Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Well, I personally haven't seen enough of Ritchie. However, some scouting services have been hyping him up as a potential 'best player of the draft'.
If Burke Drafts Ritchie in the top 4, I will be slightly upset, but it does seem like there is loads of reason to be hyped about this kid. This is NOT Kassian 2.0. Ritchie is bigger, faster and has produced much more than Kassian has in junior in their draft years.
Kassian was known to be 'slow' both in skating and mental functioning. Ritchie is 'quick' and 'agile', and has hockey IQ. Aside from the size and physicality, they sound like completely different players to me.
I think as long as Burke trusts Button, I will trust the pick. I think the Flames have been drafting well now. I will be disappointed at first if a top 4 or 5 player is passed over, but the Flames are not the Edmonton Oilers and will draft who they think is the BPA, not what TSN or the Hockey News say it is.
I think their drafting has come a long ways, so they will get the benefit of the doubt from me unless it is a player that is completely surprising to me (like a guy ranked in the middle of the round whom I can't figure out exactly why they were high on him).
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I agree that Kassian and Ritchie aren't the same player, and I do like Ritchie as a prospect.
Ritchie isn't Kassian, but Bennett also isn't Kadri.
All I'm saying is Burke has proven not to be so blinded by size and truculence to pass up a better prospect.
Apologies for derailing the thread, will move to a draft thread.