CALGARY – With a significant trade piece available, two first-round selections, and seven picks overall, Flames General Manager Craig Conroy is well-positioned to finally address the team`s primary need: the centre position.
Following this weekend`s draft, Conroy is expected to have added several promising young centres to the team`s development pipeline.
While six or seven prospects in the top ten of Friday`s first round are projected as high-impact centres, there will still be numerous capable players available in the next tier when the Flames make their initial selection at 18th overall.
It wouldn`t be surprising if Calgary also uses its 32nd overall pick to further strengthen the centre depth.
Furthermore, Conroy could potentially trade up into the top 10 by combining a draft pick with a valuable asset like Rasmus Andersson. With Andersson and the Flames reportedly far apart on a contract extension, the team is open to trading the 28-year-old defenseman, whose shot-blocking, leadership, and $4.55 million cap hit make him a highly desirable trade target for other teams at the draft.