Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[nik-]

If you consider Monahan a potential top line center or a 1B, then you should definitely consider Reinhart at least that. Reinhart is better than Monahan imo.

They're just similar in that they're not flashy freewheeling centers.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Thing is, some of us don't think Reinhart or Bennet project as top line centers. I'll take a top pairing d-man over a 2nd line center every day of the week.

Sure, and so would every team in the NHL most assuredly.

However, Ekblad is in the same boat with regards to his potential, and this is why you see him fighting for the 1st over-all ranking, instead of owning it at this point. All three of those players have the potential to be 1st line center/1st pairing defence, but none are what most would feel 'franchise' caliber at this point. They could all become that, but they could very well end up 2nd line/2nd pairing just as easily.

If Ekblad was definitely a 1st pairing defencemen projection, he would be ranked 1st in practically all scouting lists at the moment. I expect to see some additional flip-flopping right down to the draft.

[djsFlames]

Reinhart is more flashy than Monahan, for sure.

Also Reinhart has the 2-way game just the same. But yeah I would put him slightly ahead of Monahan as to how he projects to be. Not by much, though. He's somewhere between MacKinnon and Monahan if you were to put him in a list with last year's draftees.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Reinhart is more flashy than Monahan, for sure.

Also Reinhart has the 2-way game just the same. But yeah I would put him slightly ahead of Monahan as to how he projects to be. Not by much, though. He's somewhere between MacKinnon and Monahan if you were to put him in a list with last year's draftees.

Would be awesome to have a pair of solid two-way centermen going forward... I know neither Monahan or Reinhart are projected to be franchise centermen but I could see the flames having a similar set up to the bruins with Krejci and Bergeron. Neither are as good as Crosby or toews on their own but they spread out the skill on the team and made them into winners

[Fire]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Would be awesome to have a pair of solid two-way centermen going forward... I know neither Monahan or Reinhart are projected to be franchise centermen but I could see the flames having a similar set up to the bruins with Krejci and Bergeron. Neither are as good as Crosby or toews on their own but they spread out the skill on the team and made them into winners

Yeah, having Reinhart and Monahan as the top 2 centers on this team wouldn't prevent the Flames from winning the Cup in the future. Of course the Flames will need many other good pieces to complement them, but those two would be a good start.

[djsFlames]

I'd be down with a Reinhart-Monahan setup in the middle, who'll both likely top out at 60-70 point guys, from what their talent levels suggest.

As long as we have some highly skilled wingers that can rack up the points, I'd be even more confident with a couple centers in the mold of a Bergeron than some flashy point getters.

I feel that Gaudreau will be one of those top skill wingers for many years. Whether Baertschi, Poirier or Klimchuk step up to become one of the others shall be seen. But I think at this point that neither of the three have elite instincts, hands and skills quite like Gaudreau. But I think Poirier and Klimchuk are still developing/maturing their offensive games and only appear to be getting better in that regard. Sven is looking more and more like a 2nd line playmaker to me. We need some pure goal scorers up here, though.

[nik-]

Time to start paying attention to the 4th 5th and 6th ranked prospects

[Ashasx]

Craig Button is not very high on Draisaitl and I wonder if his brother feels the same.

[nik-]

I wonder if we trade down a few spots if we are out of the top 3 to get out of that group of LW'ers.

[The Fonz]

I think we end up with Bennett. Unless we win the lotto

BUF will want Reinhart.
EDM will want Ekblad (...right?)


Edit: FTR, I would in no way be disappointed with drafting Bennett

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by nik-

Time to start paying attention to the 4th 5th and 6th ranked prospects

Anything can happen still. We are kind of peaking right now, Buffalo is actually winning some games, Florida is playing much better. That only leaves Edmonton but now that they are out of the playoffs they will probably string together some wins just to give their fans some hope for next year. I still think we will have a top 3 pick.

[djsFlames]

Luckily the teams above us built up a decent cushion.

However we're edging dangerously close to Florida now. I like us in the 3rd position (chance of one of Bennett, Ekblad, Reinhart) WAY more than the 4th (Dal Colle, Draisaitl). So, ugh.. While the winning has been nice, this is definitely a bit worrisome.

[nik-]

We're going to pass Florida. I'm not sure if we pass the Islanders ... I don't think we do, but Florida for sure. 4th pick gets us into that LW'er zone, which sucks. If there was any justice, we'd win the lottery, but the Hockey Gods are #######s.

[djsFlames]

I'm fairly sure we're not getting past San Jose in our next game. We've been having trouble with Minny, too. But the boys are hot right now..

[Trailer Fire]

1st preference is Ekblad.
2nd preference is Reinhart.
3rd preference is Bennett.

My order is based on who I have seen most, and what I have seen in each player. I like Ekblads game the most.

[Wastedyouth]

Who is the biggest plug in the Draft? Thats who Burke is targeting.

[sun]

Originally Posted by nik-

We're going to pass Florida. I'm not sure if we pass the Islanders ... I don't think we do, but Florida for sure. 4th pick gets us into that LW'er zone, which sucks. If there was any justice, we'd win the lottery, but the Hockey Gods are #######s.

We are due for a break from the hockey gods! I have a Good Feeling about the lottery this year.

[nik-]

I'd rather the break next year actually.

We can eat a draft lottery bowl of broken glass this year if they give us the luck next year.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Who is the biggest plug in the Draft? Thats who Burke is targeting.

Are you draft eligible? If so, I have a good idea...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

All this talk of needing two good centres but we may already be fairly good in that position with the emergence of Backlund who looks like he can be a great #2 centre.

Monahan, Backlund, Stajan with Knight, Jones, Street, Granlund, Arnold and Jankowski

Centre is actually pretty deep these days. Of course if a centre is the best player left you take him and worry about converting guys to the wing later.

But Ekblad is something we don't have any of. Looks like it'll take winning the lottery for us to get him. Unless Burkie the wheeler and dealer decides he's going to do whatever it takes to deal up. I'm not sure Ekblad is key enough for us to do that though.

Draisaitl is intriguing to me out of the non-top 3 guys. Sounds like he plays a power game and we need guys with skill who do that.