It’s been a while since they’ve been on the clock at the NHL draft, but the Flames have returned and selected Slovakian centre Adam Ruzicka from the Sarnia Sting of the OHL.
Ruzicka is one of the bigger guys in the draft, standing at 6’4. In his first year in the OHL, he scored 25 goals and 46 points in 61 games with the Sting. He also played in both the WJC and the U18 WJC. He scored a goal in five games in the former, and five points in five at the latter.
CanucksArmy ranked him the #62 overall prospect in this year’s draft. Based on this season’s results, he has a 21.3% expected success probability, and an expected points/82 of 46.9. Low risk at this point in the draft, but with a major upside.
On #Flames 4th round pick Ruzicka…was the 37th ranked NA skater by Central Scouting. ISS had him ranked 48th overall.
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) June 24, 2017
Ruzicka also made the OHL’s second All-Rookie Team this past season.
2016-17 #OHL 2nd All-Rookie Team:
Forwards: @88Forms, @ARuzicka21, Meireles.
Defence: Vallati, @olalonde12
Goal: @MattVillalta31 pic.twitter.com/mPgrFXD79e
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) April 19, 2017
The Flames will be up again in the fifth round at pick #140, barring anything else from happening. Their big move was trading for Travis Hamonic this morning, in case you (somehow) missed it.
Previous picks: Juuso Valimaki
