too, we never know what will happen. If we end up with too many good goalies, we can trade one, someone is always looking for goalies.

That said, we have drafted goalies each of the last 2 years, so skipping one doesn't hurt... but I imagine we'll still draft goalies every other year or 2/3 years
 
In jest (only kind of serious heh) I said we should draft only centers for every pick, but really we need gamebreakers in any position and with all the "good" centers probably gone before 18, just go BPA. That includes d-men, if there is a defenseman prospect that the scouts think has top pairing/game breaker potential I will not question going d-man. This is still a re-build and we need guys at every position except goalie.

I'd take a gamebreaking left winger 10/10 over a centerman who tops out as a 2nd line player.
Sure - but who's the game breaker LW we'd be taking at 18?
I'd take a guy who's got a ton of grit over a guy who wilts when the going gets tough.
Now if that LWer has grit & skill, I might be on board. Maybe Bear drops?
 
Sure - but who's the game breaker LW we'd be taking at 18?
I'd take a guy who's got a ton of grit over a guy who wilts when the going gets tough.
Now if that LWer has grit & skill, I might be on board. Maybe Bear drops?

I ain't a scout so I don't know, but my point was if the scouts think there is a gamebreaker, go for them regardless of what their position is. If they think Reschney (LW I believe) is a gamebreaker and Carter Bear (C) isn't, go Reschney. For reference I think both are gone by 18 anyway and I haven't watched either other than highlight packages, but just using them as an example.

We still need goalies too, we never know what will happen. If we end up with too many good goalies, we can trade one, someone is always looking for goalies.

That said, we have drafted goalies each of the last 2 years, so skipping one doesn't hurt... but I imagine we'll still draft goalies every other year or 2/3 years

I meant using first rounders on goalies. I have no problem drafting a goalie with later round picks.
 
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Bob’s top 16. Very few surprises. I expect the top 14 to be gone by time Flames pick. If one of them drop then take them. Other than that I put Hensler and Lakovic in with probably twenty other guys, probably could throw all those names in a hat and pick two out for our two firsts. I do like Gastrin or Cootes as a Backlund 3rd line center replacement.
 
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Bob’s top 16. Very few surprises. I expect the top 14 to be gone by time Flames pick. If one of them drop then take them. Other than that I put Hensler and Lakovic in with probably twenty other guys, probably could throw all those names in a hat and pick two out for our two firsts. I do like Gastrin or Cootes as a Backlund 3rd line center replacement.

18. Cootes
22. Gastrin or Nesbitt
57. Horcoff
 

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