We know that's a given. My post was more a dig on the people who insist that BPA is always the right choice.
BPA is the right choice IMO. But it means different things to different people. For the Oilers the best player available was the most skilled player. Not every team or scout agrees with that. For many the best player available is a blend of skill, skating, size/strength, hockey sense and character. The Oilers appeared at times to overemphasize skill/skating and underemphasize size/strength, hockey sense and character. This isn't the same for every team. Teams do not agree on who the BPA is. In Yakupov's year the Oilers scouts apparently actually liked Murray more. Apparently some people liked Reinhart best. TOR had Rielly as the best player available. CGY had Galchenyuk as the BPA. There is no consensus on BPA. That doesn't make it an incorrect concept to apply.
IMO BPA is the right choice. EDM just doesn't always know how to judge the BPA properly it would appear. Or they don't have the strength of conviction to take that player in the face of dissenting opinion.
Last edited by Flames Draft Watcher; 03-31-2014 at 08:06 PM.
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I am leaning towards Reinhardt as number 1 after that dominant display in the first round against a very good team. Let's see what happens in round 2.
Ekblad and Bennett round out the top three for me in that order.
I think Dal Colle would be number 4 if he was a centre and I do think he is the better player. I think 8/10 teams would take Draitsaitl just because he is very close to Dal Colle and plays a much more valuable position. Teams win cups that have goaltending, d and are strong down the middle. Wingers are the easiest and least important piece too add.
Oh and just to add because I took some heat for criticizing Ritchie in the thread, he looked great last night, still in that next tier of 6-9 with Ehlers, Perlini etc for me but definitely not hurting his stock with games like that.
That's where I see it. Doug Gilmour JR. Plays for his hero, models his game after his hero. Wears the same number as his hero. Bennett needs to be a Flame just like his hero was.
Is this true (the hero part)? He would have been 6-7 when he retired.
I hope you guys don't have your hearts set on them. At this stage, chances aren't great that any of them will be around when we draft.
Draisaitl will then, and I'll be just as happy. If you're thinking about fifth. Then that changes the scenery a bit. Not sold on Dal Colle personally, I'd look at Perlini or Kapanen.
I hope you guys don't have your hearts set on them. At this stage, chances aren't great that any of them will be around when we draft.
It always fun to dream... However, I would expect one of these three to fall to the 4th pick though. The Islanders are actually starting to play decent, so I am hoping we can slot into that 4th spot. Really wondering if Edmonton could possibly drop to the third pick since they are only a point behind Florida. Edmonton surprisingly beat Anaheim, so it's possible they can get a couple more wins. Both Florida and Edmonton are still just plain awful. I think it starts to look like:
Buffalo - Reinhart
Edmonton/Florida - Ekblad/Draisaitl (if Florida takes Ekblad, Edmonton picks Draisaitl)
New York Isles/Calgary - Bennett/Dal Colle.
I choose to believe the hockey gods will finally cut the flames a break... Iggy will win the cup and the flames will win the draft lottery. I hope they draft Reinhart if they do but I'll understand if Eckblad is picked. The flames could use both.
I saw what Reinhart did in the series against the hitmen this week and it's certainly made me a believer. Wow
I went with Ekblad at #1. Not because I'd pick him first (Reinhart), but because I think he's most likely to go first. I truly believe Buffalo will draft Ekblad and trade Myers.
I went with Ekblad at #1. Not because I'd pick him first (Reinhart), but because I think he's most likely to go first. I truly believe Buffalo will draft Ekblad and trade Myers.
