Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames select Juuso Valimaki 16th overall

Was kinda hoping for Lil but still not bad... Time will only tell

Thoughts on choosing Valimaki over him, Todd?

I am okay with this

I'm just glad we didn't trade 2 first rounders

Was kinda hoping for Lil but still not bad... Time will only tell

Thoughts on choosing Valimaki over him, Todd?
- LittleBroDougie

I like both but I am cool with Vilamaki. his numbers -- both standard and underlying --are really impressive

Finland has been putting out some really good Dmen, glad we snagged one ! Can never have too many high end D prospects...nice pick.

The question is do they trade for 2 RHD, or, promote a prospect to the top 6 and sign a DE type stopgap.

Bummed they didn't get a winger, though I get it a bit, looking at the last 3 1st rds with 2 forwards and nothing. Though that nothing was DH.

I like both but I am cool with Vilamaki. his numbers -- both standard and underlying --are really impressive
- ToddCordellCGY

Yea unbelievable to think he put up 19 goals, 61 points from the D-line!
Now to address our RW depth issue...

Yea unbelievable to think he put up 19 goals, 61 points from the D-line!
Now to address our RW depth issue...
- LittleBroDougie

I still want to trade w Vegas for Neal. Next years 1st and Fox?
Still need salary the other way. Perhaps Brouwer.

EDM wants a johnny hockey of there own. They got 'joe' hockey.

Nice pick

I am okay with this
- ScotsonFire

Yea, me too. I was just hoping something we needed was who impressed the Flames scouts/brass.

I still want to trade w Vegas for Neal. Next years 1st and Fox?
Still need salary the other way. Perhaps Brouwer.
- FLflames34

Is Neal really worth that much?
Would kinda prefer a RH player we have enough LH shots

Nice pick
- smellmyfinger

Nice shocker.

Yea, me too. I was just hoping something we needed was who impressed the Flames scouts/brass.
- TandA4Flames

Listened to one of the Flames scouts who writes for NHL.com talk and he said you pick BOA, might have holes now but that can change.

Still, we need some wing depth something serious.

When is little Tkachuk supposed to go?

Nice shocker.
- FLflames34

Is Neal really worth that much?
Would kinda prefer a RH player we have enough LH shots
- LittleBroDougie

JG-Money-Neal
3M
Bennett-Janko-Veesteeg/Lazar
Ferland-Stajan-Lazar/Versteeg

Looks good to me.

Is that Foo still available? If so you gotta think we got a decent chance at getting him now.

Is that Foo still available? If so you gotta think we got a decent chance at getting him now.
- DuranDuran

Hope so.

There seems to be a good winger still available.

There seems to be a good winger still available.
- FLflames34

Tolvanen

Tolvanen
- smellmyfinger

I love this pick. At first, I was disappointed the Flames didn't take Tolvanen but after seeing and hearing more about this kid, I'm pretty excited. And the Flames didn't burn two firsts for Hamonic.

I love this pick. At first, I was disappointed the Flames didn't take Tolvanen but after seeing and hearing more about this kid, I'm pretty excited. And the Flames didn't burn two firsts for Hamonic.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

I definitely wouldn't have wanted to spend 2 firsts, but I am a little disappointed to see that this pick wasn't traded for a player more useful right now. I don't see a lot of great free agency options out there for that #4 defenceman or a higher end RW, at least not with the contract that it will take for them. And after this first round pick (especially without a 2nd or a 3rd) the tradable (or at least ones that I would be willing to part with) assets is massively diminished.

As a whole not a great last couple days. No cap relief of any kind from the expansion draft. Not able to make a trade for a player that can significantly step in now. Not terrible and how it works out, but I was admittedly hoping for something more.

Maybe they will pull something off, but I do have a little concern for next season now. Or at least in their ability to show a next step forward.

Do people still see a workable trade out there? Or is it the UFA route now.

I definitely wouldn't have wanted to spend 2 firsts, but I am a little disappointed to see that this pick wasn't traded for a player more useful right now. I don't see a lot of great free agency options out there for that #4 defenceman or a higher end RW, at least not with the contract that it will take for them. And after this first round pick (especially without a 2nd or a 3rd) the tradable (or at least ones that I would be willing to part with) assets is massively diminished.

As a whole not a great last couple days. No cap relief of any kind from the expansion draft. Not able to make a trade for a player that can significantly step in now. Not terrible and how it works out, but I was admittedly hoping for something more.

Maybe they will pull something off, but I do have a little concern for next season now. Or at least in their ability to show a next step forward.

Do people still see a workable trade out there? Or is it the UFA route now.
- dal_johnson

The Flames aren't really in cap trouble right now and should be fine for a couple more years. I'm expecting Brouwer to bounce back this year and at least be a useful player for the Flames. I'm just happy Treliving has, so far, managed not to panic and overpay or give away any more draft picks.

At this point, I'm hoping the Flames are considering going with Kulak + one of the other Stockton defensemen for next year, then signing whichever veteran doesn't get the contact he wants and is left scrambling for a one year deal. Hamonic's name keeps coming up, but I don't see why the Islanders would ever trade him unless a team massively overpays, and the Flames definitely should not overpay or get in a bidding war. He's a solid number 4 defenceman, nothing more. Who else is even on the block?

The rest of the UFA defencemen are all the types of players who are going to get overpaid, and the Flames really shouldn't be doing that again this offseason.

I also don't see how any Pacific team fans could be disappointed after what the Oilers did over the past few days.