I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about Blake Clarke? Pretty big, power forward type player, he had an awesome rookie season in junior, but this past year he had 12pts in 54 games.
Once was projected to go 1st round, now he's ranked 134. I see that he was invited to the combine, so I suppose there is interest. I wouldn't mind if he falls and the Flames could pick him up somehow.
You are pretty much arguing against the reason drafts exist in professional sports. They are there to ensure the fair distribution of new talent to all teams. It is not about which team a prospect wants to go to or is willing to do stuff for.
Anyways the NHL has always maintained that independent testing by NHL teams was against the rules. The fine was insignificant and it was mostly overlooked when teams invited small groups of players until Buffalo basically re-did the whole combine after the NHL held theirs.
edit:
Just to be clear, I am not against other teams going for an extra edge when it comes to drafting. What it comes down to for me is that physical testing behind closed doors provides only a few teams with potentially advantageous information because a prospect can only be physically tested a limited number of times. An edge becomes an unfair advantage, unless every team has the opportunity to gain the same "edge". If every team has an opportunity to get that edge but for whatever reason doesn't pursue it, then that is their own fault.
The other thing these rules avoid is the situation they have in the NBA, where players will decline invites to the combine but do individual workouts for teams they are interested in, essentially doing their best to dissuade teams from drafting them
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I don't have a problem with that if they (or anyone else) want to try and get an information edge they should be able to do that. I mean are they going to tell teams "no scouting departments allowed... that's what CSS is for"? I don't see how this is all that different, there's a universal resource available which is supplimented by individual resources.
But they don't have to. If they don't want to go they can just say "no", it's up to teams to convince them to travel (or alternatively travel themselves) and undergo more testing and if they can't do that then sucks to be them.
I think the big issue is that it's not fair to teams that aren't in major hockey centres that don't have a lot of draft-eligible prospects spending their summers at home there.
Buffalo was able to do it because of their proximity to the GTA. I'm sure the vast majority of the 100 players they brought in to test were with-in driving distance and the Sabres just covered their gas money. The Flames did the same thing bringing in lots of Alberta born prospects before too.
Now take the California teams - to test those same 100 guys they're paying hundreds of dollars per flight just to get the same testing done. It's an unfair advantage that the NHL has taken care of. You can still bring the guys in, but only to interview them in which case you likely only bring in the guys you're serious about and not simply anyone who lives in driving distance.
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As of Thursday, Reinhart says he’s been through roughly 12 team interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine, including one with the Edmonton Oilers. In fact the Oilers were the first team to meet with Reinhart in Toronto this week. The Oilers hold the third overall pick in the draft.
“It went well. It was a good learning experience in that first meeting. I thought I handled myself well and it was a good time in there.”
The combine presents Reinhart with an opportunity to show a little bit of what makes him a cerebral player but teams will also get a good look at him as a person.
“A lot of it is just based on getting to know someone. Certain teams do challenge you to see how you react but it’s not all about hockey. I think (the meetings) have gone well for the most part.”
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Didn't know where to put this.
Unsigned and undrafted Medicine Hat Tigers Center, Curtis Valk, has accepted an invitation to Canucks rookie camp. This is per Kelly Hrudy (his uncle).
Put up 92 points in 72 games this year. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123038
The draft used to be so simple: Edmonton would pick first and the Oilers would select a high-scoring forward. But orthodoxy was thrown into flux this year when the Florida Panthers managed to snag the top selection and with GM Dale Tallon entertaining trade offers in a year with no dominant prospect available, things are getting hairy.
OK, so I’m having a bit of fun here. But seriously, no one knows what’s going on. Teams are interviewing more players than usual because they’re not sure who will be available when their slot comes up. Kingston’s Sam Bennett, who has a pretty good chance of going first overall – and no lower than third – had 18 teams scheduled to interview him.
Now, to be fair, teams have kicked the tires on top prospects in the past. The New York Islanders, for example, interviewed Seth Jones last year, even though the franchise was picking 15th overall (they took fellow blueliner Ryan Pulock instead). But there is really a sense that anything could happen when the picks begin to come off the board in Philadelphia next month.
Oshawa Generals star Michael Dal Colle is another great example. The high-scoring left winger looks like a top-five pick, but still had 23 teams request meetings with him during the combine. He finds the whole unpredictable situation exciting.
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Brandon Wheat Kings @bdnwheatkings 4m
Veteran forward @JayceHawryluk sat down with @mikemorrealeNHL in between one of his 19 interviews w/ NHL clubs http://bit.ly/1oCt3YJ #bdnmb
first and foremost its all about what you have seen on the ice, the combine is just another tool
"we aren't looking for a son-in-law we are looking for hockey players" (re: on whether a great interview could influence the Flames decision)
one prospect gave Burkie a little shot (about Burke's tie) during an interview, and Burke gave one right back
Flames have 63 interviews
fitness red flags haven't come up. Guys Conroy had questions about their fitness levels look to be in really good shape. (perhaps a nod to Nick Ritchie?)
no one has really hurt themselves in terms of draft stock yet
multiple physical testing is not fair to the kids
Flames draft list is close to being set, however there will be some minor tweaks up to the draft. For example if they have 3 guys pretty similar at 10 on their list they may swap their order
really 4 or 5 guys that could go #1
very happy at whoever they get at 4. Thinks there are 4 guys in the upper echelon and they will get one of them. We don't know who though.
does think there is going to be a lot of movement at the draft (i.e. trades)
Treliving knows these players just as well as anyone sitting in the room
Brad listens to the scouts and takes it all in then shares what he thinks of a player
Brad has a guy that he wants at #4 and it is not the same guy Conroy wants
Conroy does like Brad's guy too, and would be ecstatic if they got either
Burke is pretty much just observing the interviews, will ask a few questions. After interview is done shares his thoughts.
Burke makes the kids nervous just sitting there
Conroy says that his guy and Treliving's guy don't have the same first name but then says he wouldn't tell Boomer if they did.
Last edited by sureLoss; 05-30-2014 at 09:52 AM.
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first and foremost its all about what you have seen on the ice, the combine is just another tool
"we aren't looking for a son-in-law we are looking for hockey players" (re: on whether a great interview could influence the Flames decision)
one prospect gave Burkie a little shot (about Burke's tie) during an interview, and Burke gave one right back
Flames have 63 interviews
fitness red flags haven't come up. Guys Conroy had questions about their fitness levels look to be in really good shape. (perhaps a nod to Nick Ritchie?)
no one has really hurt themselves in terms of draft stock yet
Wonder who would have the balls to bug Burke about the tie thing.
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