Top 5 Draft Poll - 1. Florida

[Bingo]

Saw a request for a poll to be added to the latest "Calgary selects ... " thread and I can do that.

But I was thinking ... the best way to get an actual Calgarypuck prediction on that Flames pick is to run five back to back polls for each of the selections, having the majority player removed for the subsequent polls.



Lets not get into trading picks, etc as it adds to much fantasy. The Panthers, Sabres, Oilers, Flames and Islanders all use their own picks. Think of what they need, who you think is better, etc in picking for that team.

In the end we will get a pretty good idea of what the group predicts.

So here is pick 1 Florida.

[Bingo]

To get this right I won't pull it until there are a substantial amount of votes, and a clear winner.

If it's tight I'll do a run off for two players.

[irrevocable]

Florida has already felt the "pain" of waiting for d-men to mature, so I think Bennett is exactly the type of player they need and covet.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by fotze

Is this,

Who we THINK Florida will pick?

or,

Who we WANT Florida to pick?

or,

Who we think Florida SHOULD pick?

Not my poll, but my guess is THINK, as it would provide clarity as to who the group feels will be available at #4.

[Gaskal]

I think they'll take Ekblad after passing on Jones last year for Barkov Jr. Wouldn't surprise me to see them take Bennett at #1 overall though.

[ricardodw]

I think that Florida is forced to pick Ekblad if they stay with the #1 pick.

This will likely cost Dale Tallon his job when the Panthers once again are out of the playoffs with Ekblad playing in Junior and at least 2 or 3 of Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl and Dal Colle making a significant contribution to an NHL team as a 19 year old.

That is why Florida will trade down to someone else in the top-5, Most likely the Flames. It will cost the Flames one of Granlund, Baertschi or Reinhart .... whoever the Flames management team feels has the least to offer and the longest road to making a significant contribution to the Flames at the NHL level.

[Bingo]

you got it ... think

just trying to get the cp view on how things will go down.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I think they'll take Ekblad after passing on Jones last year for Barkov Jr. Wouldn't surprise me to see them take Bennett at #1 overall though.

These are my thoughts too. They will pick Ekblad because their center depth is stacked, especially after picking Barkov and passing up on Jones in the previous draft.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I think that Florida is forced to pick Ekblad if they stay with the #1 pick.

This will likely cost Dale Tallon his job when the Panthers once again are out of the playoffs with Ekblad playing in Junior and at least 2 or 3 of Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl and Dal Colle making a significant contribution to an NHL team as a 19 year old.

That is why Florida will trade down to someone else in the top-5, Most likely the Flames. It will cost the Flames one of Granlund, Baertschi or Reinhart .... whoever the Flames management team feels has the least to offer and the longest road to making a significant contribution to the Flames at the NHL level.

Ekblad will be in the NHL next year.

He's already had 3 full seasons in Jr., there's nothing more for him to do there.

[Parallex]

I think Florida will want to pick someone able to step in and play in the NHL now... that means someone a bit more physically mature and that means Ekblad or Draisaitl. Of the two I think they'd go with the defenseman.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I think they'll take Ekblad after passing on Jones last year for Barkov Jr. Wouldn't surprise me to see them take Bennett at #1 overall though.

Yeah I wouldn't be stunned if they take Bennett but I feel Ekblad is probably a better fit for them after passing on a defender for a center last year. If they are going by BPA they may go Bennett if he's the guy they have #1 on their board.

[RyZ]

Panthers are a joke if they dont shore up the D.

[bubbsy]

if florida makes the pick, think they have to take the dman who has been considered the top prospect for most of the year by various scouting reports.

if they aren't high on ekblad, they are better off in trading down to a top 5 or 6 pick grab an asset and grab one top forwards (that seem quite even among the top 3-4).

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by fotze

Forida has young centres coming out of the ying yang, eliminating Bennet and Reinhart.

Barkov
Bjugstad
Drew Shore
Grimaldi
Trochek
Pirri

Yeah but you can always move these guys to the wing, like the Panthers did with #3 overall in 2011 Jonathan Huberdeau.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Panthers are a joke if they dont shore up the D.

only have to go back last year to see a guy like Jones (who by all accounts seems to be a higher value prospect than ekblad) drop as far as he did. Last year was different in that the top forward prospects were of a very high value, which likely made the decision easier.

This year, the top forward prospects don't seem as blue-chip as last year though, which i would expect results in ekbad being picked up at the top.

[Burke Salad]

Edmonton should offer the #3 pick and Yakupov for picks #1 and #31.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if they aren't high on ekblad, they are better off in trading down to a top 5 or 6 pick grab an asset and grab one top forwards (that seem quite even among the top 3-4).

If they don't have Ekblad as the BPA and have say Bennett or Reinhart as #1 on their board (possibility) why would they be better off trading down and not getting either? Too many fans get caught up in this whole trading down thing from 1st overall as it rarely ever happens and is more something the media has generated to generate web traffic. 1st overall is where you want to be when you are drafting and seeing how the Panthers need/want immediate help it doesn't make sense to drop out of the top 3/4 guys that will be able to come in and play in a year or two just to pick up an asset.

[_Q_]

Florida should pick Ekblad.... Therefore they pick Bennett

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If they don't have Ekblad as the BPA and have say Bennett or Reinhart as #1 on their board (possibility) why would they be better off trading down and not getting either? Too many fans get caught up in this whole trading down thing from 1st overall as it rarely ever happens and is more something the media has generated to generate web traffic. 1st overall is where you want to be when you are drafting and seeing how the Panthers need/want immediate help it doesn't make sense to drop out of the top 3/4 guys that will be able to come in and play in a year or two just to pick up an asset.

Because they'd prefer a winger. I know, centers can be wingers but I think Florida thinks highly of Ehlers or Dal Colle and think that they can get that player with a lower pick (which they can -> with ours)!

[djsFlames]

Thing is most teams will agree you can't have enough good centers, which they can move to the wing if need be.

But they're looking for help much sooner than later, and Ekblad fills a need for them with an aging d core. Unlike Reinhart and Bennett he's already got the size and has been at the CHL a year longer, so probably a year closer to making the jump with the maturity in his game. IF Florida keeps the pick, I think they'll take Ekblad.

But hypothetically if they take Bennett, the order will IMO be - 1. Bennett 2. Reinhart 3. Ekblad
If they take Ekblad - 1. Ekblad 2. Bennett 3. Draisaitl