With The 14th Overall Pick - Who Do You Want? (2012 Version)

[Louis23]

What's your priority? Absolutely gettin' a centreman? Gettin' a PP quarterback? Or just the best player available? Share your thoughts.

Here is the list :

ISS TOP 50 FOR 2012 NHL DRAFT

Rank Player Pos Ht. Wt. S/C DoB Team League

1. NAIL YAKUPOV LW 5'10 189 L Oct. 6/93 Sarnia OHL

2. MIKHAIL GRIGORENKO RW 6'3 200 L May 16/94 Quebec QMJHL

3. RYAN MURRAY D 6'0 201 L Sep. 27/93 Everett WHL

4. FILIP FORSBERG RW 6'1 176 R Aug. 13/94 Leksands SweAI

5. JACOB TROUBA D 6'2 196 R Feb. 26/94 USA U-18 USNTDP

6. MATT DUMBA D 5'11 183 R Jul. 25/94 Red Deer WHL

7. BRENDAN GAUNCE C 6'2 215 L Mar. 25/94 Belleville OHL

8. MORGAN RIELLY D 5'11 190 L Mar. 9/94 Moose Jaw WHL

9. CODY CECI D 6'2 207 R Dec. 21/93 Ottawa OHL

10. GRIFFIN REINHART D 6'3 207 L Jan. 24/94 Edmonton WHL

11. SEBASTIAN COLLBERG RW 5'11 174 R Feb. 23/94 Vastra SweJE

12. OLLI MAATTA D 6'1 202 L Aug. 22/94 London OHL

13. MATT FINN D 6'0 195 L Feb. 24/94 Guelph OHL

14. BRADY SKJEI D 6'3 203 L Mar. 26/94 USA U-18 USNTDP

15. PONTUS ABERG LW 5'11 187 R Sep. 23/93 Djurgarden SweE

16. ALEXANDER GALCHENYUK RW 6'0 198 L Feb. 12/94 Sarnia OHL

17. RADEK FAKSA LW 6'3 202 L Jan. 9/94 Kitchener OHL

18. SLATER KOEKKOEK D 6'2 184 L Feb. 18/94 Peterborough OHL

19. DERRICK POULIOT D 5'11 186 L Jan. 16/94 Portland WHL

20. ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS C 6'1 201 L Jan. 5/94 Dubuque USHL

21. DALTON THROWER D 5'11 189 R Dec. 20/93 Saskatoon WHL

22. LUDVIG BYSTROM D 6'0 208 L Jul. 20/94 Modo SweE

23. TOMAS HERTL LW 6'2 198 L Nov. 12/93 Slavia CzeE

24. STEFAN MATTEAU LW 6'1 210 L Feb. 23/94 USA U-18 USNTDP

25. MIKE MATHESON D 6'1 180 L Feb. 27/94 Dubuque USHL

26. COLTON SISSONS C/R 6'1 189 R Nov. 5/93 Kelowna WHL

27. NICHOLAS KERDILES C 6'1 200 L Jan. 11/94 USA U-18 USNTDP

28. ANTON SLEPYSHEV LW 6'2 187 R May 13/94 Novokuznetsk KHL

29. TEUVO TERAVAINEN LW 5'11 161 L Sept. 11/94 Jokerit FinE

30. JARROD MAIDENS C 6'0 178 L Mar. 4/94 Owen Sound OHL

31. ANDREAS ATHANASIOU C 6'0 179 L Aug. 6/94 London OHL

32. MIKE WINTHER C 5'11 175 L Jan. 9/94 Prince Albert WHL

33. TANNER PEARSON LW 6'0 198 L Aug. 10/92 Barrie OHL

34. TOMAS HYKA RW 5'11 160 R Mar. 23/93 Gatineau QMJHL

35. TIM BOZON LW 6'0 183 L Mar. 24/94 Kamloops WHL

36. THOMAS WILSON RW 6'3 203 R Mar. 29/94 Plymouth OHL

37. EMIL LUNDBERG LW 6'3 198 L Sept. 17/93 Sodertalje SweAl

38. VILLE POKKA D 6'0 198 R Jun. 3/94 Karpat FinE

39. SCOTT KOSMACHUK RW 5'11 185 R Jan. 24/94 Guelph OHL

40. BRANDEN TROOCK RW 6'2 174 R Mar. 20/94 Seattle WHL

41. HAMPUS LINDHOLM RW 6'2 196 L Jan. 20/94 Rogle SweJE

42. DANIIL ZHARKOV F 6'3 197 L Feb. 6/94 Belleville OHL

43. HENRIK SAMUELSSON C 6'2 195 R Feb. 7/94 Edmonton WHL

44. MARTIN FRK RW 5'11 204 L Oct. 5/93 Halifax QMJHL

45. PHILLIP DI GIUSEPPE LW 5'11 176 L Oct. 9/93 Michigan CCHA

46. NIKITA GUSEV LW 5'9 163 R Jul. 8/92 CSKA Moscow RusJr

47. ESA LINDELL D 6'3 194 L May 23/94 Jokerit FinJrA

48. BOO NIEVES C 6'2 184 L Jan. 23/94 Indiana Ice USHL

49. DAMON SEVERSON D 6'1 200 R Aug. 7/94 Kelowna WHL

50. SCOTT LAUGHTON C 6'0 177 L May 30/94 Oshawa OHL

I personally would love to get a forward, but if we can possibly get Dumba, he'd be my pick. As you can see, not many high-end centres available. Gaunce may be available by 11th, but is he a true top-line potential centreman? I'm not sure about that. Maybe...

[Crzydrvr]

There are so many threads about this hanging around....couldn't this go into the one in TS&R? Or even the few hanging around the Flames Talk section.

Just sayin'.

Normally I'd say BPA, but BPA isn't always a solid line so....I just want a good prospect. He doesn't have to be a safe pick, and he doesn't necessarily have to be a boom-or-bust pick. All I want in our first rounder is that when I look at him, I see some real NHL potential on the top two lines/defense pairings. I don't want a guy who I'll end up saying "Dammit, of all the guys available why him...".

That criteria for me excludes "safe" picks like Brendan Gaunce and Zemgus Girgensons (for all the talk about getting an impact player, I see a lot of Zemgus love around here. The guy's a good player, but he's not going to be a first liner, he's going to be your Paul Gaustad, with some more offense if you're lucky). It also excludes some off-the-board picks like Teravainen. I mean, if we move back then by all means nab a Teuvo Teravainen or a Charles Hudon, but for where we are now, I would not like that pick at all.

[FF12]

I'd go Ryan Murray. I believe that the line of Cammalleri, Tanguay and Iginla can get it done if they can find a suitable puck moving D with some offensive skills. And right now its actually the 10th overall pick.

[oillio]

I'd go Ryan Murray. I believe that the line of Cammalleri, Tanguay and Iginla can get it done if they can find a suitable puck moving D with some offensive skills. And right now its actually the 10th overall pick.

ryan murray wont fall to tenth though. i could see a guy like cody ceci being available and i think he would fit in well with the flames.

[cross16]

That criteria for me excludes "safe" picks like Brendan Gaunce and Zemgus Girgensons (for all the talk about getting an impact player, I see a lot of Zemgus love around here. The guy's a good player, but he's not going to be a first liner, he's going to be your Paul Gaustad, with some more offense if you're lucky).

I see alot more offense in him than that, i think Girgensons easily has enough offensive to be a top 6 center but your right not a top liner I agree. I saw Girgensons flash alot of very good hands and offensive skill as a 17 year old at th eWorld Juniors so it's there you just need to see it more consistantly. I've heard the Ryan Kesler comparison thrown around alot for girgensons and i can see that.

I am also a best player avialable guy I don't want a certain position or player or upside I want the best player. i think Murray is not going to last until 11 and if he does you run up to the podium to make that pick. Murray andor Galenchyuk would be a dream but I think more realistically Trouba, Gaunce, Ceci or Girgensons are options and I think out of those 4 I would probably rank them, 1. Ceci 2. Trouba 3. Girgensons 4. Gaunce.

[Louis23]

I see alot more offense in him than that, i think Girgensons easily has enough offensive to be a top 6 center but your right not a top liner I agree. I saw Girgensons flash alot of very good hands and offensive skill as a 17 year old at th eWorld Juniors so it's there you just need to see it more consistantly. I've heard the Ryan Kesler comparison thrown around alot for girgensons and i can see that.

I am also a best player avialable guy I don't want a certain position or player or upside I want the best player. i think Murray is not going to last until 11 and if he does you run up to the podium to make that pick. Murray andor Galenchyuk would be a dream but I think more realistically Trouba, Gaunce, Ceci or Girgensons are options and I think out of those 4 I would probably rank them, 1. Ceci 2. Trouba 3. Girgensons 4. Gaunce.

Galenchyuk could slip down due to his injury.

[wonf]

Whoever we picked, we have to give him a chance to play, don't burry him in the farm team

[JTech780]

I see alot more offense in him than that, i think Girgensons easily has enough offensive to be a top 6 center but your right not a top liner I agree. I saw Girgensons flash alot of very good hands and offensive skill as a 17 year old at th eWorld Juniors so it's there you just need to see it more consistantly. I've heard the Ryan Kesler comparison thrown around alot for girgensons and i can see that.

I am also a best player avialable guy I don't want a certain position or player or upside I want the best player. i think Murray is not going to last until 11 and if he does you run up to the podium to make that pick. Murray andor Galenchyuk would be a dream but I think more realistically Trouba, Gaunce, Ceci or Girgensons are options and I

think out of those 4 I would probably rank them, 1. Ceci 2. Trouba 3. Girgensons 4. Gaunce.

I think what scares me about Girgensons is that he isn't exactly lighting up the USHL. 44 points in 43 games in a league that is starting to get better quality hockey but isn't at the same level of the CHL. If he was putting up more points I would be more on board with the idea of drafting him.

[Crzydrvr]

I think what scares me about Girgensons is that he isn't exactly lighting up the USHL. 44 points in 43 games in a league that is starting to get better quality hockey but isn't at the same level of the CHL. If he was putting up more points I would be more on board with the idea of drafting him.

To be fair, the USHL is (and has always been) a more defensive league. A lot of top prospects came through various teams like the U-18s and never posted big numbers despite being high quality NHLers and high quality prospects (Erik and Jack Johnson, John Moore, etc).

It just seems to me that Zemgus is a perfect player to slot on your 2nd and 3rd lines. And as far as I can tell, we have a lot of those types of players both in our lineup right now and coming up in the future. I mean, he's the perfect guy to have if you're a Washington and you need that tough player who can fill a number of roles for you, but...

[cross16]

I think what scares me about Girgensons is that he isn't exactly lighting up the USHL. 44 points in 43 games in a league that is starting to get better quality hockey but isn't at the same level of the CHL. If he was putting up more points I would be more on board with the idea of drafting him.

Joe Pavelski 52 points in 54 games his first season and 69 in 60 his second. Similar pace to Girgensons

David Backes 69 in 57.

Blake Wheeler had 47 in 58.

Pacioretty had 63 in 60

Patrick Sharp 98 points in 111 games.

I think it's also worth nothing that he is 6 point clear of his closet teammate dispite playing 11 less games.

I think it's dificult to compare across the leagues personally becuase some people would look at the USHL and call it an inferior league and thus if he can't put points up there he must not be able to other places. However, you could also say that if that is an inferior league than he is going to have trouble putting up a ton of points without good quality players around him. I mena you look at those four players and I think if Girgensons is like those four your'd be thrilled with that as a 2nd line center.

I agree his offensive output is not high end, but I think he has more offense in him that he has showed so far. I saw him display alot of offensive talent at the world juniors and he made some guys looke silly, but the consistancy is not there.

[shaner8]

Trade up to top 7. Won't cost that much with having the 11th pick

[wally31]

Trade up to top 7. Won't cost that much with having the 11th pick

You'd be surprised. It would cost quite a bit.

We don't have any 2nd round picks either.

[Zirakzigil]

Galenchyuk could slip down due to his injury.

I hope he falls to 10th where the Flames are. Flames need to pick best forward available. Teams winning the cup have young bright offensive stars, thats what we need to go for. We got Sven and now its time to get another one this year. We can rebuild our defense through FA, you cant rebuild an offense that way.

[wally31]

I hope he falls to 10th where the Flames are. Flames need to pick best forward available. Teams winning the cup have young bright offensive stars, thats what we need to go for. We got Sven and now its time to get another one this year. We can rebuild our defense through FA, you cant rebuild an offense that way.

I just don't see a chance at Gally unless we magically win the lotto and move up 4 spots. (even then it might not happen.)

Crossing my fingers either way!

I could see Rielly dropping to us due to the injury with Reinhart, Ceci, Trouba, Murray, Dumba on the board... That would be a steal in its self.

[kehatch]

I like Reinhart if he falls a bit.

[Flyerfan52]

To be fair, the USHL is (and has always been) a more defensive league. A lot of top prospects came through various teams like the U-18s and never posted big numbers despite being high quality NHLers and high quality prospects (Erik and Jack Johnson, John Moore, etc).

It just seems to me that Zemgus is a perfect player to slot on your 2nd and 3rd lines. And as far as I can tell, we have a lot of those types of players both in our lineup right now and coming up in the future. I mean, he's the perfect guy to have if you're a Washington and you need that tough player who can fill a number of roles for you, but...

He seems to average a PPG over the 2 years in Dubuque so not bad.

But he's committed to the U of Vermont so it's doubtful we'd see him for a few years. That means he'll probably be drafted by a team that can wait (Wings, Flyers, etc.) & could even result in him falling to the 2nd round. If Feaster could acquire a 2nd rounder & he was available he'd be to good to pass up.

As we sit, all we can do is pick the BPA (we'll need help @ more then center soon enough) or use our 1st in a package for an upgrade.

[Louis23]

Well, SCREW this win. We went back from 11th to 13th overall with this win. I'm sorry for everyone who is against this, but we NEED to lose against Anaheim. Losing this next game IS IMPORTANT. If we win, we might as well end up picking up 14th. Trust me, there is a difference in possible talent between 11th and 14th. Middle pick and top 10 is different, in the top 10 you might be able to get a good player who slept down because of injury or because of certain team's need.(yes i know we'd be 11th, but close enough to top 10).

[tachaudh]

Well, SCREW this win. We went back from 11th to 13th overall with this win. I'm sorry for everyone who is against this, but we NEED to lose against Anaheim. Losing this next game IS IMPORTANT. If we win, we might as well end up picking up 14th. Trust me, there is a difference in possible talent between 11th and 14th. Middle pick and top 10 is different, in the top 10 you might be able to get a good player who slept down because of injury or because of certain team's need.(yes i know we'd be 11th, but close enough to top 10).

OMGGG!!!! YOU AREN"TTTT REAL A FANNNN!!!!!! HOW COULD YOUUUUU SAY SUCH A THING!!!! SUPPORT THE OILERS!!!!!!! SELF IMMOLATION AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[DL44]

I must say.. 100% of the flames fans i polled said they would perfer a win in gm 82.

Mind you it was a 1 person sample size...

Best case scenario for the flames: Flames win, Avs win, Sabres win on the last day... 11th pick

Worst case (in terms of draft picks): Flames win, Avs lose, Sabres lose... 13th pick

[geos]

I must say.. 100% of the flames fans i polled said they would perfer a win in gm 82.

Mind you it was a 1 person sample size...

Best case scenario for the flames: Flames win, Avs win, Sabres win on the last day... 11th pick

Worst case (in terms of draft picks): Flames win, Avs lose, Sabres lose... 13th pick

I'll be honest, I kind of wish we had lost.

One win or move up 3 spots in the draft? We went from 11th overall pick to 14th just like that.

[Robindr]

I'll be honest, I kind of wish we had lost.

One win or move up 3 spots in the draft? We went from 11th overall pick to 14th just like that.

I think you could see that on Feaster's face too. He didn't look too pleased. These guys are bum idiots. I am soooooo mad and disappointed in them. Where was this effort when they were fighting for a spot? With the lottery, they had a possibility of moving up a spot or two, three or four as well and move down as much as one. So this just has me. I am fed up with them. I just don't get it.

[Robindr]

OMGGG!!!! YOU AREN"TTTT REAL A FANNNN!!!!!! HOW COULD YOUUUUU SAY SUCH A THING!!!! SUPPORT THE OILERS!!!!!!! SELF IMMOLATION AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

They didn't say they didn't support them when they lost 6 in a row to lose their chances of a playoff spot. I'd get that they aren't REAL FANS if they were cheering for them to lose. But GET REAL MAN, this is the lamest group I've seen in a Flames uniform. Go on all these losing streaks as soon as you get a sniff of a spot, and then fight their way back, get a sniff and lose again. Then Go on a huge losing streak to miss and then win out to lose your spots in the draft. We're real fans alright. We get upset when we lose when the games matter. These last two games did matter, but in the wrong possible way.

Personally, I'd rather see them draft higher. I cheered for them as much as I could to make it in. But I was disappointed too when they fell short, and in most cases, failed to put in solid effort. So yes, why is it now that they play like a team and win out? Because they're losers, and now have lost the Draft Lottery too.

[tincup1]

I'll be honest, I kind of wish we had lost.

One win or move up 3 spots in the draft? We went from 11th overall pick to 14th just like that.

The most frustrating thing is that these two games are when they showed the most emotion in the last 10 - after they were eliminated. Man, this team is disfunctional.

[freerider-316]

You guys pulled yourselves out of a real hole and almost accomplished the statistically improbable (I hate stats but this is a case where they make a point). I know it sucks but for the last few months your team DID find ways to win. And it makes me question the merit of a rebuild. Especially after seeing some of your younger players come up for a few games and a sniff at the big leagues.

[CastleMania]

You guys pulled yourselves out of a real hole and almost accomplished the statistically improbable (I hate stats but this is a case where they make a point). I know it sucks but for the last few months your team DID find ways to win. And it makes me question the merit of a rebuild. Especially after seeing some of your younger players come up for a few games and a sniff at the big leagues.

Yep, you make a good point. Also, there will be more young player coming up from the minors next year. Food for thought.