CALGARY — Equipped with a valuable trade asset, two first-round draft picks, and a total of seven selections, Craig Conroy possesses numerous avenues to finally address the organization’s most pressing need: the centre position.
By the conclusion of this weekend`s draft, it`s anticipated that Conroy will have added several promising young centres to begin developing.
While six or seven of the top ten selections in Friday’s first round are projected to be high-impact players at centre, this still leaves a considerable pool of capable prospects in the next tier who should be available when the Flames make their initial choice at 18th overall.
It wouldn`t be surprising if the Flames also use their 32nd overall pick to further enhance their depth down the middle.
This doesn`t rule out the possibility of Conroy moving up into the top 10 by packaging a pick along with a desirable trade piece like Rasmus Andersson. As widely reported, Andersson and the Flames are significantly apart on terms for a potential contract extension, potentially opening the door for the club to explore trading the 28-year-old defenseman. Andersson`s shot-blocking ability, leadership, and relatively cap-friendly hit of $4.55 million are expected to make him one of the most sought-after assets available at the draft.
