Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
I have a feeling that Edmonton won't even pick S. Reinhart if he was still available.... I think they are set on either picking Bennett or Draisaitl.
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Well Reinhart is very similar to RNH and thus doesn't bring something unique to their makeup. I get the impression they love WHLers and I'm just not sure they can turn down a guy who destroyed that league and dominated the playoffs.
It's hard to read EDM. Theoretically they need to get heavier and harder to play against much like we do. They have acknowledged this with MacT's comments about wanting a "Lucic type player". I'm pretty sure they realize it's hard to win with RNH and Gagner matching up against guys like Getzlaf, Thornton, Kopitar, Monahan in our division. So in that sense Draisaitl is the best fit for them as he's the biggest, strongest, heaviest of the three centres while still having elite playmaking capabilities. Would EDM shock us all and grab Dal Colle in an effort to get bigger on the wing or try and convert him back to centre?
I still believe FLA is likely to take Ekblad. I think he fits their biggest need the best and because he's NHL ready he helps in that regard as well.
BUF and EDM are real wildcards with the forward group being so tight and the forwards all bringing different elements. It partially will depend on how BUF evaluates it's own current pieces. Is Grigorenko a future top two line centre? Girgensons had a tremendous year and an awesome Olympics. Is he an ideal 2nd line centre or will he shake out as an elite 3rd? Do they have enough size there to compliment the smaller, slighter Reinhart who could be more gamebreaking offensively? They have shown a propensity to draft bigger players in the last 3 years so do they continue to hammer that and grab Draisaitl which would give them three big, skilled centres to build around? BUF grabbing Draisaitl at #2 would be a very interesting scenario for us as well as we'd have a Sam drop to us.
Personally I keep waffling on these prospects. Lately I've warmed up to the idea of a Draisaitl/Monahan combo with Backlund giving us an elite 3rd line centre. It really looks like we can't go wrong, at least 2 very appealing guys will be there at #4. I really have no problem with the Flames going with Draisaitl, Dal Colle or a Sam.