Sutter draft review
by Kent Wilson on Jun 4, 2009 1:40 PM PDT
4 comments
Certain organizations have certain draft habits under certain GM's. The Red Wings have famously concentrated some 30% of their choices in Sweden under Ken Holland's reign, far more than any other NHL squad. Last year in preparation for the 08 entry draft, I took a look at the Flames proclivities under Sutter. Specifically, where was the org drafting from? At the time, the totals were:
WHL - 16
OHL - 9
QMJHL - 3
NCAA - 1
BCHL/USHL/USHS/Minn/OPJHL - 6
Swe - 3
Swiss - 1
Fin - 1
The previous crop, which included Nemisz (OHL), Wahl (WHL), Bouma (WHL), Brodie (OHL), Larson (USHL), Grantham (WHL) and Deilert (Swe) was pretty much in line with established draft habits, so we can no doubt expect to see a bunch of Canadian boys with the odd Swede or American thrown into the mix again this June. The Flames haven't bothered to draft a single Slovak or Russian under Sutter and, with the KHL poaching as many native born sons as possible these days, there's little chance of that changing. Other things to look for: players with size, players with letters on their jersey and probably a goalie since the org hasn't chosen a puck stopper since taking Irving back in '06.
With this stuff in mind and considering the Flames are keeping their first rounder this season (approx 20th overall), we can start taking a look at the club's potential targets leading up to the big day...
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What’s the thinking on Sutter keeping the year’s draft pick? Is this year expected to be a shallower draft than next year, so we need the higher pick to get someone decent? Or is it a vote of confidence that we will have a stronger season next year, and thus a poorer pick? Or something I haven’t considered?
I would say he kept this pick mainly because the club didn’t have a second rounder. By keeping the first, the Flames avoid missing the first 60+ choices AND he has the option of trading down to re-coup the 2nd rounder (which he’s done more than once). It wouldn’t surprise me if the 20th pick turns into the 25th and 47th or something.
In addition, it gives him more than a year to try to re-acquire that pick through various means.
A bit off-topic, but what’s the over/under on Sutter remaining a year from now if facing – gulp – another first-round ouster? No way he’ll be retained, right? Heck…might be sooner than that if they stumble out of October.
Again, off-topic, but we don’t hear much from the locals way down on the southeastern coast.
I think it really depends on what he does this summer, but I think the halo he gained from the ’04 will be permanently tarnished. That said, I have the feeling that should another failure to live up to expectations occur Sutter will be moved somewhere else within the organization rather than terminated outright. Think Kevin Lowe.
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