Another year, and most likely another remarkably similar NHL Draft for the Calgary Flames.
They’re near the bottom of the list (20th overall this time retaining their pick from the Olli Jokinen deal and deferring to next season), they’re not knee deep in the draft day deal hype machine (being operated 34/7 by Brian Burke), and they are flying under the radar.
Is this a recipe for another impact Darryl Sutter trade, or is this the year to expect Sutter to be a little more reserved given he’s had less time to work the phones while attempting to get his brother into the coaching fold and fill out his staff?
Time will tell. He certainly has a history of diverting the TSN Draft Desk from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a spell, as he did when he aquired Alex Tanguay, discarded Alex Tanguay and picked up Mike Cammalleri in two of the last three drafts.
Unlike many draft years the 2009 draft doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of consensus. Using Mock Drafts as a basis point it is quite clear that out of the top five or six things get a little willy nilly when it comes to who will go in the first round.
(click on picture if fuzzy)
In nine Mock Draft summaries only 15 players showed up in the first round in all nine, a pretty amazing divergence of opinion in the bottom half of the first round. All told 49 players were selected in the first round of at least one mock draft summary.
John Tavares was the first pick in seven of the nine, with Victor Hedman (man that sounds like a soap star) picking up where Tavares left off. The top five seems pretty clear with Tavares and Hedman being rounded out by Matt Duchene, Evander Kane and Bradon Schenn. From there … all bets are off.
From a Flames perspective nine different players were taken in the nine drafts at the 20th spot showing the chaos that will be in order towards the bottom third of the draft.
Look for Sutter to do the usual and move down, hopefully picking up a late 2nd or early third round pick for his troubles. The Flames usually have their own book when it comes to this portion of a draft and will likely have at least three of those players available at 20. His propensity to deal 2nd round picks can cause a draft day sting, but recouping a pick as he does most years lands the circle on pretty solid hockey management.
If the average of the lists are to be believed it’s a good chance that the Flames will make a selection from the following ten players;
Jacob Josefson
Simon Despres
Louis Leblanc
Carter Ashton
David Rundblad
Peter Holland
Landon Ferraro
Chris Kreider
Drew Shore
Stefan Elliott
Within that group are sons of two former NHLers in Landon Ferraro and Carter Ashton (who’s father played with the Flames).
My prediction? The Flames trade down and take Dylan Olsen. Hardly original, I know, but there just may be some smoke where there is fire. I just haven’t heard of Darryl Sutter giving dressing room tours to undrafted TierII defenseman in the past.
Picks aside the Flames are rumoured to be in the hunt for Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, though I just can’t see that happening with the CBA and a future lower cap on the horizon. Perhaps the Flames will deal the rights to Mike Cammalleri to another NHL club to give them time to negotiate and fetch something like a 6th round pick.
Enjoy the draft!
