The expectation is that the Calgary Flames will look to add some top-end talent at centre with the first of their first-round draft pick in this year’s draft.
Left wing, where the team already boasts considerable depth is probably much less of a priority.
That doesn’t mean they won’t be adding any left wingers, though, and, if there’s a talent that stands out, maybe the Flames will feel compelled to take a swing.
Here’s a look at a few of the draft-eligible wingers we think the Flames might find interesting, whether that’s at No. 18 overall or a little later:
Bill Zonnon
Hometown: Montreal
This season: 28 goals and 55 assists for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Measurements: 6-foot-2, 190 lbs.
The skinny: While the NHL’s official draft rankings have Zonnon listed as a right winger, he is generally considered a left winger and played mostly at centre this season in the QMJHL. That sort of versatility can only be a good thing, right? If his future did wind up in the middle of the ice, that could only serve the Flames well. It’s not just his versatility that makes him intriguing. After a solid rookie year that saw him collect 18 goals and 40 assists for Rouyn-Noranda, his numbers jumped dramatically this season and he finished with 83 points in 64 games — that saw him finish ahead of prized Flames prospect Matvei Gridin in the QMJHL scoring race. Praised for his hockey IQ, competitiveness and skill with the puck, Zonnon went from being projected as a second-round pick at the start of the year to a first-rounder by season’s end. Will he be available when the Flames step to the podium for their second first-round pick of the night on June 27? That doesn’t seem super likely.
Michal Svrcek
Hometown: Zilina, Slovakia
This season: 14 goals and 16 assists for Brynas IF J20, one goal and two assists for Brynas IF in the SHL
Measurements: 5-foot-10, 176 lbs.
The skinny: Between Sam Honzek and Martin Pospisil, the Flames already have pretty solid young Slovakian representation. Why not add another? Svrcek is flat-out fast and is credited with a high compete level and a relentless ability to drive offence. His size is the big knock against him, with some scouting reports suggesting he needs to spend some significant time in the weight room before he is ready for the NHL. That’s true of a lot of up-and-coming prospects, though, and that likely won’t scare teams off of taking him in the second round. He’s coming from the same Brynas IF program as William Stromgren, who will be looking to push for NHL playing time with the Flames next year, and seems like the type of high-reward talent the Flames would consider taking a swing on outside of the first round.
KRISTIAN EPPERSON
Hometown: Mequon, Wisconsin
This season: 27 goals and 53 assists for the Saginaw Spirit
Measurements: 6-foot-0, 186 lbs.
The skinny: Given that he was Zayne Parekh’s teammate with the Spirit, you can bet that Flames scouts saw a whole lot of Epperson this year. They must have liked what they saw, too. While every draft profile you read will say he needs to work on his skating and explosiveness, Epperson’s willingness to go to the hard areas of the ice in the offensive zone and do the dirty work in front of the net are considered huge assets. He was passed over in last year’s draft, but his play on a high-powered line alongside projected top-five pick Michael Misa was impressive this season. He’s committed to playing at the highly regarded University of Denver next season, so whoever drafts him will know the next stage of his development will be taking place in a high-end environment. If he’s available after the first round, there are definitely some intriguing elements to his game.
RelatedTHREE MORE, RAPID FIREJack Murtagh, United States National Team Development Program
Projected to go late in the first round, scouts laud Murtagh for his willingness to play hard along the boards and on the forecheck. Make no mistake, though, he doesn’t project to be a fourth-line grinder. He has skills, too, and will be playing at an elite school in Boston University next season. If he’s available late in the first round, he could be exactly the type of player the Flames would love to have.
Diego Buttazzoni, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Buttazzoni put up great numbers in the WHL this season, scoring 38 goals and adding 39 assists. He’s 5-foot-9 and weighs in at 183 lbs., so he isn’t big, but scouting reports suggest he is relentless on the forecheck and has notable agility and quickness. If he were to be available in the later rounds, he’s definitely worth consideration.
Noa Nsonsa-Kitala, Marseille (Ligue Magnus)
Born in Belgium, Nsonsa-Kitala represents France at the international level — he scored three goals and added two assists at the D1A World Junior Hockey Championship this year. There’s little to be found about him online, but there’s a chance he could get drafted and he is playing in a men’s pro league in France, so he’s sort of fascinating.
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