[News] Flames fly in top prospects for private vists

[SebC]

If we take a player with less than 1.5 points per game, he better be Ekblad.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by SebC

If we take a player with less than 1.5 points per game, he better be Ekblad.

I'd be surprised if we took a player outside the big 4.

[heep223]

If they want Ritchie so bad I'd expect them to trade up to acquire another 1st rounder to get him. If they take him at #4 if one of the Sams or Draisaitl is still there (or obvs Ekblad but he won't be) I would not be happy. IMO.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think my potentially irrational fear of Hugh Jessiman is what drops Ritchie so low for me.

What makes you compare those two?

Ritchie had more goals than Bennett, Reinhart and Draisaitl and the same as Dal Colle. He's an elite goal scorer with size and the most physical of the top end prospects in this draft. Other than the supposed inconsistency issues he sounds like the total package for a winger and fits our need for big, strong, physical players.

I still think we'll end up with a Sam but Ritchie is one of my favourites in this draft and the guy I would've been hoping for if we hadn't lucked out and finished 4th.

[thethumwood]

Originally Posted by SebC

If we take a player with less than 1.5 points per game, he better be Ekblad.

Just so you know... Monahan was a low 1.34 points per game in his draft year... Ritchie is 1.21 ppg. Both players played on poor teams. Ritchie has size, skill, grit, and a hell of a shot. Many scouts believe he could turn out to be the best player in the draft. Whether I would take him at 4 over one of the sams or Draisaitl? I'm not sure. But I would not lose my mind if they did make that pick. I might be a little surprised, but if they think that is the best player available who has huge potential, I could live with that.

I mean it's not like they are going to pick Thatcher Demko there right? ...

[Rick M.]

Another possibility of the Flames mentioning their regard for Ritchie and ignoring Dal Colle is that they are actually leaning toward the latter and not broadcasting it to other teams.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Another possibility of the Flames mentioning their regard for Ritchie and ignoring Dal Colle is that they are actually leaning toward the latter and not broadcasting it to other teams.

Didn't someone say Treliving offered "not in my top 5" the other day? I think there is some attempt at smoke and mirrors with this thing, likely something to do with teams trading picks, Florida attempting to trade down to take a certain player (Nylander) but not knowing how low they need to go.

Guessing they have a view on someone trading up to take Ritchie with the 4 pick ... and if it's the Islanders and the Flames took Draisaitl or Bennett anyway at 5 for the add on of another 2nd round pick I wouldn't be crushed.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I'm sorry if I offended you? You do realize people can have opinions, or else there would be no point of this forum in the first place.

Ritchie's size for his age is intriguing, nothing against MDC, but I feel like we already have him in Klimchuk (excluding the size). Ritchie offers something different that not very many teams have, a big bodied power forward like Lucic who can hit, fight and score. Ritchie has more of a package than MDC imo, he has a hell of a shot too.

Not offended at all but Klimchuk and Dal Colle isn't a great comparison at all as Dall Colle is bigger, faster and more skilled while Klimchuk is more of an all around utility forward.

Everyone has their personal favourites and Ritchie isn't one of mine as I would be extremely disappointed if the Flames jumped off the board to select him as it's always a red flag when a kid has had injury issues before he's even gone pro and I've simply never been a fan of Dustin Penner type players but that's just my opinion.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not offended at all but Klimchuk and Dal Colle isn't a great comparison at all as Dall Colle is bigger, faster and more skilled while Klimchuk is more of an all around utility forward.

Everyone has their personal favourites and Ritchie isn't one of mine as I would be extremely disappointed if the Flames jumped off the board to select him as it's always a red flag when a kid has had injury issues before he's even gone pro and I've simply never been a fan of Dustin Penner type players but that's just my opinion.

I think you're right on Ritchie definitely being a risky prospect. His ceiling is very high, but very low. I see him has a high risk prospect that could either be a Lucic or a Penner.

If I went with the safer pick, I go with MDC. I still prefer Ritchie though.

[_Q_]

I prefer not drafting Ritchie only because his name reminds me of Byron Ritchie.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think my potentially irrational fear of Hugh Jessiman is what drops Ritchie so low for me.

One thing is, he was another one drafted out of high school, so it was hard to get a comparison on his talent.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I prefer not drafting Ritchie only because his name reminds me of Byron Ritchie.

lol...that has to be the worst reason ever.

[Gaskal]

Let's draft Ritchie and stick him on a line with Paul Byron then!