Building Blocks – The 2005 NHL Entry Draft

Each week, I will present a historical and statistical review of how the Calgary Flames team of 2009-10 was built. In this week’s historical analysis of the team, we’ll examine and analyze the Flames’ 2005 Entry Draft selections.

Dissecting the anatomy of the NHL Entry Draft in any given year is a frustratingly complex process. Picks are traded, re-acquired, re-traded and, sometimes, re-acquired again. At the same time, it’s a fascinating procedure and a remarkable puzzle that is rarely solved or examined in detail. This column contains information not available in any other source.

The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was unique in any number of ways. It was the only draft to be held in July, it was the first draft after the NHL lockout – the 310 day work stoppage that forced the cancellation of the entire 2004-05 season – and it was also the draft that offered Sidney Crosby as the top prize. Crosby, the highly touted junior and most anticipated prospect since Eric Lindros – and arguably Mario Lemieux – was certain to selected first overall.

With the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement and the introduction of new guidelines concerning free agency, the 2005 draft was the last time compensatory selections would be awarded for loss of free agents.

Since there was no season played in 2004-05, the method of determining what order of selection had to be refined. A weighted system – or lottery – was held based on the order of finish in the 2003-04 campaign with Pittsburgh, the club with the worst record in the last season completed before the lockout, landing the first overall selection. Calgary was awarded the 26th selection in the opening round.

Because of the unique circumstances surrounding the process, it was decided that teams would reverse their order of selection in each of the first six rounds. The final round would use the same order as the opening go-through. Calgary was slated to pick 26th, 35th, 87th, 96th, 158th, 167th and 221st. The club was also awarded two compensatory draft selections – 111th overall and 179th overall.

Of the 230 players selected in the 2005 Entry Draft – 75 have played in the NHL.

Round 1: Matt Pelech (26th overall)
A promising defenseman with impressive size and unlimited potential, Pelech (5-0-3-3-9) is currently in the Flames system, playing with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. He made his NHL debut on April 4, 2009 vs. the Minnesota Wild.

Round 2: No Selection

Notes: Calgary traded their 2nd round pick (35th overall) to San Jose for Miikka Kiprusoff, November 16, 2003.

Round 3: Gord Baldwin (69th overall, acquired from Carolina), Dan Ryder (74th overall, acquired from Buffalo)
Baldwin is currently in the Flames system, playing with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. Although he is yet to make his NHL debut, the Flames still contend he is a NHL-caliber defenseman.

Ryder was once considered one of the most promising prospects in the Flames system, but he abruptly left the Abbotsford Heat 19 games into the 2008-09 season and was  suspended and subsequently released by Calgary. He did sign a 25-game tryout contract with the AHL’s Providence Bruins in January of 2009 and was released in May. There are unconfirmed reports he plans to play for the Conception Bay CeeBees but he is yet to make an appearance with the team.

Notes: Calgary traded their 87th (Marc-Andre Gragnani) and 96th (Chris Butler) overall picks to Buffalo for Buffalo’s 74th overall pick (Dan Ryder).

Calgary traded Mike Commodore to Carolina for Atlanta’s 3rd round pick (acquired by Carolina for rights to Chad Painchaud)

Round 4: J.D. Watt (111th overall, compensatory pick)
Watt is currently in the Flames system, playing with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. He has also played with Quad City and the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and Las Vegas Wranglers. Although he has shown potential, he is thought to be a long shot to have a productive NHL career.

Notes: Calgary received a 4th round pick (111th overall) as compensation for the LA Kings signing of free agent Craig Conroy.

Calgary traded their 96th overall pick to Buffalo (see above)

Round 5: Kevin Lalande (128th overall, acquired from Carolina), Matt Keetley (158th overall)
Lalande was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Columbus’ 4th round pick (later traded to LA Kings) in 2009 Entry Draft. He is currently playing with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

Keetley (1-0-0-0-9-0.00) is currently in the Flames system, playing with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. He made his NHL debut vs. Colorado Avalanche on November 7, 2007. He is still expected to be a key contributor to the Flames future.

Notes: Calgary traded Bob Boughner to Carolina for Carolina’s 121st overall pick in 2004 Entry Draft (Kevin Hogg) and 128th overall pick Flames (Kevin Lalande) in 2005 Entry Draft, July 16, 2003.

Round 6: Brett Sutter (179th overall, compensatory pick)
Sutter (4-1-0-1-2), the son of Flames gm Darryl Sutter, is currently in the Flames system, playing with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. He made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal on December 7, 2008 vs. the Anaheim Ducks.

Notes: Calgary received a 6th round pick (179th overall) as compensation for New Jersey’s signing of free agent Kryzstof Oliwa.

Calgary traded Jason Morgan and their 167th overall pick to Chicago for Ville Nieminen, February 24, 2004.

Round 7: Myles Rumsey (221st overall)
Rumsey never signed with the Flames organization. After completing his junior career with Swift Current, Rumsey enrolled at the University of Manitoba and played two seasons with the U. of Manitoba Bisons. He is currently not on any active roster in Canada but may join a senior club in Manitoba in the 2010.

Number of players selected: 8
Number of players currently with Flames: 0
Number of players currently in Flames system: 5
Number of players still active: 6