10 Flames Picks That Prove You Don’t Need To Be Top 5

Panic ensued when the Flames NHL Draft Lottery position was announced this off-season: 6th. Now, yes, a Top 3 pick would have been ideal for the Flames this season, but it’s not like all hope is lost. Sean Monahan was a 6th pick and so was Cory Stillman. Calgary landed Dion Phaneuf at #9 in 2003. You can get value outside of the Top 5, but I wanted to take a look at how the Flames have done outside of the Top 10. You’d be pleasantly surprised that Flames do very well when getting value for picks after #10. This isn’t a Top 10 in order, it’s just 10 guys that Flames were smart to select after pick #10 and what their time in Calgary looked like.

Hakan Loob

6 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989)

Drafted: 1980 #181 (9th Round)

Regular Season: Games: 450 Goals:193 Assists: 236

Post Season: Games: 73 Goals: 26 Assists: 28

Al MacInnis

11 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989), Conn Smythe (1989), 8 time All Star

1981 #15 (1st Round)

Regular Season: Games: 803 Goals: 213 Assists: 609

Post Season: Games: 203 Goals: 43 Assists: 131

Mike Vernon

13 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989), 5 time All Star

1981 #56 (3rd Round)

Regular Season: Games: 526 W: 262 L: 187 Save %: .833

Post Season: Games: 81 W: 45 L: 33 Save %: .875

Gary Suter

9 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989), 6 time All Star, Calder Memorial Trophy (1985-86)

1984 #180 (9th Round)

Regular Season: Games: 617 Goals: 128 Assists: 436

Post Season: Games: 49 Goals: 6 Assists: 33

Gary Roberts

10 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989). 4 time All Star, Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy

1984 #12 (1st Round)

Regular Season: Games: 585 Goals: 257 Assists: 248

Post Season: Games: 58 Goals: 13 Assists: 30

Joe Nieuwendyk

9 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989), 1 time All Star, Calder Memorial Trophy (1987-88), King Clancy Memorial Trophy (1994-95)

1985 #27 (2nd Round)

Regular Season: Games: 577 Goals: 314 Assists: 302

Post Season: Games: 66 Goals: 42 Assists: 28

Theo Fleury

11 seasons in Calgary, Stanley Cup Champion (1989), 6 time All Star

1987 #166 (8th Round)

Regular Season: Games: 791 Goals: 364 Assists: 466

Post Season: Games: 59 Goals: 29 Assists: 33

Mikael Backlund

8 seasons in Calgary (current)

2007 #24 (1st Round)

Regular Season: Games: 380 Goals: 72 Assists: 103

Post Season: Games: 11 Goals:1 Assists: 1

TJ Brodie

6 season in Calgary (current)

2008 #114 (4th Round)

Regular Season: Games: 336 Goals: 25 Assists: 102

Post Season: Games: 11 Goals: 1 Assists: 4

Johnny Gaudreau

3 seasons in Calgary (current), 2 time All Star

2011 #104 (4th Round)

Regular Season: Games:160 Goals: 55 Assists: 88

Post Season: Games: 11 Goals: 4 Assists: 5

Honorable Mentions:

Steve Konroyd (1980 #39)

Sergei Makarov (1983 #231)

Paul Ranheim (1984 #38)

Robert Reichel (1989 #70)

Trevor Kidd (1990 #11)

German Titov (1993 #252)

Lance Bouma (2008 #78)

The Flames have a TON of players in the minors that were drafted later that could make an impact. The likes of Jon Gillies, Mark Jankowski and Oliver Kylington could be potential draft value picks if they make it to Calgary. Current players Tyler Wotherspoon, Micheal Ferland and Joni Ortio (UFA) have shown some potential, but the jury is still out. The Flames did extremely well drafting in the 1980’s to build their teams that went to the Cup Finals in 1986 and 1989. Those drafts really built the backbone of the franchise and created most of Calgary’s legendary players. The 90’s were average and the 2000’s have seen the Flames find some late round value. Clearly Johnny Gaudreau is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack right now and it shows that the draft does offer star quality value late in the draft. You just have to know how to find it.

The 2016 NHL Draft takes place June 24-16 in Buffalo, NY. The First Round kicks off Friday, June 24th at 7PM ET.

by Mark Parkinson