Flames Draft Day: The 2023 NHL Draft, Rounds 2-7 (9am MT, SN)
By Ryan Pike
10 months agoBrought to you by odds site Betway!
After selecting Samuel Honzek in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames seek to further stock their prospect cupboards on the second day of the event.
The second day of the draft starts bright and early at 9 a.m. MT on Sportsnet (and NHL Network and ESPN+ in the USA).
Calgary’s picks
As noted yesterday, the Flames have five picks on the second day of the draft:
- 48th overall (2nd round)
- 80th overall (3rd round)
- 112th overall (4th round)
- 176th overall (6th round)
- 208th overall (7th round)
Calgary’s current prospect cupboard
Here’s a quick snapshot of what the Flames currently have in their prospect mix. We’re only counting players on entry-level deals or unsigned draft picks for simplicity.
- Goalies: Dustin Wolf, Daniil Chechelev and Arsenii Sergeev
- Defencemen: Yan Kuznetsov, Jeremie Poirier, Ilya Solovyov and Jake Boltmann
- Forwards: Matt Coronato, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Honzek, Connor Zary, Cole Schwindt, Rory Kerins, Ilya Nikolaev, Adam Klapka, Lucas Ciona, William Stromgren, Parker Bell, Demetrios Koumontzis, Cade Littler, Josh Nodler and Topi Ronni
In terms of higher-end prospects: there’s Wolf, Poirier, Pelletier, Zary, Honzek, and Coronato in the system. It gets lean after that.
Obviously, they need more defenders. But their high-end group is pretty small, and so beefing it up with high-ceiling players could be their priority with their five picks.
Calgary’s drafting tendencies
Historically, the Flames have heavily drafted from Canadian major junior hockey – the Ontario and Western leagues primarily, but Quebec has been relied upon recently, too – but the United States Hockey League and Sweden have also been draft sources over the past few seasons.
Several players who were projected as first-round talents remain available as Day 2 of the draft opens:
- Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
- Gavin Brindley of the University of Michigan (NCAA)
- Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars (WHL)
- Jayden Perron of the Chicago Steel (USHL)
- Gracyn Sawchyn of the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
- Ethan Gauthier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
- Lukas Dragicevic of the Tri-City Americans (WHL)
- Oscar Fisker Molgaard of HV71 (SHL)
After selecting a big-bodied forward at 16th overall, it’ll be interesting to see how the Flames utilize their Day 2 selections.
And after a first day of the draft that featured precisely zero trades, could we see some player movement during the final six rounds? And could we see another member of the Flames’ seven pending 2024 unrestricted free agents follow Tyler Toffoli to a new address?
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