u/Master-Defenestrator

Assuming that the Flames do not win the draft lottery, which player would like the Flames to draft at pick 4-6?

The consensus on players ranked 4-10 in the draft are:

• Chase Reid (RHD)
• Keaton Verhoff (RHD)
• Carson Carels (LHD)
• Caleb Malhotra (C)
• Albert Smits (LHD)
• Viggo Bjorck (C/RW)
• Daxon Rudolph (RHD)

Honorable Mentions: Tynan Lawrence (C), Liam/Marcus Ruck (RW,C), Nikita Klepov (RW), Oliver Suvanto (C)

Personally, my preference in order would go:

1. Carson Carels - Highly mobile two-way defender. The ideal guy to cap off the defense side of the Flames' farm system. The best LHD in the draft, as the RHD side of the system is already pretty clogged.
2. Viggo Bjorck - This may come off to many as a reach, but I have never been one to always go BPA provided the talent level isn't glaring. The number one need for the Flames' farm system is offensive dynamism. Bjorck is the only player in the group mentioned above that really has that in his toolbox. He also fits the recent Flames drafting trends in that they are more willing to draft smaller, highly skilled players than other teams in the league.
3. Albert Smits - The second best LHD in the draft. Smits' brand of heavy, responsible, two-way hockey is a profile that doesn't really exist in the Flames' farm system currently. While a long way away, his profile suggests he could be a long-term fit on a pairing with Parekh.
4. Caleb Malhotra - The top consensus centre in the draft this year. He is a consistent but not explosive offensive option that prefers to distribute. He plays a solid two-way game and has strong defensive details. He would have been my number 1 prospect if he didn't profile so similarly to Reschny, making his selection slightly redundant, with other players of comparable potential being available at more needed positions/skill sets.

Let me know what your opinions are, but please no McKenna or Stenburg talk, as one of them is a given if the Flames win the draft lottery.