[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

This, exactly.

If the Flames are picking first, go with Reinhart or Dal Colle over Ekblad.

If the Flames are picking 4th and Ekblad is on the board, go with him.

It's all about relative value. Both Dal Colle and Reinhart are in the same ball park potential wise as Ekblad, so I'd take the two forwards over the D because the forwards are more guaranteed to reach their potential. However, if you're past that point where you're choosing between Draisaitl/Bennett and Ekblad, you go with Eks because his upside is higher.

You saw this last year, where all of Jones, Mac, Barkov, and Drouin were in the same ballpark potential wise as they all looked like top end 1st line talent. The three forwards all went first. Lindholm/Monahan/Nichushkin though all had some question marks on their overall potential, and were a step down from the other forwards, so despite the Preds already have a lot of good defensemen in their system, took Jones because he was the best relative to the place they were picking even though their forward group is worse than ours currently.

I don't think any scout is going to say 'ah these guys are all the same' potential wise. They are going to like who they like. You should take the guy you like best and not worry about history. Its a mistake to say well we like Ekblad a bit better but the history says he's more likely to bust so we'll take Reinhart.