Yahoo Sports Did Flames Get Two Massive Steals In The 2024 Draft?
One day, Calgary Flames fans will look back on the 2024 draft class and wonder how GM Craig Conroy was able to select some possible big steals in the late rounds.
First, the Flames selected Henry Mews, a defenseman for the Ottawa 67's, in the third round, 74th overall. Currently, Mews is 17th in scoring in the OHL. With eight goals and 33 assists in 41 games, he is also third in defensemen scoring.
After producing at almost a point-per-game pace (0.93) in his draft year, Mews is improving, up to 1.32 this season. Along with fellow defenseman prospect Zayne Parekh, the Flames have two exceptional options for the right side in their top four in the coming years.
Meanwhile, Luke Misa is having a phenomenal season in the OHL with the Brampton Steelhead. The 19-year-old center was selected even later than Mews, in the fifth round at 150th overall.
Related: Flames Should Target These Two Centers In A Trade
Misa ranks sixth in OHL scoring, with 21 goals and 48 points in 31 games. After tallying three points against the Brantford Bulldogs on Wednesday, he extended his point streak to 16 games.
In addition to trading big names like Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom, Conroy is using the late-round draft picks he acquires in these deals to select future impact players like Mews and Misa.
Finding gems in the late rounds has led to successful periods for several franchises, most notably the Detroit Red Wings, which won Stanley Cups with Nicklas Lidström (third round), Henrik Zetterberg (seventh round), and Pavel Datsyuk (sixth round).
Even though the Flames have top prospects like Parekh, Jacob Battaglia (OHL), and Rory Kerins (AHL) in the system, Conroy is also discovering possible NHL talent in the late round of recent drafts.
Getting full value on his picks will help Conroy make Calgary a contender soon, injecting talented youth into the lineup.
