This draft is going to be very interesting. Different teams have different needs, and at different points in their rebuilds. On top of this, teams have different scouts and favor different prospects. There also doesn't seem to be a consensus thus far amongst the majority of scouting services at the moment. Everyone has their personal opinions.
I still see this:
Tier 1:
Reinhart - BPA
Ekblad - Very close 2nd
Tier 2:
Bennett - to me, he is just a bit lower. I can understand why people rank him higher, and I would be excited if he was available at 4th (if the Flames retain 4th or don't win the lottery).
Tier 3:
Dal Colle - Think he is going to be a very, very prolific scorer that will compliment any center on the top line, or who may even be a very good center himself.
Draisaitl - just a slight notch below Dal Colle
Tier 4: I think this is the biggest drop. I like a lot of prospects in this tier, and I think quite a number of them will be 1st line upsides - even dominating. They have more warts and issues, or just don't have as high of ceilings.
Ritchie - for me is the top-end of this tier. Just has that complete package - size, speed, shot, vision, aggressiveness, skill.
Nylander - right behind Ritchie for me now. Might just be the most purely-skilled offensive talent in the draft.
Ehlers - just a hair behind Nylander.
I posted this thought in the post-game thread today. I kept watching Gaudreau tonight, and he just oozes hockey sense. Just makes some unreal plays in-tight. I really like Monahan, but I imagine Gaudreau paired with someone like Reinhart who makes those same high-level plays. They would be a thrill to watch together for years, and Reinhart is an ace on defence already to boot. On the PP you can move Reinhart to the RW and have Gaudreau, Monahan and Reinhart all out there setting one another up. Just made me drool.
I will be very happy to add anyone from the top 5 - Draisaitl included. That is the worst-case scenario for me if the Flames get bumped down to 5th. I will be happy with Ritchie only if Draisaitl is the last of the top-end available. I would still prefer Draisaitl over Ritchie at that point, but I can understand the preference and what bringing a guy like Ritchie into the pool would mean long-term, and how he may indeed prove that he can be become just as important of a piece as someone in the top 3.
Just feels 'safe' now with the Flames selecting no lower than 5th.
Also, in response to people speculating on the cost of moving up - really tough to say how much it costs. Burke has come out and said that in trades, he doesn't mind over-paying as long as he gets the player he really likes.
|