2020 Flames First Round Targets – Introduction

Well friends, the Calgary Flames’ journey through the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs has reached its disappointing conclusion. That means that the next bit of joy and excitement we’ll get in our hockey-loving hearts will come at the 2020 NHL Draft, where the Flames will make several selections.

(Well, assuming they don’t trade picks away like they did in 2015…)

Who could they grab in the first round at 19th overall?

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be profiling several contenders for the Flames’ pick in the first round. The 2020 NHL Draft class has a ton of interesting depth in the first round mix, with a bunch of exciting and intriguing players from different leagues, playing different positions, and with different playing styles.

In advance of our deep dives, let’s introduce you to a few of the teens that the Flames could snag at 19th overall.

C Mavrik Bourque – Shawinigan (QMJHL): Ranked at 19th by our pals at FC Hockey, Bourque is a player the Flames likely have seen a ton due to him playing in the Q against top prospects Jakob Pelletier and Dmitry Zavgorodniy. Andrew Mangiapane-sized at 5’10” and 180 pounds, Bourque was a reliable offensive contributor for the Cataractes and nearly doubled his points-per-game production from his 17-year-old season. Oh, and he’s a right shot, something the Flames are low on.

C Ty Smilanic – U.S. National Development Program (USHL): Ranked 19th by ISS, Smilanic is just shy of 6’1″ and 180 pounds and is a left shot center from the hockey factory at the USNDP. He’s spent two seasons at Ann Arbor, posting good but not eye-popping offensive totals – he’s more of a 200-foot guy – and he projects as more of a long-term project as he fills out. He’s committed to Qunnipiac University. (The other ranking agencies have Smilanic more towards the middle of the second round, but ISS loves him.)

LW Rodion Amirov – Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL): On one hand, Amirov is Russian (which makes folks nervous sometimes) and a lefty, which the Flames have 10,000 of in their system. On the other hand, the kid is legit. He played a regular shift in a really good men’s league at 18, played in the Spengler Cup, and narrowly missed out on a World Junior spot (the Russians tend to take mostly 19-year-olds). He’s got tons of offensive tools and scouts seem excited about his potential. Both Bob McKenzie and Craig Button had Amirov at 19th.

C Seth Jarvis – Portland (WHL): Admittedly my choice at 19th overall if he’s available, Jarvis can flat-out play. A whip-smart, hard-working forward, he had more goals this season (42) than he had points in his prior season (39). He did a lot of the things he did the season prior, just did them better and more pucks went in for him. He finished second in the WHL in scoring (at 18) and is very toolsy, in that he’s an all-arounder with no glaring flaws. Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino has him ranked 19th.

LW/RW Noel Gunler – Lulea HF (SHL): Stop us if this gets you excited: a smart, savvy Swedish forward who can play on either wing, shoots right, and has played the better part of two seasons in Sweden’s highest level of hockey prior to his drafting. Gunler is tall (6’2″) and has a reputation as a guy with skill and hockey sense. He’s played his whole hockey career, basically, for his hometown team and the Flames and all their friendly Swedes could be a natural fit for him. Dobber Prospects’ Cam Robinson has him at 19th.

D Kaiden Guhle – Prince Albert (WHL) & D Braden Schneider – Brandon (WHL): Western-based scouts tend to love both of these guys, but for different reasons. Guhle is more sizzle, Schneider is more steak. Guhle is sort of a poor man’s Bowen Byram (in a good way), who skates well and loves playing with the puck and pulling off showy offensive plays. Guhle will get you out of your seat at games and you’ll be amazed at what he can do on the ice. Schneider? He’s more of a game manager, in that he skates extremely well and makes the game look easy. He’s a coach’s dream, in that he rarely gets into trouble, rarely makes mistakes, and always seems composed and relaxed on the ice. Guhle is the rock star. Schneider is the classical pianist. They’re both excellent. Guhle is ranked 19th by The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy, while Schneider is usually found later in the first round on draft rankings.

Strap in, folks: the 2020 NHL Draft is just over six weeks away.