Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[sureLoss]

3 nhl.com writers do mock drafts. 2 have the Flames picking Dal Colle 1 has Draisaitil.

All 3 think Reinhart will go first

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...etails=2-29342

Based on the League standings entering the Olympic break, NHL.com's Adam Kimelman, Mike G. Morreale and Steven Hoffner all believe the Buffalo Sabres will take center Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League with the first pick.

The versatile forward is No. 4 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters for the 2014 draft, but Reinhart has impressed scouts with his high hockey IQ and ability to play on the wing or in the middle as well as run a power play and be a prime penalty killer. In addition to being a dominant performer in the WHL, he also played a prominent spot on Canada's team at the 2014 World Junior Championship.

The consensus for the second pick is that the Edmonton Oilers will select defenseman Aaron Ekblad from the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-foot-3, 213-pounder has NHL-ready size, a bullet shot from the point and also earned a spot on Canada's WJC team.

The trio also was in agreement that left wing Samuel Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL would go to the Florida Panthers with the No. 3 pick. Bennett is a dynamic offensive talent, and some scouts believe he has the best shot of any player in the draft. Central Scouting made him its No. 1 North American skater in its midterm ranking.

[puckedoff]

I didn't like Dal Colle when I saw him at the top prospects game, and based on that single viewing and my otherwise uninformed opinion I hope we draft someone else.

[Poe969]

I hope we're able to put a package together to pry the #1 pick from the sabres. Either that or I hope we drop like a rock in the standings

[FCAV]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

I didn't like Dal Colle when I saw him at the top prospects game, and based on that single viewing and my otherwise uninformed opinion I hope we draft someone else.

Just curious, but what was it about his performance in the TPG that you didn't like?

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by FCAV

Just curious, but what was it about his performance in the TPG that you didn't like?

He looked like a floater, that mostly benefited from his linemates (Reinhart) doing all the work. Didn't seem interested in going to the tough areas, and when he did, he didn't have much success.

I thought he fumbled the puck a lot too.

That's the only time I've seen him play though, so I don't put a lot of stock in my opinion of him.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I hope we're able to put a package together to pry the #1 pick from the sabres. Either that or I hope we drop like a rock in the standings

That's what I am hoping for too just because I want us to draft Aaron before the Oilers can get their hands on him and ruin him too. Maybe Buffalo likes Bennett better than Reinhart or they are satisfied drafting either of the Centers.

Burke is the perfect guy to pull a trade off for the first overall pick too and screw KLown and the Oilers in the process.

[lanny9]

Went and saw the Pats and the Ice play last night, thoughts on Reinhart below.

Reinhart, well I see many good things in his game and a few things that really bug me. First, he sees the ice very, very well, can find his teammates with ease. He has good speed, not high end by any means but will not be slow either. Of course we all know he is very sneaky and can find open ice to get off a good shot, this was evident last night. He seems to play a very good offensive game that should translate to a 1st line player or very, very good 2nd line at the NHL level. I don't see high end "elite" talent here though.

The bad that I saw. Some horrible giveaways trying to be way too fancy, two of these giveaways led to 2 on 1s and had they not been messed up by the Pats(Klimchuk) the score would have been very different. He tries at times to be too fancy with the puck where a more simple game is required, I saw a lot of this on the pp, times where he should have maybe used a teammate he tried some dipsy doodle plays that did not turn out and led to giveaways. These were not something like a guy getting in the lane and blocking a pass or shot, this was playing around with the puck too much and the turnovers were glaring!

I don't know if this is a regular occurrence for him but not succeeding at these types of plays tends to have me think he should stick with a simpler game and use his ability to find his mates as well as find the open ice. He should also know the PP requires a simple puck moving game. I mean if he thinks he is going to translate this type of play into the NHL I really think he needs to reassess his skill package. He is not high skilled in the way of a Crosby, Malkin, etc so hopefully he realizes this and works more on a simpler game. Maybe once he matures he will figure this out, he after all only 17 right?

I will note that I have been very firmly in the camp that thinks we should be doing whatever we can to get our hands Ekblad so was I tough on Reinhart? I don't think so and would be happy to have him on our team if he progresses and learns when he should be doing the dipsy doodle stuff. I think he does it so often that some teams are wise to it now and expect it, do it less and you catch the other team off guard and your chance of succeeding will be that much higher, especially in the NHL. My reason for wanting Ekblad over Reinhart hasn't changed because of this game, in fact it probably solidified my view, but more so because I think we need that high end stud d'man and the draft next two years will be filled with players who I think will be much better that Reinhart. And in all likelihood we will be drafting higher next year than this year and still be a high pick the following year thus getting us some pretty high end forward(s). We all agree that d'men take longer to reach their potential and is reason why I think we should be trying to get that top end talented d'man now so he can mature as we get our forwards in place the following two years.

[CliffFletcher]

I think it's time to stop speculating and fantasizing about Reinhart and Ekblad and move on to Dal Colle and Draisatl. Maybe Haydn Fleury.

[Poe969]

I don't think we're that far off of the bottom 2-3 teams in the league, especially after we make a few trades. There is always the chance that we either win the lottery or move up at the draft with a trade. Anything is possible...

[Caged Great]

Dal Colle is more of a Tanguay style player in that he's more cerebral and is a secondary player. If you have a player like Monahan on a line with him, that would be good partnership.

of the forwards, I would rate Reinhart > Bennett >>> Dal Colle > Draisaitl >>>>>>>>> other forwards.

Ideally we would get one of Reinhart or Bennett, but it isn't a huge drop to Dal Colle or Draisaitl.

[$ven27]

Hopefully we win the Lottery and get either Ekblad or Reinhart. If not my hope is Draisaitl or Bennett.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I don't think we're that far off of the bottom 2-3 teams in the league, especially after we make a few trades. There is always the chance that we either win the lottery or move up at the draft with a trade. Anything is possible...

Buffalo is clearly going to finish last.

NYI, Calgary, Florida and Edmonton are all still in the mix for 2nd-5th. Everyone else is likely out of reach...

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Buffalo is clearly going to finish last.

NYI, Calgary, Florida and Edmonton are all still in the mix for 2nd-5th. Everyone else is likely out of reach...

Calgary finishing second last is still probably a 50/50 outcome IMO. They are neck and neck with the Islanders and Florida.

Edmonton is 4 points back with less games remaining, but they just acquired a goaltender that has been playing out of his mind this season. That should win them a few more games then they would have otherwise. They also have like 15 of the last 21 at home. They suck at home, but are marginally better then on the road.

I think Calgary is a good bet to get one of Reinhart, Bennett, or Ekblad who appear to have separation on the other prospects IMO.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by FCAV

Just curious, but what was it about his performance in the TPG that you didn't like?

Seemed to get pushed off the puck easily, did not strike me as a guy who would work the corners and win puck battles.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Calgary finishing second last is still probably a 50/50 outcome IMO. They are neck and neck with the Islanders and Florida.

Edmonton is 4 points back with less games remaining, but they just acquired a goaltender that has been playing out of his mind this season. That should win them a few more games then they would have otherwise. They also have like 15 of the last 21 at home. They suck at home, but are marginally better then on the road.

I think Calgary is a good bet to get one of Reinhart, Bennett, or Ekblad who appear to have separation on the other prospects IMO.

Hope you're right.

[sureLoss]

With lottery odds included the Flames have only a 33% chance of getting a top 3 pick..

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Calgary finishing second last is still probably a 50/50 outcome IMO. They are neck and neck with the Islanders and Florida.

Edmonton is 4 points back with less games remaining, but they just acquired a goaltender that has been playing out of his mind this season. That should win them a few more games then they would have otherwise. They also have like 15 of the last 21 at home. They suck at home, but are marginally better then on the road.

I think Calgary is a good bet to get one of Reinhart, Bennett, or Ekblad who appear to have separation on the other prospects IMO.

polishing a turd right there.

The one advantage the Flames have over the Islanders and Florida is that we play a bunch of games within the Pacific division after the break. Unfortunately so do the Oilers so its a wash with them.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

3 nhl.com writers do mock drafts. 2 have the Flames picking Dal Colle 1 has Draisaitil.

All 3 think Reinhart will go first

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...etails=2-29342

no offense to Cral12 but I like these outcomes a lot better than going off the board and picking Virtanen. Going off the board seems un-Burkelike given his comments when dismissing Feaster/Weisbrod and hope we are not surprised by our pick.

Comparing Dal Colle to Getzlaf? Apart from the fact Dal Colle is a W and Getzlaf is a C, if we can have the next E. Staal (Monahan) and Getzlaf (Dal Colle) that will set us up nicely for the future at F.

[schooner]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

no offense to Cral12 but I like these outcomes a lot better than going off the board and picking Virtanen. Going off the board seems un-Burkelike given his comments when dismissing Feaster/Weisbrod and hope we are not surprised by our pick.

Comparing Dal Colle to Getzlaf? Apart from the fact Dal Colle is a W and Getzlaf is a C, if we can have the next E. Staal (Monahan) and Getzlaf (Dal Colle) that will set us up nicely for the future at F.

I got a chance to watch Virtanen in Kamloops last week. I will preface by saying I have zero ability in scouting.

Right of the bat you could see the whole Hitmen team was tired. They were on a west coast trip and played the night before in Van. Nonetheless, they clearly outmatched the terrible play of the Blazers. Overall it was a sloppy game. Still, you could see a lot of raw skill in Virtanen. He skates well, moves around the ice well. And was esp dangerous on the PK. He would pick his spots to get odd man rushes. Overall a nice game from him, without anything exceptional. You could def see though that unlike the tier of prospects above him he is at least a few years out from the NHL.

On a side note, newly acquired Adam Tambellini looked good. Although mostly because he was getting a lot of 1st line pp time and had a couple sick snipes in warm up.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Buffalo is clearly going to finish last.

NYI, Calgary, Florida and Edmonton are all still in the mix for 2nd-5th. Everyone else is likely out of reach...

HEY! Don't count Vancouver out yet!