Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

just realized that if the draft were today, the sabres would be heavy favourites to be picking #1 and #2.... Nice way to continue their rebuild by getting both Reinhart+Ekblad!

The Islanders pick is top 10 protected I thought.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Parallex

The Islanders pick is top 10 protected I thought.

It is. They can make it a 2015 pick, if they want to.

But do they want to give up a potential shot at McDavid? Who knows.

[Parallex]

In regards to the D-men brought up earlier... would rather avoid folk (especially blueliners) with skating issues. Redflag for me.

Glover sounds like someone I'd be interested in, Martin as well but I figure he'll be gone before any late 1st we may pick up or our own 2nd comes up.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by codynw

But do they want to give up a potential shot at McDavid? Who knows.

If the alternative is surrendering the #2 overall pick this year then yes absolutely. They're trying to contend (and making a muck of it because... you know... they're the Islanders and making a muck of it is what they do) I'd definetely take the bird in hand (High pick this year) if I were they and make a major push to do good next season.

Really the choice to surrender something that is definetly good to hedge against maybe losing something better seems like a bad bet to me considering where they see themselves in the competative cycle.

[stemit14]

I agree that they would do that to protect their pick this year if they finish where they are now... The better question is if they will protect it if they end up with the 5th/6th overall pick. That's a still a high pick but it's not a very deep draft and they might worry all they'll be getting this year is an asset that they already have lots of (grabner, Nielsen, strome, etc.).

They might choose to keep their 2015 pick if that's the case. I imagine every team in the league wants to keep their 2015 pick until they know they will make the playoffs next year because McDavid is being called a generational pick right now (as in Crosby, Lemiex, Gretzky). I wouldn't be surprised if they choose to give buffalo their 2014 pick if it is in the 5th/6th range.

At that point, buffalo could offer that 5th/6th overall pick + Tyler Myers (Maybe) to the oilers for the 2nd overall pick + 2nd round pick. An overpayment by buffalo for sure but a chance to pick 1st and 2nd overall doesn't come along very often.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by stemit14

At that point, buffalo could offer that 5th/6th overall pick + Tyler Myers (Maybe) to the oilers for the 2nd overall pick + 2nd round pick. An overpayment by buffalo for sure

By Buffalo? If anything that's an overpayment by the Oilers...

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Anyone else like Hayden Fluery from the Rebels? Very mobile, good size, offensive threat. He isn't afraid to be physical either!

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

Anyone else like Hayden Fluery from the Rebels? Very mobile, good size, offensive threat. He isn't afraid to be physical either!

I like him a lot actually, but I think he'll end up in that 10-15 range. I don't see any way we end up with a pick there.

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I like him a lot actually, but I think he'll end up in that 10-15 range. I don't see any way we end up with a pick there.

At the moment most of the rankings are putting him 8-10 (Future Considerations, McKeen's, Craig Button, ISS). Again, probably a little later than our pick will end up. However with him being the second best defenseman it wouldn't be surprising to see him picked earlier.

[Bring_Back_Oliwa]

Originally Posted by Spinach

Klimchuk, Elson, Gaudreau & Sven are indeed below 6', and adding some size is a good idea. Were not totally lacking in decent-sized wingers, though:


Ferland - 6'2
Poirier - 6'1
Hanowski - 6'2
Agostino - 6'1
Gordon - 6'1
Harrison - 6'3
Nemisz - 6'3 (albeit unlikely to make an impact)
Plus Jooris & Reinhart are 6'1, and may be destined for the wing.

I just hope Burke or the new GM draft for speed, skill and hockey sense in addition to size. Big is only one factor among several to consider.

Sorry I meant to say Prospects on the wing who have enough skill to play on the first two lines.

Apart from Poirier and maybe Ferland I just don't see any.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Oliwa

Sorry I meant to say Prospects on the wing who have enough skill to play on the first two lines.

Apart from Poirier and maybe Ferland I just don't see any.

Gordon has potential there I would say. Very underrated. Outside chance of Reinhart, though I would agree he is more fit for the 3rd line, though he is still developing - and could, given his IQ and decent hands.

[sureLoss]

Interesting stuff from the Director of Scouting for HockeyProspects on recent riser power forward Perlini

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...5&postcount=25

Was waiting for a Perlini comment I don't have much time this morning but I can tell you that I know two NHL teams who have him in the 2nd round. A few more have him around the same area we do. I also know two teams who ( as of about a month ago when I spoke to them) seemed high on him.

In general, NHL scouts I have spoken to have not been kind when speaking about him. One said this to me "He's a player who gets you fired."

Last June people ripped us when we ranked Shinkaruk at 24. If memory serves he was drafted 24th. We just watch the games and call em' as we see them. Shinkaruk didn't help himself at combine interviews.

Lots of hockey to play and Perlini could move up or down our rankings. We don't close the book on players in December. I'm actually seeing him Friday night. I will see him a lot in the 2nd half.

One thing I tried to do was watch him vs good Dmen. ( Ekblad is one example) Perlini was not effective at all.

[Trailer Fire]

I've been fairly invested in drafts in the past, especially since Feaster and Weisbrod took over. This year I can't seem to get excited for any of the prospects in this draft.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

I've been fairly invested in drafts in the past, especially since Feaster and Weisbrod took over. This year I can't seem to get excited for any of the prospects in this draft.

I usually don't start really getting into the draft until after the trade deadline. By then you know roughly what picks you'll have, and what range they'll probably land in. That year's prospects are usually easier to evaluate by that point as well.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

You'd have to think that if Buffalo got Ekblad they would have the largest D-core ever assembled by a large margin!

If they drafted Ekblad and the big guys panned out they could be looking at a d core that includes young players under 25:

Myers 6'8'' (23 years old, 12th overall)
Zadorov 6'5'' (18 years old, 16th overall)
Ekblad 6'4'' (17 years old, high pick soon)
Ristolainen 6'4'' (19 years old, 8th overall)
McNabb 6'4'' (22 years old, 66th overall)


But also upfront they could have:

Grigorenko 6'3'' (19 years old, 12th overall)
Armia 6'3'' (20 years old, 16th overall)
Bailey 6'3'' (18 years old, 52nd overall)
Foligno 6'3'' (22 years old, 104th overall)
Girgensons 6'2'' (19 years old, 14th overall)

They've been focusing on drafting size for a couple years now it would seem. I think all their first round picks outside of Ennis have been at least 6 foot in the last decade, and they only picked Ennis after drafting the giant in Myers. I think that's also why they are willing to take chances on Ennis, Gerbe, and Byron and in a way paid off when they got the smaller but more skilled Hodgson for Kassian because they could sacrifice some size in their youth.

[PeteMoss]

With the new size obsession everyone has... I wonder if Al MacInnis' son is on the radar (not sure whereabouts he is expected to be drafted). He's 6'4 (listed a centre) and having a reasonable rookie season in the OHL at 17.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/roster/show/id/14744

[Table 5]

Man, it's hard not to look at Buffalo right now and not be jealous. It's obviously not showing in the standings yet, but that team is quietly being build into a really solid team.

[Ashasx]

They really don't have much in the pipeline in terms of forwards. Reinhart will help that, though.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

They really don't have much in the pipeline in terms of forwards. Reinhart will help that, though.

They'll bolster that need with this years pick, and next year they will probably be pretty terrible too just when there's another great crop to pick from. Add the Isles pick in there, which chances are will be fairly good, and they are in a pretty good position. That is if the next GM can continue what Regier has been building.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

They really don't have much in the pipeline in terms of forwards. Reinhart will help that, though.

They actually have a pretty solid and I would say underrated young group of forwards though if you look at the younger players (23 and under) currently on the team and coming up:

Cody Hodgson
Tyler Ennis
Zemgus Girgensons
Mikhail Grigorenko
Marcus Foligno
Joel Armia
JT Compher
Nick Baptiste
Johan Larsson
Connor Hurley
Justin Bailey

Not as deep or talented as their D group but they also have quite a few picks stacked up in the next couple of drafts which should set them up nicely.