Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by ah123

I believe Sam Cosantino (sp?) mentioned on the morning show last week that some scouts (teams?) have Ritchie ranked as their #1

I don't believe that for 1 second.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

After looking at his twitter timeline, it looks like he is saying that the comparison between Ekblad and Schenn is that they dominated junior because of their physical strength and that strength is covering up major holes.

Also looks like he is arguing that Ekblad might have peaked and has very little room to grow and improve his game.

This sounds a bit ridiculous. How could he have already "peaked" at 17/18?

Any and every player at that age has room to grow/improve and take it to another level. And if you look at his stats, there is a vast improvement even from last season to this season, that shows that he's currently on an incline and getting better, not topping out.

The one player in the top class I'd say appeared better because of their physicality/stature is Ritchie, but I wouldn't even deny that he has room to grow too and find another gear in his game.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I don't believe that for 1 second.

Agreed. This is just getting silly at this point.

[Ashasx]

I'm sure some scouts have him at 1, but I can't imagine any teams having him at 1.

People are infatuated by size.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Bennett over Dr Drai any day.

That's such a better nickname than the Deutschland Dangler...

[albertGQ]

Recently in an interview (I think last night on TSN), during the 1993 draft, Burke said he purposedly left fake Whalers draft rankings lying around the hotel in hopes that other teams would find them. They had Pronger ranked very high (possibly even ahead of Daigle) & didn't want other teams to know how much they coveted him

So I can see Burke using the media to throw off other teams this year.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Recently in an interview (I think last night on TSN), during the 1993 draft, Burke said he purposedly left fake Whalers draft rankings lying around the hotel in hopes that other teams would find them. They had Pronger ranked very high (possibly even ahead of Daigle) & didn't want other teams to know how much they coveted him

So I can see Burke using the media to throw off other teams this year.

Yeah, of course but at the same time he's putting some of us fans through the ringer as well. I expect us to end up making the logical choice in draft as we did last year.

[codynw]

I just want the draft to be over. This anticipation is killing me.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Women are infatuated by size.

fyp

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ah123

I believe Sam Cosantino (sp?) mentioned on the morning show last week that some scouts (teams?) have Ritchie ranked as their #1, so for example, if the Islanders have him ranked as their #1, would they be willing to flip with Calgary and include an small incentive?

I know this is total hearsay but a friend of mine told me that several people he's talked to in the industry have Ritchie a lot higher on their lists then these independant scouting services. He thinks Ritchie is top 3 on several people's scouting lists.

The draft always surprises. And what appears to be the consensus of the independant scouting services doesn't always mirror the consensus of the NHL teams. This is why we usually get some real shockers.

Ritchie could be more of a consensus top 5 guy than it appears. I think Burke and Treliving probably have a better idea about it then we do. He could go top 4 because he is such a rare type of player and because the top 5-6 are so close. You see a lot of quotes that he could be the best player in the draft when all is said and done because his combo of size, strength, skill and skating means the sky is the limit for him. All it takes is one team to take a chance because they want that combo.

Should be interesting. Like Burke has been saying all year, the top 5-6 could be in a different order for almost every team. Some teams probably have Ekblad #1, some Bennett, some Reinhart, some maybe even Draisaitl, and Ritchie could be even be #1 for a team. It's wide open.

[sureLoss]

The curious case of Josh Ho-Sang:
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/24...joshua-ho-sang

According to sources, numerous NHL teams have Ho-Sang on their Do Not Draft List.

And only 18 of 30 teams chose to interview him at the recent NHL Combine — and many came away stunned and disappointed.

Three years ago, on a gifted Marlies GTHL team, the only difference between Ho-Sang and Connor McDavid was — Ho-Sang was the more electric player. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.

Now McDavid is considered a certainty to go first in the draft next year, as a generational player. And the hockey world is confounded by who Ho-Sang is and what he is all about.

I asked a chief scout with a late pick in the first round whether he would select Ho-Sang if he was available, and without hesitating, he answered no.

When I asked why, he said there are certain criteria his organization values, “and if I picked him, my scouts would all revolt. He doesn’t fit what we’re looking for.”

“What you have to understand with Josh is, the hockey world won’t conform to him, he’ll have to conform to the hockey world,” said Jimmy Hughes, the Leafs’ director of player development, who has been watching Ho-Sang play “since he was a bantam.”

“I had a heart-to-heart conversation with him. I told him he has to start utilizing his abilities, maximizing his abilities, sharing the puck more, relying on teammates more. He’s a special kid, a talented kid with god-given abilities.

“But sometimes he gets in his own way. I challenged him — where is your game going? Is it trending up? Or is it trending sideways?”

The Leafs pick eighth in the draft. When asked where Ho-Sang will be picked, Hughes said “he could go from 10 to 20 and he could go from 30 to 40 — I really don’t know what other teams are thinking.’

“The Leafs have said they want to move up to pick first,” Ho-Sang said.

“Well, they can stay at eight and still get the No. 1 pick.”

He was referring to himself.
.

[kehatch]

I did a review of the drafts from 1999 through 2008 (10-years). I ranked players using the following criteria:

• Elite: Top end player like Kane, Crosby, or Toews
• Top: A player that will play top 4D, is a starting goalie, or would be a top 6F on a playoff team
• Support: An NHL player that doesn't meet the above criteria
• Bust: A player that didn't have a meaningful NHL career.

This is what I found:



Notes:

• There isn't a drop off in success between players selected fourth overall and fifth overall (in fact, the number goes up. Possibly because teams aren't so stuck on taking the "safe" pick)
• Only 10% of players ended up as elite players (Backstrom in 2006)
• This draft is notable for a lack of dynamic talent. This has been noted by NHL heavy weights like Bob MacKenzie.

So my points are this:

• Why not draft Ritchie? He fills more needs than any other player than Ekblad and he potentially has a higher ceiling (potentially) than any other prospect in range.
• Don't be scared to trade the pick if its going to get you a top NHL talent in the right age demographic.
• Stop expecting prospects like Baertschi, Monahan, and whomever we draft to be elite players. Especially out of the gate. They are rare outside of the top 2 picks.
• Stop talking about trading Giordano for another top 10 pick. Especially in this draft. Chances are the drafted player isn't going to be anywhere near as good as Giordano is.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The curious case of Josh Ho-Sang:
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/24...joshua-ho-sang

I like the kid. I think what the NHL takes as character issue would be totally find in the NBA, NFL, CFL, etc. The one man show dangling act concerns me a bit, but he is a teenager. There is a good chance he grows out of that at which point you have a steal of a player.

I wouldn't take him at 4. But I would at 34.

[FCAV]

I'm heading out to Philly in the AM tomorrow, so this might be my last chance on the boards before Draft Day.

I'll take the opportunity to offer up one final plug and remind those that haven't that there is a CP Discout on Future Considerations' 2014 NHL Draft Guide. I'm blown away at the number of CPers who have picked this up, so feel free to join the crew. Details of the CP Discount and where to order can be found here:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=136993

Thanks for playing along, guys. I'm sure Friday and Saturday will be memorable, for sure.

[FlameZilla]

If Ho-Sang was still on the board at 34 would you pick him? Surely humility comes with age, right?

[ah123]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

If Ho-Sang was still on the board at 34 would you pick him? Surely humility comes with age, right?

Don't know anything about him, but reading the article, Robbie Schremp (attitude wise)came to mind...so I think the Flames should stay away

[shutout]

The question is if the Redline mock were to happen, and the Flames preferred Ritchie to Reinhart based on size and skating ability over smarts. Would the Flames look at the sort of packages that the Canucks have been throwing at Florida to drop down two spots and pick 6th?

Canucks get Reinhart for less than they were/are looking to pay in a trade with the Panthers. Flames still get to take the big hulking power forward. Flames also get to add another asset or two to their grab bag.

[sureLoss]

It is really hard to tell with Ho-Sang.

Obviously his personality/character is rubbing NHL teams/Hockey Canada the wrong way.

Based on skill alone he should be a top 10 pick in this draft.

This is looking more and more like a Kiril Kabanov 2.0.

I also am not sure what to think when he says the color of his skin is a factor. Part of me wants to say that can't possibly true in this day and age and he is just using it as a convenient excuse. The other part of me recognizes, that I haven't actually walked in his shoes, so what do I know.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by shutout

The question is if the Redline mock were to happen, and the Flames preferred Ritchie to Reinhart based on size and skating ability over smarts. Would the Flames look at the sort of packages that the Canucks have been throwing at Florida to drop down two spots and pick 6th?

Canucks get Reinhart for less than they were/are looking to pay in a trade with the Panthers. Flames still get to take the big hulking power forward. Flames also get to add another asset or two to their grab bag.

The problem is you would have to be certain that the Islanders (or whoever they trade the pick to) isn't going to pick Ritchie. Or that you like another player (like Dal Colle) more or as much as Reinhart. Otherwise you end up losing both Reinhart and Ritchie.

If they like Ritchie enough to pick him at fourth then they should probably just pick him at fourth.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Recently in an interview (I think last night on TSN), during the 1993 draft, Burke said he purposedly left fake Whalers draft rankings lying around the hotel in hopes that other teams would find them. They had Pronger ranked very high (possibly even ahead of Daigle) & didn't want other teams to know how much they coveted him

So I can see Burke using the media to throw off other teams this year.

In the countdown to the draft thread, there is an interview with Burke where he mentioned that everybody purposely lies around the draft. It really is hard to believe anything that is said around the draft.