With the 2014 4th overall selection, the Calgary Flames are proud to select...

[bubbsy]

all i can say without knowing enough about any prospect is that i'm frigin glad the flames are in the top4 this draft, we will get one of ekblad/reinhart/bennet/draisatl. I'm almost glad that we pick 4th so that we don't have to live with the regret years from now (unless there are gems past these guys that end up better of course). flames basically get to sit and wait to see who's left.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by fleury

Let's assume it isn't a lock that it's a big 4 draft, and one of the top 4 guys drops past the 4th pick. Do you think we could get the 4th and 5th pick by doing to following swap with the Islanders?

To CGY: 5th overall, Hickey
To NYI: Backlund, 2015 1st Rounder, Glencross

Take out the 2015 1st, and put Hudler in it's place, I would do it. It would be a total overpayment, but the opportunity to get two of Reinhart Bennett Draisaitl and Dal Colle would be worth it. Plus it wouldn't hurt our chances at McDavid next year

[bubbsy]

Sounds like hurdler my be the second best leader on the team and a guy that rookies flock to. He plays an important role in the team's development chain, so I am happy to keep him. Not to mention he is the team's best play maker at ES or PP.

Don't see any point moving him. I think progress is vital, even thru a rebuild. Volunteering key cogs out of town (different than losing cogs to Ufa) can hurt a young team.

I know nothing of prospects, but out of last year thru to next year, this seems like the worst year to trade assets for multiple top picks. It seems like this years class is just a level lower from having high probability franchise player potential.

I would love to see how experts would rank the top 5 of last year, this year and next years drafts up against each other. This years draft would be hard pressed to present itself in the top 7-8 in my opinion (mackinnon, mcdavid, barkov, jones, droin, eichal....).

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Take out the 2015 1st, and put Hudler in it's place, I would do it. It would be a total overpayment, but the opportunity to get two of Reinhart Bennett Draisaitl and Dal Colle would be worth it. Plus it wouldn't hurt our chances at McDavid next year

Glue is a bad way to get high

Oh and speaking of glue, some people might think I'm sniffing it but I think Eichel will be better than McDavid.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by T@T

Glue is a bad way to get high

Oh and speaking of glue, some people might think I'm sniffing it but I think Eichel will be better than McDavid.

Fair to assume both will be better than the top 4 of this draft?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Fair to assume both will be better than the top 4 of this draft?

Yep, I think both will be "close" to generation type players, not the Crosby type but like a Toews/Tavares type player. To me Bennett is the closest to this in 2014 but he's not quite there either.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by T@T

Glue is a bad way to get high

Oh and speaking of glue, some people might think I'm sniffing it but I think Eichel will be better than McDavid.

I did say it was an overpayment. I doubt an offer of that substance would ever be offered.

However, it's not entirely crazy. We have too many forwards both in the prospect base and on the Flames. Nearly 8 million dollars would also be leaving the Flames, we'd need to add something else to replace that so we'd likely be replacing Hudler with another top end forward because of the floor.

Additonally, we would be freeing up a pair of forward spots on the team that we could use for something. Either #4 or #5, Baertschi, Gaudreau, Poirier, or Granlund could get spots, where they might not otherwise.

The top 5 players are in the same ballpark potential wise as Monahan give or take a bit, so it's not like we'd be getting a mediocre player in return. You would be trading a good 2nd liner + a pair of tweener 2nd/3rd liners for a potential top end 1st line player. It's definitely a quantity for quality type trade.

[Caged Great]

McDavid and Eichel are close to the 04 draft with Ovy + Malkin. This year is like last year, after #4.

[Lanny_McDonald]

This year's draft is a little strange. No consensus top dog. No real guaranteed first line talent. Four guys that are at the Sean Monahan level, which was a step below the best available talent of other drafts. A Sean Monahan is nothing to sneeze at, but it is also not what you would expect to get with the number one pick; you expect something bigger and better. I think we'll be happy with the player we get, but down the road, a little disappointed he didn't turn into that big elite talent we need.

[GreenLantern]

nm

[OBCT]

Ekblad

[AC]

I'm starting to think we'll get Reinhart out of the this draft.

I'd be thrilled with either Sam, and would probably come to love taking Draisaitl if that's who was left as well.

But it'd be pretty awesome to reunite Sam and Max Reinhart in the organization.

[timbit]

More I watch Kopitar, really hope we get a chance at a big Center like Draisaitl.

[Hockey_Ninja]

This is one of the wonkiest drafts i'v seen. Can't remember the last time where 4 of the top 5 rated picks where all at one time considered to be drafted first.

[AC]

Originally Posted by timbit

More I watch Kopitar, really hope we get a chance at a big Center like Draisaitl.

Yeah, this is why I don't think I'd be too disappointed if both Sams were gone by the time we draft.

It's also the reason I'm apprehensive about all the talk of Edmonton preferring Draisaitl. I think he might be a great pick for them.

[djsFlames]

I think it'll come down to Reinhart or Draisaitl for the Flames. Bennett would be nice, but I have my doubts that he'll be there to take.
Two possible orders I see that are most likely:

Ekblad, Bennett, Draisaitl, Reinhart
Reinhart/Bennett (in whatever order), Ekblad, Draisaitl

Just have a hunch that Bennett is who Buffalo is targeting. Also I think the Oilers would only pick Ekblad over Draisatl.

I think there's a small chance Draisaitl could become the closest thing to Joe Thornton since he stepped in to the league. Maybe a Joe lite. Not 65+ assists in his prime, but maybe 20+50 sort when he reaches his peak.

[Monahan23]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I think it'll come down to Reinhart or Draisaitl for the Flames. Bennett would be nice, but I have my doubts that he'll be there to take.
Two possible orders I see that are most likely:

Ekblad, Bennett, Draisaitl, Reinhart
Reinhart/Bennett (in whatever order), Ekblad, Draisaitl

Just have a hunch that Bennett is who Buffalo is targeting. Also I think the Oilers would only pick Ekblad over Draisatl.

I think there's a small chance Draisaitl could become the closest thing to Joe Thornton since he stepped in to the league. Maybe a Joe lite. Not 65+ assists in his prime, but maybe 20+50 sort when he reaches his peak.

That's who Haydn Fleury compared him to. The four will all be special players.

Style comparisons to me are

Ekblad ---> Ryan Suter
Reinhart ----> RNH
Bennett ---> Doug Gilmour
Draisaitl ---> Joe Thornton/Anze Kopitar

Any one of these four could be looked back on as the best player in the draft

[djsFlames]

I get the comparisons of Reinhart to RNH, eerily similar stats in junior and strengths on scouting reports, but Reinhart is already heavier at 18 than RNH at 21 and I just think will be the superior player. RNH has never really wowed me as a spectator. What I've seen from Reinhart skill wise has at times blown me away.

Of the kids in Edmonton, aside from Yakupov of course, RNH may be the most underwhelming to me.

[TheDebaser]

RNH still has "untapped" (Read spoiled) potential, what's Reinhart's top end potential?

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think the draft can go down like this:

Ekblad - Reinhart - Bennett - Draisaitl

Ekblad - Bennett - Draisaitl - Reinhart

(If Florida picks a forward):

Bennett - Ekblad (CGY/BUF trade) - Draisaitl - Reinhart (BUF/CGY trade)


Overall, I am happy with either of the top 4... Still have to wait a month.