Will the Flames Trade Down For A Second Rounder?

 

 

For the tenth straight draft, the Calgary Flames won’t have their own second round pick. However, with all the ballyhoo about how deep this draft is, even after the first round, some onlookers (myself included) are thinking that Jay Feaster and his staff may try to wheel and deal one of their roster players or later first round picks in order to get more picks between 30 and 60.

Is this a feasible plan? And which teams are likely to take the bait, so to speak?

As an aside, I find it a bit wacky that Calgary so consistently sends away their second round picks. For informational purposes, here’s what happened with Calgary’s own second rounders.

2013: traded to Montreal in the Mike Cammalleri trade

2012: traded to Buffalo in the Robyn Regehr trade (got a second back when they traded down from 14, took Patrick Sieloff)

2011: traded to Toronto in the Primeau/Stralman trade (got two seconds back in the Erixon/Horak deal, took Markus Granlund and Tyler Wotherspoon)

2010: traded to Chicago in the Rene Bourque trade

2009: traded to Los Angeles in the Mike Cammalleri trade [briefly traded for another second, but flipped it to Colorado for Jordan Leopold]

2008: traded to Los Angeles in the Craig Conroy trade (but traded for their own second in the Cammalleri trade that cost them their 2009 second, took Mitch Wahl)

2007: traded to Colorado in the Tanguay/Leopold trade (as a conditional pick)

2006: traded to Colorado in the Tanguay/Leopold trade

2005: traded to San Jose for Miikka Kiprusoff

2004: traded to Florida for Marcus Nilson

The last time the Calgary Flames used their own second round pick (without having to reacquire it) was 2003 when they took Tim Ramholt (ugh).

Jay Feaster has made deals with the following clubs since becoming (interim) GM in May 2011: Buffalo (twice), Chicago (twice), Florida (twice), the Rangers, New Jersey, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Winnipeg, Washington, Philadelphia, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Colorado and St. Louis.

Most of the trades, it should be noted, seemed to fulfill needs for both clubs. Outside of maybe the Tim Erixon deal with the Rangers, it’s hard to say that any of Jay Feaster’s deals have been fleecings.

Montreal: four picks (25^th, 34^th, 36^th, 55^th)

The Flames have dealt with the Habs before and you could argue that they may be the leading contender if they want to grab the 22^nd pick from Calgary. The price would probably be their later first (25^th) and either of their early seconds, although they do have a pick later on in the second round as well.

Dallas: three picks (29^th, 40^th, 54^th)

Feaster hasn’t swung a deal with Dallas yet, but they could be considered a suitor for either the Flames picks in the 20s. The Stars already have two picks in the round, but may want to move up.

Other contenders include: Washington (23^rd and 53^th), Anaheim (26^th and 45^th) and Columbus (27^th and 44^th). Beyond these clubs, nobody else has a late-round first and a second, so I wouldn’t expect movement involving anyone but these five teams.

Based on recent history – and the talk of late of how deep the draft is and how variable some of the rankings of guys between 25 and 65 are – I’d expect Calgary to trade down. I’m not sure which pick they’d trade down from, but I’d wager that if they deal it’ll be with one of Montreal, Dallas, Washington, Anaheim or Columbus.

More picks are always better than a few picks, particularly in a deep draft.