Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[sureLoss]

The Flames are in extremely good shape to finish 27th, if they get 8 or fewer points in their remaining games sports club stats gives them a 68% chance and higher chance they finish 27th

The odds flip to them more likely finishing 26th if they get 9 or more points in their last 6 games.

[FlamesAddiction]

I am of the conclusion that I would be happy with any of the top 4. It looks like we are more likely to pick 4th than any other spot, so the decision will be made for us. In that regard, there can't be any regrets. The teams picking ahead of us would have a lot harder decisions.

[Wolfman]

Butler and Breen on 1st pairing get 29 mins a night. We'll lock down 4th pick.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sun

Can he spell the german word for intense?

no one can

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

no one can

H-I-T-L-E-R. A fairly intense chap by all accounts. Yes, I went there.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

H-I-T-L-E-R. A fairly intense chap by all accounts. Yes, I went there.

"äußerst groß"

Boy that's not one but two betas in there. Intense word.

[sureLoss]

Don't rule out Dal Colle and Ehlers. They are potential wild cards that could disrupt the top 4.

Could maybe even throw Ritchie in with that group.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Don't rule Dal Colle and Ehlers as potential wild cards that could disrupt the top 4.

Could maybe even throw Ritchie in with that group.

Those guys are definitely wild-cards. It isn't out of the question that either Dal Colle or Ritchie end up going in the top 4. I just read another scouting report last night that stated "Ritchie has the highest potential out of anyone in the draft". For the life of me, I can't remember where I just came across it though.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Those guys are definitely wild-cards. It isn't out of the question that either Dal Colle or Ritchie end up going in the top 4. I just read another scouting report last night that stated "Ritchie has the highest potential out of anyone in the draft". For the life of me, I can't remember where I just came across it though.

That makes me worried whether or not we make the right pick in the draft. Don't really think we can go wrong with having the 4th pick though. Seriously, if someone picks Ritchie/Dal Colle/Ehlers in the top 3, along with Draisaitl in the mix, we have a chance at Ekblad. However, I think Ekblad and Reinhart are a lock for the top 3. Would it hurt for us to trade up to the third or first pick in the draft? I would really love to steal Edmonton's Ekblad from them.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

That makes me worried whether or not we make the right pick in the draft. Don't really think we can go wrong with having the 4th pick though. Seriously, if someone picks Ritchie/Dal Colle/Ehlers in the top 3, along with Draisaitl in the mix, we have a chance at Ekblad. However, I think Ekblad and Reinhart are a lock for the top 3. Would it hurt for us to trade up to the third or first pick in the draft? I would really love to steal Edmonton's Ekblad from them.

Does it hurt? no.

But it is all about cost and where you see prospects.

IF the Flames are of like mind with some of these scouting services and see Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett and Draisaitl as being very close in terms of potential. Then it makes little sense for the Flames give up assets and trade up as they will get one of them if they have the 4th overall pick.

However if the Flames see a drop off after their top 2 or top 3 then yes it makes sense depending on cost. But also keep in mind that nobody has traded up to a top 3 pick in more than a decade.

[puds]

I think Reinhart is the only player that is guaranteed to go top 3. I could see Ekblad or Bennett falling to 4th.

[ForeverFlameFan]

If Ekblad and Bennett are available at the fourth pick, those are the guys we get. Draisaitl is next if those ekblad and Bennett are picked in the top 3.

[moon]

I have a hard time seeing Florida passing on Ekblad if he is there when they pick.

Barkov, Bjustad seem to be their top two centres going forward. Hubredeau, Howden and Trochek other young forwards they seem high on.

They have Gudbranson but seem less than enamoured with Kulikob and the other defenseman are far from sure things.

Maybe if they win lottery they see Reinhart as too good but if they are 2/3/4 can't see them going for Drasaitl, Dal colle or even Bennett over him.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

That makes me worried whether or not we make the right pick in the draft. Don't really think we can go wrong with having the 4th pick though. Seriously, if someone picks Ritchie/Dal Colle/Ehlers in the top 3, along with Draisaitl in the mix, we have a chance at Ekblad. However, I think Ekblad and Reinhart are a lock for the top 3. Would it hurt for us to trade up to the third or first pick in the draft? I would really love to steal Edmonton's Ekblad from them.

Flames might be that 'someone' selecting Ritchie/Dal Colle/Ehlers/whomever else.

I am personally thinking they have Ritchie fairly high on their list now. Matches what Burke has said about needing to get bigger and more truculent. He does play with some snarl in his game, though it is a bit overrated in that category - Bennett probably plays with just as much snarl.

Would I be disappointed if Flames take someone else than the 'fab 4'? I personally selected 'Reinhart-Ekblad-Bennett-Dal Colle-Draisaitl' in this poll (but I have the last 2 flip-flopping quite a bit). Do I think Ritchie can supplant one of these 5? I think so - I think the Flames would be willing to give up a BIT of skill to gain a lot of size. Do I see Ehlers or Nylander supplant one of the top 5? I don't think so - Flames have a number of average and below average skill prospects in the system, so I doubt that they would be willing to give up some size in order to get more skill. You might argue that Ehlers or Nylander has more skill than a couple of the guys ranked in the top 4 this draft (some scouts seem to feel they might).

Personally the only player I really feel is head and shoulders above everyone else is Reinhart (but most scouting services don't see it that way - I just do personally), so I will be extremely disappointed if they pass on Reinhart to take a different forward (I can be 'ok' with Ekblad, even though I prefer Reinhart, because the defence prospect pool does need a bit of an injection and I do think Ekblad is probably #2 this year). However, after that - even though I have my own preferences, I see everyone else having a wart or two in their games, and see different values with all the other prospects (except Perlini - the more I see him, the more 'generic' he seems to be to me).

Trying to guess at the Flames' rankings is a bit futile though - I can't wait for Burke and/or Todd Button to come out with some quick overview with regards to the draft in a way like Tim Murray did. If I were to guess at their rankings, this would be my guess:

Reinhart
Ekblad
Bennett
Draisaitl
Ritchie
Dal Colle
Virtanen
Ehlers
Nylander
Kapanen

If the Flames had more skilled prospects that were bigger than average rather smaller, I would move Dal Colle to 5th, then stick Ehlers, Nylander and Kapanen right behind him, pushing Ritchie and Virtanen to the 9th and 10th spots.

I might have but Fleury in there somewhere, but the only other tidbit of info coming from the Flames that I have caught besides the 'size' issue was that Burke felt there was only 1 d-man in the top 10 this year.

I bet my own list in my head will change, as will my guess-ranking as to the Flames' list as more tidbits come out from the organization.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by moon

I have a hard time seeing Florida passing on Ekblad if he is there when they pick.

Barkov, Bjustad seem to be their top two centres going forward. Hubredeau, Howden and Trochek other young forwards they seem high on.

They have Gudbranson but seem less than enamoured with Kulikob and the other defenseman are far from sure things.

Maybe if they win lottery they see Reinhart as too good but if they are 2/3/4 can't see them going for Drasaitl, Dal colle or even Bennett over him.

After following Florida this season closely I'd say this is a pretty accurate assesment. They have locks for centers in all lines atm, Barkov; Bjugstad, Trocheck and battling for the fourth line spot are Howden and Shore. They also added Brandon Pirri from Chicago.

On defense Kulikov has shown he can be a top2 guy (still has consistency issues) but Gudbransson looks to be #3/4 at best right now. After that the drop-off in their D is pretty huge although they have couple of solid prospects in college (Mattheson, McCoshen).

I can see Edmonton passing on Ekblad (even though I think it's a small chance) but not Florida. Especially if they think he has a good chance of being a franchise D.

[djsFlames]

Would not want Ritchie any higher than 6th. Is not a top 5 prospect in this draft, regardless of our need for size.

[Ashasx]

Ritchie's fitness level is an extreme concern. It makes you question his commitment to hockey.

From what I've seen, Draistaitl and Dal Colle are 2 tiers above him.

[CliffFletcher]

No way Ekblad drops out of the top 3. I'd be less surprised to see Reinhart drop.

[AlbertaOiler72]

People assumed last year that the Avs would take hometown kid Seth Jones because the Avs had virtually no blue-chip defensive prospects yet had Duchene, Landeskog, Stasny and O'Reilly up front and they took MacKinnon....

I could see the same thing with the Oilers...if they stay at 3 and one of Draisaitl, Bennett or Ekblad is still there....wouldn't surprise me if they took one of the the centers the way the Edmonton Media are talking

[SuperMatt18]

I think the top 4 will be the top 4.

Buffalo: Reinhart
Edmonton: Draisaitl
Florida: Ekblad or Bennett
Calgary: Whoever is left of the top 4

This is the way I have it working out.

With Reinhart's playoff performance I believe he has established himself as the top center ahead of Bennett. Lots of rumors that Buffalo was very high on him to begin with and the playoff performance only cements that.

I personally think that the Oilers go with Draisaitl even if Ekblad is available. Lots of articles and stories about how much they like Draisaitl and that team loves to talk through the media. Especially since the fanbase will want Ekblad if he is there so they have to start the campaign to take Draisaitl early.

Florida is the one that is harder to read because I think they could take Bennett, Reinhart (if Buffalo goes a different direction), or Ekblad.

Either way I think that the Flames will end up with one of Reinhart, Ekblad, or Bennett if they pick at 4 and I am happy with that.