FC's 2014 NHL Draft Thread

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

IIf going by tonight's standing, and if Buffalo wins the lottery, the Flames will draft fourth.

I'd like the Flames to draft Ekblad, but excluding him, is there much of a difference between Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart, and Michael Dal Colle, Nylander?

Dal Colle and Nylander maybe out of the top four, but the others seem close from what I've read.

From all I've read/seen I agree with Redline's assessment at this point. There's a grouping at the top of 4 players (Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl) followed by a secondary tier consistening of Dal Colle and then a dropoff after that.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

From all I've read/seen I agree with Redline's assessment at this point. There's a grouping at the top of 4 players (Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl) followed by a secondary tier consistening of Dal Colle and then a dropoff after that.

I'd rather not take Dal Colle either but maybe his drop from the top 4 is more the position he plays rather than a drop in talent.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'd rather not take Dal Colle

Why's that? He looks pretty darn good to me.

[Caged Great]

We could do a lot worse than Dal Colle if that's who's up when we pick.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Why's that? He looks pretty darn good to me.

I'd rather take a centre or a defenceman.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'd rather take a centre or a defenceman.

Best player available IMO. Burke has said there's only one defenseman in our top 10 so it's Ekblad or bust there. And frankly we are much deeper at centre (Backlund, Monahan, Granlund, Jankowski, Arnold, Knight) than we are in big, strong, skilled top two line wingers. Outside of Poirier we have none and I'm not sure he'll end up as big as Dal Colle/Ritchie.

Not sure why some are hard up for centres. We're so deep in them that we're moving them to the wing (Reinhart, Colborne.) Big wingers seem clearly a much bigger need than centres. We have Colborne and Poirier for potential scoring line wingers and then a wealth of checking line wingers.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I agree with your take on Poirier - I think he is an EXCELLENT prospect, and I am betting he will be an impact forward in the top 6. However, he is the only one of that nature in the Flames' top 6.

There is literally no other prospect that has 'nastiness' to their game. I LOVE Ferland, but he likely has a 3rd line ceiling (and really, that may end up being a bit generous - though I absolutely love his game).

Every other forward that has top-6 projection is either small and skilled, or skilled/semi-skilled and large, but not physical. Poirier is the ONLY one I can think of that is.

I still think that this draft you go for one of the guys in the top 4 - Ekblad the defencemen (and that Flames could definitely use a few high-end defensive prospects for sure) or one of the 3 centers in Reinhart, Bennett and Draisaitl.

Drop out of the top 4, and I think the choice is a tough one between what I consider close to the BPA at that slot, and Flames' need.

Do you go for Dal Colle who has size (and though lanky, he should end up filling out nicely) with a lot of skill, but perhaps will never play anything like a power-game? Or do you draft Ritchie, who may not have quite that skill-level that Dal Colle has, but still a high-skill level, and already plays a very good power-forward game complete with a bit of nastiness?

It is a tough choice for me. Ritchie may end up being a huge impact player in his career with that entire package, but there are definitely warts and risk with him as well.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Best player available IMO. Burke has said there's only one defenseman in our top 10 so it's Ekblad or bust there. And frankly we are much deeper at centre (Backlund, Monahan, Granlund, Jankowski, Arnold, Knight) than we are in big, strong, skilled top two line wingers. Outside of Poirier we have none and I'm not sure he'll end up as big as Dal Colle/Ritchie.

Not sure why some are hard up for centres. We're so deep in them that we're moving them to the wing (Reinhart, Colborne.) Big wingers seem clearly a much bigger need than centres. We have Colborne and Poirier for potential scoring line wingers and then a wealth of checking line wingers.

yeah, I'm not going to not take Dal Colle just because he isn't a centre but I'd prefer one of the three centres. Colborne is an example of a centre being able to move over if needed, more flexibility. Sam Reinhart can play RW as well.

I guess I have my prejudices. Usually the best forwards play centre and often the best all around players play defence. Ask a defenceman to play forward and he'll think it's a demotion.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Best player available IMO. Burke has said there's only one defenseman in our top 10 so it's Ekblad or bust there. And frankly we are much deeper at centre (Backlund, Monahan, Granlund, Jankowski, Arnold, Knight) than we are in big, strong, skilled top two line wingers. Outside of Poirier we have none and I'm not sure he'll end up as big as Dal Colle/Ritchie.

Not sure why some are hard up for centres. We're so deep in them that we're moving them to the wing (Reinhart, Colborne.) Big wingers seem clearly a much bigger need than centres. We have Colborne and Poirier for potential scoring line wingers and then a wealth of checking line wingers.

We're deep with lower line centers, not high end centers. You get the high end centers by taking them in the draft. I'd gladly see a Backlund moved to the wing if it's because we have more talented players pushing him down the depth chart.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

yeah, I'm not going to not take Dal Colle just because he isn't a centre but I'd prefer one of the three centres. Colborne is an example of a centre being able to move over if needed, more flexibility. Sam Reinhart can play RW as well.

Reinhart is the best fit for us, no doubt. Problem is, barring a miracle, we aren't going to get a chance to pick him. He has the right mix of size, speed, skill and, most importantly, smarts. RH shot is a bonus. I think he goes 1st overall.

Regarding Ekblad, I have no reservations in picking a defenceman early. Sure, they seem to take a long time to develop and are often traded before they develop fully, but each player is a different story. He could be a Doughty or he could be a Johnson. He could be a Pronger or he could be a Larsson. It doesn't matter, because he has all the traits of a HUGE 1st pairing D, which we haven't had in a long time.

I'm warming to the idea of taking Draisaitl, but still have reservations about his foot speed. Size & vision are his best traits. I wouldn't be too upset to pick him around 4th overall, if none of the big 3 drop.

Where we pick, probably at 4th, means the decision will be made for Burke and co. If teams are as high on Draisaitl as rumours would have you believe then he could bump one of Reinhart, Ekblad or Bennett into our laps. If not, we just pick Draisaitl or Dal Colle. Seems pretty clear-cut to me.

Purely based on BPA I would pick Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Draisaitl in that order. Based on organisational need I think I pick in exactly the same order.

[ForeverFlameFan]

If we win the lottery, Ekblad has to be the first choice. Really hard to get NHL ready defenseman like that, and if we draft him I could see him paired with Brodie in the future when Gio is a bit older.

[Commandant]

# 3 on the list is Sam Bennett of Kingston.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...3-sam-bennett/

[Commandant]

#4 on my list is Michael Dal Colle
http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...ael-dal-colle/

[Commandant]

#5 on my list is Leon Draisaitl
http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...eon-draisaitl/

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Why's that? He looks pretty darn good to me.

Agreed.

Honestly the only thing keeping Dal Colle out of that first group for me, is the fact he doesn't play center. If he played down the middle like Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, I'd put him in that first tier.

[Commandant]

#6 for me is Nick Ritchie of the Peterborough Petes.
http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...-nick-ritchie/

[Commandant]

#7 on the list is William Nylander
http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...liam-nylander/

[AC]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Agreed.

Honestly the only thing keeping Dal Colle out of that first group for me, is the fact he doesn't play center. If he played down the middle like Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, I'd put him in that first tier.

I've seen him listed as LW/C, anybody know how much experience he has as a centre?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by AC

I've seen him listed as LW/C, anybody know how much experience he has as a centre?

Not 100% sure, sounds like not much lately.

Based on how many centres end up moving to the wing and how often W/C end up as wingers at the NHL level I think it's safe to assume he projects more as a LW.

[Commandant]

#8 on the list is the first QMJHL Player, Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/...ikolaj-ehlers/