Do the Flames get Phoenix’s 3rd this year, or is that dependent on which year they surrender the 1st? Or do they get a 3rd at all (can’t remember if I was just dreaming that).

To answer the question, I don’t seem them finishing higher next year than this year in the overall standings, so I’d surrender this year. But I don’t know the relative strengths of the drafts.

I think they’ll choose next year, mainly because they don’t have a lot of picks this year. I don’t think they have a second rounder this season, meaning they’re first pick will be somewhere in the third round if they go with this season.

Unless Sutter swings a deal to land a 2nd round pick or two, he might hold onto this years.

There is a decent chance this team could win the division next year, so there is indeed a reasonable chance they finish with a lower draft position in 2010 as well. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but I think Sutter holds onto it this year.