CALGARY — Equipped with a valuable trade asset, two first-round selections, and seven total picks, Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy is in an excellent position to finally address the team`s most significant weakness: the center position.
By the end of this weekend`s draft event, Conroy is expected to have added several promising young centermen to the organization`s prospect pipeline.
Projections indicate that six or seven players drafted in the top ten on Friday will be high-impact centers. However, this draft class is deep, meaning there are still many capable players at the position who should be available when the Flames make their first pick, which is 18th overall.
It would not be surprising to see the Flames also use their 32nd overall pick to further enhance their depth of centers.
This scenario doesn`t exclude the possibility of Conroy trading up into the top 10. He has a potentially appealing trade piece in defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Andersson, a 28-year-old blue liner, is reportedly far from reaching an agreement with the Flames on a contract extension. This makes him a prime candidate to be moved. His shot-blocking ability, leadership, and a team-friendly cap hit of $4.55 million are expected to make him one of the most sought-after players on the trade market during the draft.
Tristan Blackwood