Todd Cordell: Draft Review: Flames Prioritize Defensemen, Upside At 2015 Draft

Really happy with what the Flames were able to walk away with. 2 stud defensive prospects and Dougie freakin Hamilton.

Zero complaints from this guy. BT is winning me over completely. Addressed every organizational weakness but goal (and I still think something is going to happen there) and didn't part with a single roster asset to do it. I'm thrilled.

I second this

Zero complaints from this guy. BT is winning me over completely. Addressed every organizational weakness but goal (and I still think something is going to happen there) and didn't part with a single roster asset to do it. I'm thrilled.
- jtommyt

With Ortio gillies and macdonald I'd say the work organizational weakness is not accurate

With Ortio gillies and macdonald I'd say the work organizational weakness is not accurate
- Redmile247

None of those guys are ready to be a starter though. There's a 2-3 year hole in the immediate future that needs to be addressed.

What a draft for you guys. Dougie will be a beauty. Very jealous. Then management still managed to walk away with a couple of solid D prospects in the 2nd. The Battle of Alberta will be strong again very soon.

None of those guys are ready to be a starter though. There's a 2-3 year hole in the immediate future that needs to be addressed.
- jtommyt

Well we have hiller and until he signs somewhere else Ramo ...Ortio isn't ready to start but he deserves a shot at backing up IMO

Oliver Kylington at 60th was nice, honestly many including myself were considering him at 15th. Guy was ranked 20th, heck he was top 5 before the season and is one of the best skaters in the entire draft

Hamilton goes without saying, you know its a bad trade for Boston when other GMs are coming out and saying "WTF I would have given more"

Nice to be on the right end of one of these for once...Flames D is looking awsome

What a draft for you guys. Dougie will be a beauty. Very jealous. Then management still managed to walk away with a couple of solid D prospects in the 2nd. The Battle of Alberta will be strong again very soon.
- Iloveeveryone

I think both Alberta teams improved so much at that draft, the landscape in the western division is about to change. Some interesting scenarios seem to be unfolding. San Jose need a goalie, would Ramo & Stallock be enough? Who knows. Dallas is probably going to move out Lehtenon, should we be looking at that. Hiller may be a decent option for San Jose. I see Carolina going with the last year of Ward & Lack after they traded Khodobin. What I am baffled is what does Anaheim do with Andersson, Khodbin & Gibson? Is Gibson available?? Does Anaheim want Wideman ++ for Gibson? Do they move Andersson, do we want Andersson? Now that Hamilton is here & gives us a formidable top 4 blue line can we afford to give up a 2016 1st to acquire Gibson? A deal like Wideman + our 2016 1st for Gibson(seeing Ek thinks Anaheim are in the Phaneuf sweeps). Then go with Gibson & Ortio & give Gilles 2-3 years in the AHL? How about a deal with Detroit, Wideman & a 2016 2nd or 3rd for Howard? Flip Hiller to San Jose & get a 2nd & 3rd back & then fly with Howard & Ortio? The fact we gave no roster players acquiring Hamilton has given us some real intriguing options.

As for this draft, OMG we went from an organizational weakness to a formidable top 4 & some very very good defensive prospects in the pipe. People, the rebuild is over, we are now into a smart transition to being a team perceived as being in the playoff miix next year & moving toward being a contender. Im jacked!!!

I think both Alberta teams improved so much at that draft, the landscape in the western division is about to change. Some interesting scenarios seem to be unfolding. San Jose need a goalie, would Ramo & Stallock be enough? Who knows. Dallas is probably going to move out Lehtenon, should we be looking at that. Hiller may be a decent option for San Jose. I see Carolina going with the last year of Ward & Lack after they traded Khodobin. What I am baffled is what does Anaheim do with Andersson, Khodbin & Gibson? Is Gibson available?? Does Anaheim want Wideman ++ for Gibson? Do they move Andersson, do we want Andersson? Now that Hamilton is here & gives us a formidable top 4 blue line can we afford to give up a 2016 1st to acquire Gibson? A deal like Wideman + our 2016 1st for Gibson(seeing Ek thinks Anaheim are in the Phaneuf sweeps). Then go with Gibson & Ortio & give Gilles 2-3 years in the AHL? How about a deal with Detroit, Wideman & a 2016 2nd or 3rd for Howard? Flip Hiller to San Jose & get a 2nd & 3rd back & then fly with Howard & Ortio? The fact we gave no roster players acquiring Hamilton has given us some real intriguing options.

As for this draft, OMG we went from an organizational weakness to a formidable top 4 & some very very good defensive prospects in the pipe. People, the rebuild is over, we are now into a smart transition to being a team perceived as being in the playoff miix next year & moving toward being a contender. Im jacked!!!
- Kevin R

Interesting points, I was thinking about a trade for Marc Andre Fleury. I’m probably on a dream cloud here but reports indicate the Penguins are interested in Kessel and Hudler. We could offer them Hudler and Hiller giving them some cap relief for them to go out and get Kessel. Obliviously more particulars to this but I think with our defense and Fleury we would be in great shape.

Really impressed with the Hamilton move, but I have some concerns that hes going to want Doughty money (he isnt worth anywhere nesr that), and you as Die Hard Calgary Flames fans are going to expect him to be Doughty, and he isnt nearly that good. This can be a recipe for disaster.

Interesting points, I was thinking about a trade for Marc Andre Fleury. I’m probably on a dream cloud here but reports indicate the Penguins are interested in Kessel and Hudler. We could offer them Hudler and Hiller giving them some cap relief for them to go out and get Kessel. Obliviously more particulars to this but I think with our defense and Fleury we would be in great shape.
- Yeah...Baby

I can't see Fleury being available. Rutherford loves him & when he resigned him declared him the goalie of the future. Actually I think the discussions with Pitt aren't about Hudler. I think Pitt is in big time for Kessell. That means they would have to move something to make room. Would Kunitz fit the bill on that 2nd line with Bennett? Would give Pitt some cap flexibility to acquire Kessell. Maybe some young pieces Calgary have for Kunitz could be flipped to Toronto in a Kessell deal. Leafs want prospects.

Really impressed with the Hamilton move, but I have some concerns that hes going to want Doughty money (he isnt worth anywhere nesr that), and you as Die Hard Calgary Flames fans are going to expect him to be Doughty, and he isnt nearly that good. This can be a recipe for disaster.
- holygoat

Dude, even if we give Dougie an 8 year 50 mill deal, who cares, he's only 22 & he is going to get better. Overpaid for 1-2 years & then a steal for the final 6. & don't under estimate Gio & Brodie have been performing on an elite level the last 2 years. So we don't need Dougie to be Doughty, we just need Dougie to be Dougie. He'll fit nicely the way Hartley utilizes his backend & he'll get tons of minutes. Not sure what disaster you are foreseeing but to give the 16th & 33rd away for a 22 year defenseman with 9 NHL games & pass on Barzal, that is a little different matter.

Todd Cordell: Draft Review: Flames Prioritize Defensemen, Upside At 2015 Draft
- ToddCordellCGY

The future of thsi team on the blue line is going to be scary good. Brodie, Hamilton, Kylington, Andersson. Crazy. And you have Wideman and Gio foe the here and now.

Really impressed with the Hamilton move, but I have some concerns that hes going to want Doughty money (he isnt worth anywhere nesr that), and you as Die Hard Calgary Flames fans are going to expect him to be Doughty, and he isnt nearly that good. This can be a recipe for disaster.
- holygoat

Yes Hamilton is doomed having guys like gio Brodie Russell and wideman around him .... If only he was as lucky to have dion and the AHL gang like Reilly has ...I'm so jealous

You guys killed it this weekend.

Really impressed with the Hamilton move, but I have some concerns that hes going to want Doughty money (he isnt worth anywhere nesr that), and you as Die Hard Calgary Flames fans are going to expect him to be Doughty, and he isnt nearly that good. This can be a recipe for disaster.
- holygoat

don't hate him cause you could've had him over phil hamburger kessel

Really impressed with the Hamilton move, but I have some concerns that hes going to want Doughty money (he isnt worth anywhere nesr that), and you as Die Hard Calgary Flames fans are going to expect him to be Doughty, and he isnt nearly that good. This can be a recipe for disaster.
- holygoat

This definitely seems like what the Toronto media (and subsequently their fan base) would do with Dougie. We have tons of good defensemen. No need to expect a Norris Trophy from a 22 year old when Gio and Brodie can run the 1st pairing like they do.

This definitely seems like what the Toronto media (and subsequently their fan base) would do with Dougie. We have tons of good defensemen. No need to expect a Norris Trophy from a 22 year old when Gio and Brodie can run the 1st pairing like they do.
- fry

Insulating their younger players ...it's what the flames have done so well ...Matt Stajan was our first line center for a while ...Monahan didn't have to be that guy until he was ready ( which was far sooner than anticipated ), Bennett didn't have to play center right away much like monny with our depth their, and now Hamilton who has already proven he can be a top pairing guy doesn't have to be right away


Bringing in guys like wideman, hudler, Raymond ...resigning Stajan, Glenx ...they all seemed very insignificant at the time they happened and some even laughed at, but they have allowed players to develop at their own pace

I'm reading that Karnaukov is Belorussian on most sites.

whats funny is we all forgot they signed another RHD this summer. Nakladal

very likely Wideman could be moved now.

top 4 of gio, brodie, rusell, hamilton. Then with a 5/6 of possibly Wideman, schlemko, England, Nakladal, Wotherspoon, Smid, and I could see morrison being ready for some games

and thats 4 rhd in our 5/6 spot....thats some pieces that can be moved to get a RW

Your killing this blog game Todd, and it is certainly appreciated. Very well done, and looking forward to the upcoming FA one(s). Thanks again for stepping in

whats funny is we all forgot they signed another RHD this summer. Nakladal

very likely Wideman could be moved now.

top 4 of gio, brodie, rusell, hamilton. Then with a 5/6 of possibly Wideman, schlemko, England, Nakladal, Wotherspoon, Smid, and I could see morrison being ready for some games

and thats 4 rhd in our 5/6 spot....thats some pieces that can be moved to get a RW
- numbear

Very true so who is looking for an older D-man at the moment? I wonder if there's a trade that could be done for Skinner? I know he a LW but we need a guy like that too.

Interesting points, I was thinking about a trade for Marc Andre Fleury. I’m probably on a dream cloud here but reports indicate the Penguins are interested in Kessel and Hudler. We could offer them Hudler and Hiller giving them some cap relief for them to go out and get Kessel. Obliviously more particulars to this but I think with our defense and Fleury we would be in great shape.
- Yeah...Baby

I don't see a need to move anyone at this point, not even Wideman. Add Frolik, make an offer to Ramo, if it isn't accepted (market for need shrunk this weekend putting Calgary at an advantage) let him walk and roll with Hiller/ortio. Trade Wideman only if it nets back something younger, otherwise, roll with what is there. This is a team that should be better with a healthy Gio, a full year of Bennett and maybe even Poirier cracking the team.

I just wish May Ray wasnt there. Maybe a buyout? He is taking up valuable space