The 2024 NHL Draft was an important draft for the Calgary Flames, as they have their sights set on the future. So, how is Flames Director of Amateur Scouting Tod Button feeling after the draft? Button opened his press conference by saying he is ‘ecstatic”. That’s a great word to hear as a Flames fan.
Hear the rest of Button’s comments below:
What were the common themes of this Flames draft class?
“Skill, hockey sense, offence, in spades. We got a lot of high-end, elite skill and scoring ability. Then we got a junkyard dog and a couple project prospects late in the draft.”
A look into each of the drafted players:
Zayne Parekh, RD, selected 9th overall
“He’s a high-end offensive player. He’s got great hockey sense, sees the ice well, makes plays. Special offensive ability. All young guys need to work on the defensive side. But what we got him for is what he does well and that’s on the offensive side. The one thing is he’s got high hockey sense. He’s smart. He’s got a great attitude. Brings a lot of life too. He definitely gets under the skin of the other team and they’re coming after him. He’s got a real good personality.”
Matvei Gridin, RW, selected 28th overall
“When you watch him. I watch him on video a lot. The high end skill, whether he needs to make a pass, shoot, he can do it all. He’s got a great release. We really got to see it at Gold Star camp. He’s got a great work ethic, great size. He can take over games. Sometimes can be a little inconsistent, but when he wants to, or when he’s on his game, he’s fun to watch. He’s conscious of the whole game. To be at his age and lead the USHL in scoring, that’s very impressive.
Andrew Basha, LW, selected 41st overall
“We had a group of 25 guys that we had Andrew in. We were hoping to get Basha at 41. There’s no guarantees. When we went back last night thinking he would be available and he was the next guy on our list. The fact that he’s a Calgary kid put the ribbon on top. Hockey sense, skill, quickness, he had really good chemistry with (Cayden) Lindstrom (selected 4th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets) in Medicine Hat. He’s a worker and he plays in the hard areas.”
Jacob Battaglia, RW, selected 62nd overall
“Fred Parker (Flames Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting) said he’s a junkyard dog. He’s thick, he’s in the middle of the battle. He’s got good enough hands to score in the trenches and he’s always in the trenches and in the middle of it. That’s basically a Fred Parker pick.”
Henry Mews, RD, selected 71st overall
“Henry Mews. Just value. it was pure value. We talked about him and Battaglia at the same pick. I was joking with Brad Pascall (Flames Assistant General Manager) that you got Bruzstewicz, Parekh, and now Mews, the powerplay better be humming. You’re looking for skill and you got it.”
Kirill Zarubin, G, selected 84th overall
“Zarubin was Jordan Sigalet’s (Flames Senior Goaltending Coach) pick. Before last night we put his goalies in the range he thought they would get too. When we got to the 62nd pick he said this was the area he wants this guy. He kept pushing and I told him we were going to take him as long as he was there at the next pick and it came up.”
Trevor Hoskin, C, selected 106th overall
“Hoskin was a total Terry Doran (one of the Flames amateur scout’s) pick. Watched him a lot in Coburg. Terry said he’s skilled, smart, and going to Niagara next year, and gone through a draft already. He’s an older kid, but lot’s of time to develop and going to school as well really helps us for that development time.”
Luke Misa, C, selected 150th overall
“Luke Misa, 150th overall, skilled, smart, like we just felt like there was no downside. At 125, we felt like we were getting him at 150.”
Hunter Laing, C, selected 170th overall
“Jarome really liked him. He knows the family. Just a big rig, smart, real smart player. Obviously 6’6, he’s got some developing to do with the overall physical part but really happy, especially when our Western scouts really liked him and Jarome too. That’s validation.”
Eric Jamieson, LD, selected 177th overall
“Great skater. He was a guy we went through at the draft last year. Our guys kept watching him and tracking him and he kept on improving to the point where they said at that point in the draft we were going to take him if he was still there. Another Calgary guy.”
Photo courtesy of Calgary Flames on YouTube
