I would normally go for the forward over the defenceman.
Ekblad gives me pause though. One of four players granted exceptional player status by the OHL. Tavares worked out OK. McDavid is the consenus 1st overall next year. Sean Day just got granted it, so it's hard to say how things will go for him over the next few years.
Does the exceptional player status really mean a lot? Is it a meaningful attribute to consider ranking one player ahead of another, all other factors being equal? Since only the OHL gives this out, could you argue that a forward like Reinhart or others before wim who played outside the OHL might have been granted a similar status if other CHL leagues had it?
As things stand right now, I would be tempted to pick Ekblad. Good thing there's lots of hockey to be played, and that the Flames don't consult me on these matters.
|