Building Blocks

Draft Analysis

Each week, I will present a historical/statistical analysis of how the Calgary Flames team of 2009-10 was built. In this week’s historical analysis of the team, we’ll look back at the Flames’ 2003 Entry Draft selections.

After missing the post-season for the seventh straight season, Coach Darryl Sutter added the general manager portfolio to his resume in June of 2003, replacing Craig Button who had held the position since the 2000-01 campaign.

In what was widely considered to be one of the richest and deepest Entry Drafts in recent memory, the Flames were scheduled to pick 9th, 39th, 47th, 78th, 112th, 146th, 176th, 206th, 240th, and 270th.

The 2003 Draft marked the sixth time since their Stanley Cup-winning season of 1988-89 that Calgary held a first round pick in the top-10.

Of the 30 players selected in the opening round, only one (Hugh Jessiman, chosen 12th overall by the NY Rangers and currently the property of the Nashville Predators) has failed to make it to the NHL. Twenty-seven of those 30 first round selections have played at least 100 NHL games.

Round 1: Dion Phaneuf (9th)
The cornerstone of the Flames “Big-3” on defense, Phaneuf (335-70-145-215-477) is the top-scoring defenseman taken in the 2003 Entry Draft. Phaneuf made his NHL debut on October 5, 2003 vs. Minnesota.

Round 2: Tim Ramholt (39th)
Ramholt (1-0-0-0) spent three seasons in the Flames organization and played his lone NHL game on November 27, 2007 against Anaheim. He was traded to Philadelphia for Kyle Greentree in June of 2008. He currently plays for HC Davos in the Swiss Elite League.

Notes: Calgary traded the 47th choice in the 2003 Draft – acquired as a compensatory pick for the loss of free agent Rick Mrozik – to San Jose for Colorado’s 3rd round choice (97th overall, acquired in the Bryan Marchment trade) and San Jose’s 5th round (143rd overall) and 6th round (173rd overall) selections.

Round 3: Ryan Donally (97th, acquired from Colorado)
Donally spent three seasons in the Flames organization and played in Omaha, Las Vegas and Quad-City. He was signed as a free agent by Anaheim in July, 2008 and currently plays for the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage.

Notes: Calgary traded their third round selection (78th overall) to Toronto as future considerations in the Curtis Joseph trade, June 30, 2002.

Round 4: Jamie Tardiff (112th)
Tardiff never signed with the Flames after completing his junior career with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. He was signed as a free agent by the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in January of 2007 and was signed as a free agent by Detroit in April of 2008. He currently plays for Grand Rapids.

Round 5: Greg Moore (143rd, acquired from San Jose)
Moore never played for the Flames. During his sophomore season with the University of Maine Black Bears, he was traded with Jamie McLellan and Blair Betts to the NY Rangers for Chris Simon. He was signed as a free agent by the NY Islanders in July of 2009 and currently plays for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Notes: Calgary traded their 5th round selection (146th overall) to Chicago for Mark McCutcheon.

Round 6: Tyler Johnson (173rd, acquired from San Jose)
Johnson never signed with the Flames. After completing his junior career with Red Deer, Moose Jaw and Seattle, he retired from competitive hockey. He currently plays in the UBC Adult Hockey League.

Notes: Calgary traded their 6th round selection (176th overall) to NY Rangers for Mike Mottau.

Round 7: Thomas Bellemare (206th)
Bellemare spent two seasons in the Flames organization before being released prior to the 2006-07 season. He currently plays for the Pont Rouge Lois Jeans of the LNAH (Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey)

Round 8: Cam Cunning (240th)
Cunning remains in the Flames system and currently plays for the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. He was re-signed to a two-year contract in August of 2008.

Round 9: Kevin Harvey (270th)
Harvey never signed with the Flames organization. After completing his junior career, spent primarily with the Tier II Georgetown Raiders, Harvey signed with the CHL’s New Mexico Scorpions. He currently plays with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

2003 Entry Draft
Players selected: 9
Players currently with Flames: 1
Players currently in system: 1