Flames 2014 NHL Entry Draft selections: observations & preliminary verdicts?

[FlameZilla]

4: C Sam Bennett
34: G Mason McDonald
54: RW Hunter Smith
64: D Brandon Hickey
83: traded for LW Brandon Bollig
175: D Adam Ollas Mattson
184: LW/RW Austin Carroll

Preliminary thoughts? Observations? Verdicts?

To me there were no big gambles. Mason McDonald is a bit of a risk, but plenty of scouting services rated him the best goalie in the class.

Notes:

No players smaller than 6'

Emphasis on hard workers and beef

Bollig trade is out of left field, but adding someone with NHL experience & a Stanley Cup ring for the 83rd pick is decent value.

Overall I'm really happy. Still over the moon about Bennett. McDonald and Smith look like great additions.

Still need to address defence corps & skilled RW, in my opinion. Hoping they can be added via trade.

[StrykerSteve]

I like it. Big, skilled players. Top forward and top goalie prospects available.

[dammage79]

I like them all, maybe Tkatchev for Carroll but still. there's a ton of beef in the system now. Mattson and Smith and Kanzig, oh my.

And HUnter Smith VS. Tim Harrison should be a fun watch this prospect camp too.

[Ben Dover]

Thrilled with Bennett, obviously. Also happy with the addition of much needed size in the system.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I like them all, maybe Tkatchev for Carroll but still. there's a ton of beef in the system now. Mattson and Smith and Kanzig, oh my.

And HUnter Smith VS. Tim Harrison should be a fun watch this prospect camp too.

It's going to be comedic to see Gaudreau out there amongst the redwoods.

[Enoch Root]

I wanted Bennett over anyone in the draft - so win right there.

We also got the top ranked goalie (by at least one source) and we really needed one. Also, I am not a fan of Demko.

I don't mind the trade for Bollig. And I like Hinter Smith at 54

The only thing we didn't get was a high-end D prospect.

[Monahan23]

I'm just a little pissed about no RHD, which is our biggest need and there were plenty.

But I'd give the draft a C. Bennett was great, MacDonald was okay but many people I'd rather have. Hopefully Smith becomes a Kyle Clifford or Dweight King but again I'd rather have Kase or Magyar at RW or other RHD. At 64Hickey is good but LH, we need righties (I know I'm sounding like a broken record). Bollig trade is meh. Prefer Thomas over him but. I like Mattsson and not sure about Carroll.

Worse than 2013, 2011. Around as good as 2012

[Wastedyouth]

What an absolute dud of a second day. I had high hopes Treliving was gonna be a decent GM. Turns out, he's more of a Burke pawn than I could ever imagine. Small comfort that the Oilers draft was even worse than the flames.

[Machiavelli]

Other than Bennett, I know nothing about any of the picks.

[Derek Sutton]

Would be very surprised if anyone other then Bennett makes the NHL. Not a slant at the picks but that is just reality. Especially with McDonald at 34, just a role of the dice there. It is so tough to evaluate goalies at 18 and even tougher for the goalies themselves to play their way all the way to the NHL.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Other than Bennett, I know nothing about any of the picks.

Because they just aren't very good.

[AC]

Oh good, the immediate review of players basically no one here have ever seen play.

Hell, look back at the 2009 draft we still don't know what Joni Ortio is at this point. The idea that we can critique a draft that is 15 minutes old is hilarious.

[SuperMatt18]

Would have liked one of the RH d-men, either McKeown or Glover, but I can live with it.

Love the Bennett pick, like the Smith and Mattsson picks, and was alright with the Bollig trade.

Switch Hickey for Glover and I think it would have been A+, don't know enough about Hickey to really know though.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by AC

Oh good, the immediate review of players basically no one here have ever seen play.

Hell, look back at the 2009 draft we still don't know what Joni Ortio is at this point. The idea that we can critique a draft that is 15 minutes old is hilarious.

Oh yes, we've chatted non-stop about these prospects for 6 months. May as well stop now that they're property of the Calgary Flames, right?

Not asking for anyone's rating of the players, just their verdicts on the selections.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Because they just aren't very good.

[Red John]

Too early for a verdict.

But at first glance, this draft is a home run just because of Sam Bennett. Getting the top forward and the top goaltender as well is amazing.

Jury is out on the later picks as always. Carroll was a bit puzzling when he could've been a camp invite but in a weak draft it's hard to fault any last round pick.

Onward and upward. Time to watch these kids develop.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Because they just aren't very good.

Opinions like these are really annoying. I can guarantee this idiot poster hasn't seen any of these not so good pick play.

[ComixZone]

4: C Sam Bennett
- I love this pick. I wanted him all season long, I believe he'll be the best forward in this draft.

34: G Mason McDonald
- It surprised me, but listening to the pundits talk about him in the last few days, we just took the best goalie in the draft and he's a late bloomer who's trajectory is going in the right direction. Love it.

54: RW Hunter Smith
- Just like Gaudreau was, Smith sounds like a big boom/bust pick, just on the opposite end of the size spectrum. I'm excited, and listening to his interview - he's a VERY dedicated kid. I'm happy with the pick.

64: D Brandon Hickey
- I like picking d-men in the mid-rounds. I know zilch about 'em, but he's a d-man.

83: traded for LW Brandon Bollig
- love this trade. Stanley Cup experience, known as a great locker room guy, makes us tougher to play against and has 3 years on his contract that goes straight through his prime years. He'll be a fan favourite.

175: D Adam Ollas Mattson
- kid seems big and is happy to be a Flame. I like this pick the same way I liked the Rafikov pick. Upside is there.

184: LW/RW Austin Carroll
- no idea.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Because they just aren't very good.

Just a brutal comment. But now I can bucket you in the irrational HF member, mom's basement dwelling grouping.

[AC]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Oh yes, we've chatted non-stop about these prospects for 6 months. May as well stop now that they're property of the Calgary Flames, right?

Not asking for anyone's rating of the players, just their verdicts on the selections.

Discussion regarding the players is one thing, but to try and render a verdict on the draft as a whole is just a silly concept.