Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I didn't see anything like that in that video. If anything he has a quick release. Your take on players really is odd.

I might be wrong. I don't think so, but it is just my opinion. I'm just throwing out there what I'm seeing, and I'll elaborate just to go into some greater detail just to point out better what I'm looking at.

When you see guys like Monahan etc, when they snap it, it doesn't take quite as long from "Wind up" through the shot (it's a fraction of a second difference) but in the NHL, things like that get blocked by sticks etc. Similarly, his passes across to others just don't look right compared to other high end guys.

The only notable thing is that he's able to push past defenders to crash the net and score. That's fine, but he doesn't have blazing speed, and is out muscling the defenders to enable those chances. That won't happen much if ever at the NHL level.

His hands do not look overly dextrous either in a playmaking role. It looks too rigid in the movements. His arms seem almost locked onto his stick, rather than there being any fluidity with the movements

When you're talking about the top end guys, it's not about how much scoring the player is doing because it's kind of expected. It's all about how they are scoring and I'm just not seeing any upper level stuff there.

The thing is, that when I've watched similar things with guys like Bennett, Reinhart, Dal Colle, Draisaitl, Nylander, Ehlers, and Virtanen, I am not seeing this amount of flaws. They have their own sets of flaws, from consistency to height, but each of them is showing flashes of high end skill in there, that I'm not seeing with Ritchie. Whether those guys put it together or not is still tbd, but I'd rather go with someone that is showing flashes of top end skill over someone that's not really much at all.

[Vinny01]

If Edmonton doesn't draft Ekblad I could easily see them being happy with Reinhart or Bennett. They have a huge hole at the 2nd line C spot as well

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I might be wrong. I don't think so, but it is just my opinion. I'm just throwing out there what I'm seeing, and I'll elaborate just to go into some greater detail just to point out better what I'm looking at.

When you see guys like Monahan etc, when they snap it, it doesn't take quite as long from "Wind up" through the shot (it's a fraction of a second difference) but in the NHL, things like that get blocked by sticks etc. Similarly, his passes across to others just don't look right compared to other high end guys.

The only notable thing is that he's able to push past defenders to crash the net and score. That's fine, but he doesn't have blazing speed, and is out muscling the defenders to enable those chances. That won't happen much if ever at the NHL level.

His hands do not look overly dextrous either in a playmaking role. It looks too rigid in the movements. His arms seem almost locked onto his stick, rather than there being any fluidity with the movements

When you're talking about the top end guys, it's not about how much scoring the player is doing because it's kind of expected. It's all about how they are scoring and I'm just not seeing any upper level stuff there.

The thing is, that when I've watched similar things with guys like Bennett, Reinhart, Dal Colle, Draisaitl, Nylander, Ehlers, and Virtanen, I am not seeing this amount of flaws. They have their own sets of flaws, from consistency to height, but each of them is showing flashes of high end skill in there, that I'm not seeing with Ritchie. Whether those guys put it together or not is still tbd, but I'd rather go with someone that is showing flashes of top end skill over someone that's not really much at all.

He's a power forward. I don't look to him having the same skill set as the players you mention. He's big, he's tough, he's effective and he's considered a fairly high draft pick. I'm not saying I prefer him over some others mentioned but I don't see a big problem with his game either. If he had the skill set of say Reinhart, he might be going #1 in the draft,

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I didn't see anything like that in that video. If anything he has a quick release. Your take on players really is odd.

I agree. Don't see where this slow release comes from. Call me crazy but he looks like he may turn into a player like JVR. He's mean and can also play, which the Flames lack. (Not saying that JVR is mean) If the Flames are picking at 5 and Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett are gone which they will be. I have no issues with Burke selecting Ritchie.

[The Fonz]

Today's relevant OOT:

VAN @ FLA - go Lou!

EDM @ CAR - unfortunately for these 2 teams, someone has to accept the win. Both help the Flames

[Da_Chief]

Lets go 3 point games.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Today's relevant OOT:

VAN @ FLA - go Lou!

EDM @ CAR - unfortunately for these 2 teams, someone has to accept the win. Both help the Flames

Cheer for Carolina, those losers up north aren't going to catch up anyway, so might as well increase Carolina's cushion so we don't repeat last year.

Plus then you don't have to "cheer" for Edmonton.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Go Panthers, go Oilers

[jesters91]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Go Panthers, go Oilers

With both ending up as 3 point games!!

[Ashasx]

Unlikely we catch the Oilers so it's probably best Carolina improves their gap.

I expect both team to do their damnedest to try and lose.

[kehatch]

I really want Draisaitl or Ekblad. I would also be okay with Bennett. But I don't know if the Flames can afford the assets to move into the top 3, and I think those guys go top 3.

I am really cooling off on Reinhart. Nobody projected in the 5 to 10 range excite me that much.

Ritchie will likely develop into a top 6 power forward. Those guys are really hard to find. The only guy we have that fits that description in our system is Ferland. And he is a long shot.

Trading down to 10 or so and grabbing Ritchie wouldn't be all that bad if we aren't picking top 3.

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk

[nik-]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I am really cooling off on Reinhart. Nobody projected in the 5 to 10 range excite me that much.

Why? All he's done since getting back from the WJC is destroy the league. Seems like an odd time to be cooling on him.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Ritchie will likely develop into a top 6 power forward. Those guys are really hard to find. The only guy we have that fits that description in our system is Ferland. And he is a long shot.

I don't get this. How many powerforwards are there in the NHL right now? 1 or 2? Lucic and Kane maybe?

Powerforwards are dead. Iginla was the last true powerforward in the NHL.

Ritchie has to be truly exceptional to become a successful NHLer given his play style. Many better powerforward prospect have come and gone without amounting to anything.

Not sure why any Flames fan would want a player like this after Chucko and Nemisz.

[PeteMoss]

Neimsz was never a power forward. He was big and a forward but not at all physical. No idea about chucko.

Ritchie is also on a below average team and leading it. Neimsz was about the 6th best player on a stacked team! not really a comparison.

[nik-]

Ritchie would be our Biggs, but there's no way we draft him in the range we're going to be at.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't get this. How many powerforwards are there in the NHL right now? 1 or 2? Lucic and Kane maybe?

Powerforwards are dead. Iginla was the last true powerforward in the NHL.

Ritchie has to be truly exceptional to become a successful NHLer given his play style. Many better powerforward prospect have come and gone without amounting to anything.

Not sure why any Flames fan would want a player like this after Chucko and Nemisz.

Wow.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Neimsz was never a power forward. He was big and a forward but not at all physical. No idea about chucko.

Ritchie is also on a below average team and leading it. Neimsz was about the 6th best player on a stacked team! not really a comparison.

I'm not saying Ritchie is a powerforward either, but he's closer to the level of Nemisz than Lucic or Kane.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't get this. How many powerforwards are there in the NHL right now? 1 or 2? Lucic and Kane maybe?

Powerforwards are dead. Iginla was the last true powerforward in the NHL.

Ritchie has to be truly exceptional to become a successful NHLer given his play style. Many better powerforward prospect have come and gone without amounting to anything.

Not sure why any Flames fan would want a player like this after Chucko and Nemisz.

Here's a couple. Getzlaf, Perry, Benn, Byfuglien, Backes. I'm sure others can name a few others.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by nik-

Why? All he's done since getting back from the WJC is destroy the league. Seems like an odd time to be cooling on him.

Fair comment. But I don't mean in the last couple of weeks. The guy is a really smart, very versatile, two way C and he shoots right (bonus). So I guess I should love him.

I guess I project him the same as I project Monahan. As a really good 2-line C on a cup calibre team. I think we need some meanness and attitude up the middle and having Monahan makes Reinhart a bit redundant. If those two are our top 2 C we will have the nicest and quietest C in the league!

I would love to have him in our system. But I think we can leverage that pick to better fill holes in our system.

[ramizle]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't get this. How many powerforwards are there in the NHL right now? 1 or 2? Lucic and Kane maybe?

Powerforwards are dead. Iginla was the last true powerforward in the NHL.

Ritchie has to be truly exceptional to become a successful NHLer given his play style. Many better powerforward prospect have come and gone without amounting to anything.

Not sure why any Flames fan would want a player like this after Chucko and Nemisz.

Jamie Benn I'd say is a real food power forward. Getzlaf, kopitar, etc.