If the Colorado Avalanche pass on Seth Jones with the first overall pick (or trade the selection to someone else who does the same) would Dale Tallon and the Florida Panthers be willing to dance with the Calgary Flames and take a bit of quantity over quality?
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Flames have targeted Jones, or maybe it’s a feint and they really want Nathan MacKinnon, and offered the Avalanche their collection of three first round picks in the upcoming Entry Draft. Whoever the player really is, the rebuilding Flames seem anxious to move up from the six spot to the top of the draft board to try and nab him. The other picks offered in the package were 22nd overall (acquired from the Blues for Jay Bouwmeester) and 28th overall (acquired from the Penguins for Jarome Iginla). The Avs rebuffed the offer, choosing to keep the first pick and make the selection or perhaps hoping for a better deal to come along.
If the player Calgary really covets is still available after the first selection is made would the Flames be willing to make the same offer to the Panthers? Should the Panthers even consider it or should they hold on to the pick and guarantee they get one of the big three of Jones, MacKinnon or Jonathan Drouin? Is the sixth overall pick and two extra picks late in the first round really enough to pass on one of those three potential stars?
Moving down to six, the Panthers still might have a shot at Aleksander Barkov (whose shoulder injury could cause him to slide a couple spots) or Russian Valeri Nichushkin but would more likely be looking at forwards Sean Monahan, Hunter Shinkaruk, Elias Lindholm and Bo Horvat or defensemen Darnell Nurse, Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Pulock.
Should the Panthers trade down in the first round to garner more picks?
| Yes | 87 |
| No | 242 |