Building Blocks IV

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’ 2009 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 Calgary Flames finished second in the Northwest Division and fifth overall in the Western Conference in 2008-09, registering a 46-30-6 record.

It may be years before a definitive analysis of the Flames 2009 draft choices can be completed. Yet, it is still a valuable exercise to examine how the players who may be playing a pivotal role in the clubs future are progressing in their first year as members of the Calgary Flames family.

In the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames were scheduled to select 20th, 51st, 81st, 111th, 141st, 171st and 201st. Calgary also had the 49th overall pick (acquired from Montreal), the 74th overall pick (acquired from Buffalo) and the 107th overall pick (acquired from Columbus).

Round 1: Tim Erixon (23rd overall, acquired from New Jersey)
The son of former NY Ranger forward Jan Erixon, Tim was born in the United States but has received the majority of his hockey training in Sweden. A product of the Skelleftea Junior system, he is currently playing with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Elite League. The defenseman has collected six goals and eight points in 30 games so far in 2009-10.

Notes: Calgary traded their first round selection (20th overall) to the New Jersey Devils for New Jersey’s 1st round pick (23rd overall) and 3rd round pick (84th overall) in 2009 draft.

Round 2: No Selections

Notes: Calgary traded the 49th overall pick (acquired from Montreal in the Alex Tanguay trade, June 20, 2008) Lawrence Nycholat and Ryan Wilson to Colorado for Jordan Leopold, March 4, 2009.

Notes: Calgary traded their 2nd round pick (51st overall) in 2009 draft and 1st round pick (17th overall) in 2008 draft to the Los Angeles Kings for Mike Cammalleri and LA’s 2nd round pick (48th overall, Calgary selected Mitch Wahl) in the 2008 draft, June 20, 2008.

Round 3: Ryan Howse (74th overall, acquired from Los Angeles via Buffalo)
The leading scorer for the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins in 2008-09, Howse is currently in his fourth season with Chilliwack and has collected 28 goals and 42 points in 38 games in the 2009-10 season.

Notes: Calgary traded their 3rd round pick (81st overall) to Philadelphia for Jim Vandermeer, February 20, 2008.

Notes: Calgary traded the 84th overall pick (acquired from New Jersey, see above) and the 107th overall pick (acquired from Columbus for Kevin Lalande, March 4, 2009) to Los Angeles for Buffalo’s 3rd round pick (74th overall, acquired previously) in the 2009 draft, June 29, 2009.

Round 4: Henrik Bjorklund (111th overall)
A product of Sweden’s Farjestad system, Bjorklund spent the majority of the 2008-09 season with Skare BK, a division III team in Sweden. Often compared to former Flame Hakan Loob, he is currently playing for Farjestads BK Karlstad in the Swedish Elite League.

Notes: Calgary traded the 107th pick (acquired from Columbus) to Los Angeles (see above)

Round 5: Spencer Bennett (141st overall)
After spending the 2008-09 season with the BCHL’ Surrey Eagles, Bennett was expected to join the NCAA’s University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. However, after being drafted by the Flames, Bennett decided to play Major Junior hockey instead. Signed as a free agent by the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, where he has notched 12 goals and 21 points in 37 games in the 2009-10 season.

Round 6: Joni Ortio (171st overall)
A goaltending product of the elite Finnish TPS Turku system, Ortio spent the 2008-09 season with the TPS U-18 and U-20 teams. A member of Team Finland at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Saskatoon, Ortio has split the 2009-10 season between the TPS U-20 team, TuTo, a team in Finland’s Second Division and TPS of the Finnish Elite League. He was drafted by the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos (44th overall) in the 2009 CHL Import Draft.

Round 7: Gaelan Patterson (201st overall)
A product of the midget Beardy’s Blackhawks of the SMAAAHL, Patterson is currently a member of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, where he has played for portions of the past four seasons. He is currently the fourth leading scorer on the Blades team with 11 goals, 31 points and a +18 plus/minis rating in 35 games.

Total players drafted: 6
Players currently with Flames: 0
Players in Flames organization: 6
Players still active in professional hockey: 0