Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Anything can happen really.

I didn't think there was any way that Jones would have fell to Nashville, and was somewhat surprised when they ended up drafting him (even though he was the best available player left on the board) due to their organizational needs at forward. Thought they would have traded down at least. He was considered the #1 pick on most of the scouting services. He also didn't do a single thing to drop his rank in any way either. I was shocked seeing Couturier drop in his draft year - thought his bout with mono would have provided reason enough why his offence didn't reach another level - but his offence was still very, very good!

Look at a team like Edmonton. They have a glaring need for a 2nd line center and D. They could really use some size - maybe they value Draisaitl much higher from that respect? Maybe even they decide to trade down and go for a guy like Ritchie while picking up a defencemen while they are at it. I do think adding Reinhart or Bennett will help them quite a bit, but they suffer from a very small top 6, and maybe they need a true power-forward to inject some physicality into it (as in they could overcompensate - and doesn't sound so bad provided they gain a good asset).

It is always difficult to predict how the draft goes - especially in a year like this where there seems to be less consensus amongst the scouting community, and even in years where there is more of that consensus, there are often surprises anyways.

As for the Ritchie comment - guys with low IQ and skating issues tend to develop into the Zack Kassians. Ritchie has very good IQ, a great skater, and has an outstanding shot. His biggest wart right now is consistency issues, and many scouts feel it is due to fitness issues. This can either be viewed as a big wart (kid doesn't have that 'drive' or discipline) or it can be viewed as a positive (some scouts feel once he gets drafted and works closely with a team's trainer, he can explode and possibly be the best player in the draft). Scouting + thorough interviewing of Ritchie, players and team personnel (especially his teams' trainers) should show if there is really a reason to be concerned or not.

You make a good point about the unpredictability of the draft, I think particularly this year there might be some trades. Although Edmonton needs centres and I don't think they'll get one as good as Bennett or Rhino via trade. I think those top 3 guys are as close to consensus as in any year, it's after that and after 8-10 particularly that it gets wild and there will be some real out of the blue picks.

Couple points on Ritchie. He gets all this press as a tough guys who scores. He fought three times all year this year and took a ton of chippy bad penalties. He didn't fight once all year last year. 3 fights in two seasons and toughness is supposed to be his edge on Dal Colle. One of his fights this year was against a 5'11" 180lber after Ritchie nailed his teammate into the boards from behind on a super dirty hit. The fight was a draw. Another one of his fights was pretty uneventful and after he skated to the other teams bench and chirped the whole bench like he had just won a WWE belt. He is not Milan Lucic.

From an actual game perspective, almost all of his offensive skills, shot, acceleration and passing seem to be rated a little below Dal Colle in the scouting reports (though admittedly I've seen each player play only 3 times myself). Most scouting reports also give the edge to Dal Colle on two way play.

Still his skill level is OK but the issue with those big body kids is that they are leaning on kids who are sometimes 150-160lbs. Their numbers are not just inflated by inferior competition like Dal Colle's but also by a huge size discrepancy. You have to take the performance for a 235lb kid like that with a grain of salt, he will have to change his game.

[nik-]

It actually made sense last year when Jones fell. Not that it wasn't a total surprise, but it was logical why it happened. It makes less sense, in my mind, that the Oilers pass on Ekblad if he's there.

[sureLoss]

Latest Flames chances including lottery

1st overall 8.7%
2nd overall 0.0%
3rd overall 0.6%
4th overall 21.3%
5th overall 42.4%
6th overall 18.9%
7th overall 5.3%
8th overall 2.0%
9th overall 0.7%
10th overall 0.2%

Top scenarios:
31.2% Flames finish 26th and retain 5th overall pick*
20.7% Flames finish 27th and retain 4th overall pick*
11.2% Flames finish 27th and drop to the 5th overall pick**
10.5% Flames finish 26th and drop to the 6th overall pick**
8.4% Flames finish 25th and retain the 6th overall pick*
3.8% Flames finish 27th and win the lottery for the 1st overall pick
3.7% Flames finish 26th and win the lottery for the 1st overall pick
3.4% Flames finish 24th and retain the 7th overall pick*


*Flames retain a pick if a team below them in the standings wins the lottery
**Flames drop a pick if a team above them in the standings wins the lottery

[Flames Draft Watcher]

All I want for Christmas is for the Isles to pass us down the stretch

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

All I want for Christmas is for the Isles to pass us down the stretch

Its very possible based on the remaining games.

[Vulcan]

Only 8 games left. Man this season has gone fast when I thought it would drag.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Only 8 games left. Man this season has gone fast when I thought it would drag.

Felt shorter than last year, which was lockout shortened.

What a weird sensation.

[Bourque's Twin]

After tonight's games it looks like
1. Buffalo
2/3. Edmonton/Florida
4/5. Islanders/Flames

If the Flames finish 4th and Oilers 3rd, then I see the Flames getting Bennett.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think by the looks of it, the Flames are picking either Bennett, Dal Colle, or Virtanen, depending on where they end in the draft.

[dammage79]

If the Flames got Bennett, Oh baby. But I can live with Draisaitl as well.

I'm really hoping Goldobin slips to the Flames second round pick. He seems to be floating around down at the end of the first round a bit. And the Russian factor could push him to the Flames' lap. Adding Bennett and Goldobin in the first two rounds would be mega awesome.

[sureLoss]

Kootenay eliminate the Hitmen winning the series 4-2

Reinhart 6gp 5g 12a 17pts +6

Virtanen 6gp 1g 3a 4pts -2

[Miniac]

With Colborne having scored 10 goals this season, heres a look at the Flames 2014 draft picks,


http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=707960

Because,

http://www.prosportstransactions.com...Years/2014.htm

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kootenay eliminate the Hitmen winning the series 4-2

Reinhart 6gp 5g 12a 17pts +6

Virtanen 6gp 1g 3a 4pts -2

After this performance, Reinhart would be first on my list.

[Table 5]

It's nice that most of our picks are in the Top 3 rounds. Ideally I would love to get another 1st or 2nd yet. Too bad we screwed the pooch with Cammy, that one still stings a bit.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Reinhart 6gp 5g 12a 17pts +6
Virtanen 6gp 1g 3a 4pts -2

Reinhart was an absolutely beast this series. I think any questions of him being the top forward this draft have been soundly put to bed. The difference between him and a guy like Virtanen is massive.

Would've been nice.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Miniac

With Colborne having scored 10 goals this season, heres a look at the Flames 2014 draft picks,


http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=707960

Because,

http://www.prosportstransactions.com...Years/2014.htm

Colborne hitting 10 goals doesn't matter since we aren't making the playoffs and the condition was dependent upon both happening.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Miniac

With Colborne having scored 10 goals this season, heres a look at the Flames 2014 draft picks,


http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=707960

Because,

http://www.prosportstransactions.com...Years/2014.htm

Not quite sure what your point is. Toronto was always getting the 4th round pick.

It became a 3rd round pick if the Flames made the playoffs AND Colborne scored 10 goals

[icecube]

Reinhart and.. Virtanen don't belong in the same sentence.

[Matty81]

Ya the first round has been interesting

Reinhart and Dal Colle are lighting it up (reinhart was really in a different class)
Ekblad looks ok and Draitsaitl treaded water imo
Perlini, Virtanen stock fell and Ritchie either treaded water or fell a bit

Edit.. Forgot Bennett, probably trending up a bit, but still going to be #2 or 3 the way Reinhart is playing.

[Vulcan]

Someone, somewhere said that Virtanen MIGHT have been playing with a broken hand.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by AC

Colborne hitting 10 goals doesn't matter since we aren't making the playoffs and the condition was dependent upon both happening.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Not quite sure what your point is. Toronto was always getting the 4th round pick.

It became a 3rd round pick if the Flames made the playoffs AND Colborne scored 10 goals

Ops my bad