CALGARY – The position of the Calgary Flames` initial first-round draft pick for this summer`s NHL Entry Draft depends on the outcome of the Draft Lottery drawing scheduled for Monday night.
To keep their pick at 16th overall, the team will need a significant amount of luck, more than they displayed during the latter part of the season. Failing to win the draft lottery means this selection will be conveyed to Montreal, completing the 2022 trade package involving Sean Monahan.
If the Flames manage to beat the slim 0.5 percent odds to win the lottery, their pick would move up to the sixth overall position. Lottery regulations stipulate that teams can improve their draft position by a maximum of 10 spots through the drawing.
Because the pick is protected within the top ten, Calgary would retain it in this scenario. They would instead send Florida`s late first-round pick, acquired in the Matthew Tkachuk trade, to Montreal.
Assuming the Flames do not achieve a miraculous lottery win on Monday night (which will be broadcast live), they are still expected to possess two first-round selections. They would keep the later pick from Florida and also hold the 18th overall pick obtained from New Jersey in the Jacob Markstrom trade.
Regardless of where their two first-round choices fall, the organization`s primary strategic focus for the draft will be on selecting centre prospects.
Should they pick at sixth overall, they would likely have the chance to choose from several highly-rated North American centres projected within the top ten. These include Michael Misa from Saginaw, James Hagens from Boston College, Jake O`Brien from Brantford, Caleb Desnoyers from Moncton, and Roger McQueen from Brandon.
It`s worth noting that Michael Misa`s 19-year-old brother, Luke, was a fifth-round selection by the Flames and has committed to playing at Penn State next season.
Among international skaters, four centres are also ranked in the top ten: Anton Frondell (Djurgarden), Milton Gastrin (Modo Jr), Eric Nilson (Djurgarden Jr), and Jakob Iha Wozniak (Lulea Jr.).
There remains a possibility that one or two of these international centre prospects could still be available even if the Flames` first pick this summer is at 18th overall.
In addition to their two first-rounders, the Flames hold five other picks spread throughout the draft, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 27th.
General Manager Craig Conroy may consider trading defenceman Rasmus Andersson before the draft if the team concludes they will not be able to reach an agreement on a contract extension beyond the current season. Such a move would likely enhance their draft capital by adding another first or second-round selection.
