2013 NHL Entry Draft Open Thread

Due to the NHL lockout and subsequent condensed season, the NHL Entry Draft will be a rather hasty affair this year, crammed into one day with the first round beginning just after 1:00 Mountain Time.

The Flames are currently in possession of three picks in the first round of the draft, starting with the sixth overall selection. They will also pick at #22 and #28, if everything goes according to plan.

Most people have the Flames selecting a forward with the sixth pick, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm have both come up frequently in conversation between bloggers and pundits alike. Here is a recap of my picks in the first round of the SB Nation Mock Draft:

#6: C Sean Monahan

#22: D Shea Theodore

#28: F Artturi Lehkonen

Barring any trades, I think the Flames will probably try to diversify their picks a little bit. I hope they take a forward with their sixth pick because there are so many good ones available but I wouldn’t complain about a guy like Darnell Nurse at #6 either. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them choose at least one defenceman either later in the first round of with some of their other picks in the draft, and of course, as always seems to be the case with Feaster/the Flames, rumour has it they’re after a goalie. The Flames have a total of seven eight picks in this year’s draft after they sent a fourth-round pick Florida’s way in exchange for centre Corban Knight earlier this month.

This year's draft is thought to be very deep, with quality players believed to be available until the third round, so even if the Flames manage to swing into the second or early third round (in addition to their 67th overall pick), they have a chance at landing a player who could later turn out to be a steal.

Or they could totally screw things up, which seems to be what most Flames fans are expecting again this year.

Either way, it's an exciting day for the franchise in an extra-special, nausea-inducing way.

by Hayley Mutch