PHN Mock NHL Entry Draft: Calgary Flames

  CALGARY – It’s hard to believe that it wasn’t all that long ago that the Calgary Flames were playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. These days, the Flames seem to just barely make the playoffs only to be eliminated in the first round.
In a conference where the talent level is high and the competition fierce, the Flames face a very interesting off-season, one that may determine the fate of the franchise for years to come.
Iron Mike Keenan was once again, well Mike Keenan. Not only did he get

the Flames into the playoffs, he, as usual, made life miserable for some of his players. While Keenan will never be considered a long term solution to run the team, he is the man in charge for now.
The Flames still have some top end talent at the forward positions, including one of the most talented players in the world in Jarome Iginla, but even he can’t get the Flames to score as much as the team needs to get over the hump offensively. Alex Tanguay is a solid player but 18 goals from a player making over 5 million doesn’t cut it these days.
In the system the Flames are deep down the middle. Four of the Flames top five prospects are all centers. Needless to say the Flames will avoid taking a center with the 17th pick overall.
One defense the team is solid with one of the best young defenseman in the game in Dion Phaneuf. Overall the defense is solid but the system could use an upgrade. The farm system is devoid of high-end talent so look for a defenseman to be a strong possibility to be taken by Flames, not just with their first round pick.
While the Flames love goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, apparently Keenan doesn’t, which is one very good reason why things might change in net for Calgary. Leland Irving is a solid prospect and he might be pressed into duty this year to see what he can do at the NHL level, especially since Curtis Joseph is on the border of retirement. A goaltender might be a possibility for the Flames.
Still, we see the Flames choosing between a couple of Western Hockey League prospects; Luca Sbisa or Colby Robak. While Robak is a tad taller and might have more of an offensive upside, the talent level and statistical comparisons between the two are not glaring.
Therefore, we expect to hear the following happening on draft day.
“With the 17th pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames select, from Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League, Luca Sbisa.”
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com Photos courtesy of the NHL