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Calgary4LIfe · 03-31-2014, 05:36 PM

I still think Reinhart is the premier pick this draft.

His numbers are just phenomenal this year. They are easily in the range of most of the #1 centers in the NHL today during their respective draft years. People continually underrate his offensive ceiling - this guy is an offensive dynamo.

His defence is equal to most of the 'defensive specialists' that will be drafted in the later rounds. Brent Sutter - a usually fairly defensive-minded coach as we all know - throws Reinhart as the lone forward on a 5-3 PK, rather than the 'defensive specialist' in Gauthier, who is a year older (which is a big deal developmentally at that age).

He has the highest hockey IQ in the draft - Button (or was it Weisbrod?) made the point that guys with high IQ tend to translate their games better in the NHL - either in similar roles they have had in junior, or in new roles that they are not accustomed to. High-IQ = less chance of busting.

He has the size (6'1" - so definitely not undersized). Put him with anyone, and he makes those players better.

I just don't see any warts at all in his game.

Ekblad - I really like him too. However, there is one big question mark about him - does he project to be a #1 defender? Some scouts say yes, others say no. To me, he seems like the complimentary #2 guy. Why? Ekblad did get comparable points to Seth Jones last year. However, majority of Ekblad's points has come from the PP. I think I read somewhere around 70%. That is a very, very high ratio. I don't think that high ratio is as bad as it would be for a forward - being a good PP quarterback has lots of value in itself, unlike a PP specialist of the forward ranks (they simply do not exist I think). He is also a very good defensive-defencemen. Defensive-Ds should never be taken that high.

It does get a bit more fuzzy comparing Ekblad to Jones though - Jones played on a powerhouse team - a team that put up a lot of goals in the season. It is only natural for a defencemen to put up higher points on such a team at ES. Ekblad isn't the skater that Jones is either - but he is hardly a 'bad' skater - just doesn't have that elite skating ability that Jones had. However, Ekblad plays a much more physical brand of hockey - something that is sorely lacking in the Flames' top 4.

It is this rationale that keeps me thinking Reinhart is the obvious choice for the Flames - fills 2 positions if need be, and in my mind, is a better bet at becoming an elite player. I personally think Ekblad will end up being a top-pairing defencmen, but more of that #2 type, rather than a #1 - and this is due to his offensive game. Ekblad doesn't have any 'warts' as far as I am concerned - just don't think he will become a #1.

Bennett - there are no warts to him either except that he is probably not NHL ready due to his size. However, he is more of a late-bloomer - Reinhart has been at or above 1ppg in his last 3 seasons (well, just a few points shy 3 seasons ago). This is Bennett's first season above 1ppg. However, I haven't watched Kingston at all in the past - so no idea how good or bad they were. Last year, he was 6th in scoring, and none of the players ahead of him were PPG players. Maybe it was just a matter of Bennett not getting the opportunity until this year? Someone who follows the OHL more, and Kingston in particular, can answer that question. I do think he will translate to be a very good #2 or possibly a good #1 center - non-stop motor, aggressive play, will to win, high-IQ, etc. I think he will be a high-impact player in the NHL as well.

Dal Colle - I was not very high on him for most of the season, but mostly because he is a winger. He is listed as a center, but I think he will be much like Huberdeau - a guy that probably plays better on the wing. Gives you size and a high amount of skill. I think he will be a special player, and I have him ranked solidly at #4. He has had a similar pace to Laughton (1.4ppg Dal Colle, 1.6 for Laughton) - and this shows how good he is offensively, considering Laughton is a very good prospect in his own right, and is 2 years older. I think he has the highest offensive potential out of all the wingers. The biggest knock against him right now is that the Flames are fairly 'deep' on LW. Still, I am a firm believer you pick BPA regardless of your strengths. Flames for a number of years were easily the deepest on RW, and suddenly in a 2 year span it became the absolute worst organizationally.

Draisaitl is number 5 on my list - had him at 4. Question marks about his ability to translate to the NHL. Some compare him to Kopitar, however. I don't think I see it. He doesn't compete hard enough according to some scouting reports - though in the games I saw him in that didn't seem to be a problem. I prefer a prospect to have speed - Draisaitl is the slowest of the above I think. If you are a bit slower, I think you have to make up for it with a high IQ - which he has. I don't think it is higher than any of the above though. Scouts question his ability to translate his game to the NHL because he relies on slowing the game down. The NHL is a totally different beast where you don't get that time and space that Draisaitl seems to require (and dictate!) on the ice. He is 'Jagr' in Junior, but can he be Jagr in the NHL (not the same Jagr that has ranked as one of the NHL's all-time best players - but a rough facsimile in play-style). I am not so sure. I think there are more question marks around Draisaitl than the 4 above him, and then it seems there is a bit of a drop after him.

If the Flames draft any of the above, there is no question that they will add a very quality player. Those are just my personal rankings (which can change as I read and see more of course! lol). Just figured I would add some context to my thoughts.

03-31-2014, 05:36 PM	#2500
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I still think Reinhart is the premier pick this draft. His numbers are just phenomenal this year. They are easily in the range of most of the #1 centers in the NHL today during their respective draft years. People continually underrate his offensive ceiling - this guy is an offensive dynamo. His defence is equal to most of the 'defensive specialists' that will be drafted in the later rounds. Brent Sutter - a usually fairly defensive-minded coach as we all know - throws Reinhart as the lone forward on a 5-3 PK, rather than the 'defensive specialist' in Gauthier, who is a year older (which is a big deal developmentally at that age). He has the highest hockey IQ in the draft - Button (or was it Weisbrod?) made the point that guys with high IQ tend to translate their games better in the NHL - either in similar roles they have had in junior, or in new roles that they are not accustomed to. High-IQ = less chance of busting. He has the size (6'1" - so definitely not undersized). Put him with anyone, and he makes those players better. I just don't see any warts at all in his game. Ekblad - I really like him too. However, there is one big question mark about him - does he project to be a #1 defender? Some scouts say yes, others say no. To me, he seems like the complimentary #2 guy. Why? Ekblad did get comparable points to Seth Jones last year. However, majority of Ekblad's points has come from the PP. I think I read somewhere around 70%. That is a very, very high ratio. I don't think that high ratio is as bad as it would be for a forward - being a good PP quarterback has lots of value in itself, unlike a PP specialist of the forward ranks (they simply do not exist I think). He is also a very good defensive-defencemen. Defensive-Ds should never be taken that high. It does get a bit more fuzzy comparing Ekblad to Jones though - Jones played on a powerhouse team - a team that put up a lot of goals in the season. It is only natural for a defencemen to put up higher points on such a team at ES. Ekblad isn't the skater that Jones is either - but he is hardly a 'bad' skater - just doesn't have that elite skating ability that Jones had. However, Ekblad plays a much more physical brand of hockey - something that is sorely lacking in the Flames' top 4. It is this rationale that keeps me thinking Reinhart is the obvious choice for the Flames - fills 2 positions if need be, and in my mind, is a better bet at becoming an elite player. I personally think Ekblad will end up being a top-pairing defencmen, but more of that #2 type, rather than a #1 - and this is due to his offensive game. Ekblad doesn't have any 'warts' as far as I am concerned - just don't think he will become a #1. Bennett - there are no warts to him either except that he is probably not NHL ready due to his size. However, he is more of a late-bloomer - Reinhart has been at or above 1ppg in his last 3 seasons (well, just a few points shy 3 seasons ago). This is Bennett's first season above 1ppg. However, I haven't watched Kingston at all in the past - so no idea how good or bad they were. Last year, he was 6th in scoring, and none of the players ahead of him were PPG players. Maybe it was just a matter of Bennett not getting the opportunity until this year? Someone who follows the OHL more, and Kingston in particular, can answer that question. I do think he will translate to be a very good #2 or possibly a good #1 center - non-stop motor, aggressive play, will to win, high-IQ, etc. I think he will be a high-impact player in the NHL as well. Dal Colle - I was not very high on him for most of the season, but mostly because he is a winger. He is listed as a center, but I think he will be much like Huberdeau - a guy that probably plays better on the wing. Gives you size and a high amount of skill. I think he will be a special player, and I have him ranked solidly at #4. He has had a similar pace to Laughton (1.4ppg Dal Colle, 1.6 for Laughton) - and this shows how good he is offensively, considering Laughton is a very good prospect in his own right, and is 2 years older. I think he has the highest offensive potential out of all the wingers. The biggest knock against him right now is that the Flames are fairly 'deep' on LW. Still, I am a firm believer you pick BPA regardless of your strengths. Flames for a number of years were easily the deepest on RW, and suddenly in a 2 year span it became the absolute worst organizationally. Draisaitl is number 5 on my list - had him at 4. Question marks about his ability to translate to the NHL. Some compare him to Kopitar, however. I don't think I see it. He doesn't compete hard enough according to some scouting reports - though in the games I saw him in that didn't seem to be a problem. I prefer a prospect to have speed - Draisaitl is the slowest of the above I think. If you are a bit slower, I think you have to make up for it with a high IQ - which he has. I don't think it is higher than any of the above though. Scouts question his ability to translate his game to the NHL because he relies on slowing the game down. The NHL is a totally different beast where you don't get that time and space that Draisaitl seems to require (and dictate!) on the ice. He is 'Jagr' in Junior, but can he be Jagr in the NHL (not the same Jagr that has ranked as one of the NHL's all-time best players - but a rough facsimile in play-style). I am not so sure. I think there are more question marks around Draisaitl than the 4 above him, and then it seems there is a bit of a drop after him. If the Flames draft any of the above, there is no question that they will add a very quality player. Those are just my personal rankings (which can change as I read and see more of course! lol). Just figured I would add some context to my thoughts.