The Calgary Flames are about to embark on a significant day in the team’s history. The 2024 NHL Draft starts today and it has all the makings of being one of the biggest drafts for Calgary, possibly ever.
Turning the draft into a volume game
Currently holding nine picks in tonight’s draft, including eight of them coming in the first four rounds, the team is about to stock the cupboards with prospects as they embark on their “re-tool” which should otherwise be known as a teardown.
Now it’s likely that the Flames continue to either add to their pick pool or trade some away for roster players, but they still hold enough assets over the next three years to really make a difference.
One thing they should not be doing however is using those picks to trade up in this year’s first round, which based on rumors they still could potentially try to do.
Pondering the Flames/Iginla connection
On this morning’s edition of 32 Thoughts the Podcast, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman speculated over the Columbus Blue Jacket’s fourth overall selection. Friedman referred to it as “where the draft officially starts.”
The reason for that is the Blue Jackets appear to have had conversations with teams over trading down to increase their asset pool. The Philadelphia Flyers are one of those teams, with the cost being their 12th overall selection, the 32nd overall selection, and Colorado’s first-round pick next season. Which is a significant cost to pay to move up eight spots to fourth overall.
The duo speculated that the Carolina Hurricanes could be in the mix, as part of a potential Martin Necas deal, but Marek also pondered whether the Flames could be part of the mix as well.
The reason? Fear over the Montreal Canadiens taking Tij Iginla at fifth overall.
Despite how amazing of a story it would be for Iginla to don the Flaming C and follow in his father’s legacy, overpaying to move up five spots in the draft to select a player who could be available at ninth would be terrible asset management.
Additionally, there is a very strong guarantee that at ninth overall you are going to get a franchise player regardless—if the team doesn’t decide to go off the board. The appeal to draft Iginla should not outweigh the ability to continue to add to your prospect pool.
A prudent approach at the podium
If the cost is ninth overall plus two additional picks, what would the reasoning be to give up three potential strong prospects? The team must stay far away from that conversation unless it involves moving a roster player to shed additional salary.
All will be revealed today.
