Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[djsFlames]

Ehlers is bigger and heavier now and is producing about as well as Drouin a year ago. Can't hurt to be playing with him as well. Curious to find out how much of a gap scouts believe there is between Ehlers and, say, Dal Colle.

[Aarongavey]

Hicketts is a very good hockey player, he was injured all year but was probably the best dman on the Royals this year when he was playing.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Ehlers is bigger and heavier now and is producing about as well as Drouin a year ago. Can't hurt to be playing with him as well. Curious to find out how much of a gap scouts believe there is between Ehlers and, say, Dal Colle.

I'm also curious about this. Ehlers is a better skater than any of the so-called top 5 and can play the off wing as well as left wing. This was his first year in North America, making his production even more amazing. He's also a very defensively responsible player unlike, say, Nylander.

[Caged Great]

Imagine having a line of Ehlers-Monahan-Poirier.

Monahan plays the defensively responsible role while Poirier and Ehlers fly around the rink causing havok.

Both Mono and Poirier are 6-2, and Ehlers is 6-0. There's more than enough size on that line, and it would be deadly. Especially considering that Poirier and Ehlers are also both very good defensively for wingers. You could have Poirier on 1 PK unit and Ehlers on the other, and you'd have the potential for breakaway opportunities all the time.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Imagine having a line of Ehlers-Monahan-Poirier.

Monahan plays the defensively responsible role while Poirier and Ehlers fly around the rink causing havok.

Both Mono and Poirier are 6-2, and Ehlers is 6-0. There's more than enough size on that line, and it would be deadly. Especially considering that Poirier and Ehlers are also both very good defensively for wingers. You could have Poirier on 1 PK unit and Ehlers on the other, and you'd have the potential for breakaway opportunities all the time.

I'd still prefer Ekblad, Bennett, Reinhart, Draisaitl, or Dal Colle.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Imagine having a line of Ehlers-Monahan-Poirier.

Monahan plays the defensively responsible role while Poirier and Ehlers fly around the rink causing havok.

Both Mono and Poirier are 6-2, and Ehlers is 6-0. There's more than enough size on that line, and it would be deadly. Especially considering that Poirier and Ehlers are also both very good defensively for wingers. You could have Poirier on 1 PK unit and Ehlers on the other, and you'd have the potential for breakaway opportunities all the time.

Ehlers is an excellent playmaker as well as finisher. I'd like to see some of his passes on Monahan's stick in the slot. I'd be inclined to take him if one of the Sams is not still on the board when we pick.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by saXon

I'd still prefer Ekblad, Bennett, Reinhart, Draisaitl, or Dal Colle.

At this point for me, unless one of the Sams or Ekblad is on the board, then sure, you go with them.

After that for me it's a toss up of MDC and Ehlers with Ehlers rising.

MDC has almost as good a shot/passing ability as Ehlers (Difference is marginal) and is bigger, but is only above average speed wise, not fast. Ehlers is a blazer though.

The two things that matter most if most other things are almost equivalent and they are speed and size. The two players each have a 1 up on the other. It's tough especially when neither of the other player's "weakness" is off putting (Ehlers isn't tiny and MDC isn't slow).

If I was picking and my options were limited to only Draisaitl, Ehlers, and MDC as of right now, I would take Ehlers. I think his speed is too much of an asset and speed can make a difference in the playoffs (his size isn't an issue because it's average)

[PeteMoss]

Really seems that Draisaitl is under-rated by many here.

He plays centre and is bigger than Ehlers and had virtually identical PPG numbers (both were right around 1.65 PPG) as Ehlers while playing on a much worse team.

If I'm picking a winger over a bigger centre, he better be outscoring him by a decent margin.

[dammage79]

A Great Dane versus a German Shephard... Hmmmm.

[dammage79]

Alright, watched some interviews and Highlights of Ehlers.

There is zero doubt he is one of the fastest skaters in this draft. Blazing speed.

Very stocky build. Still seems a bit small. (And this is where I think the Flames would take a pass on risking a top 4 pick on him.)

This is no slight but he reminds me a bunch of Huselius. Spins around and curls like Juice did. He simply will not have the room to do these things in the NHL. Small....very small concern there.

Looks like Saku Koivu.

Danish family who moved to Switzerland 6 years ago apparently.


I don't know, In all seriousness, if the Flames were picking 6-7, I'd be gleeful he was there and say he'll be a steal there. At 4 though? I still believe Draisaitl is the better option. But we'll all have our preferences. I still think Bennett is a Flame at the end of the day.

Good player, definitely in the mix for me anyways with Perlini and Dal Colle, and a better bet than Ritchie IMO.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Really seems that Draisaitl is under-rated by many here.

He plays centre and is bigger than Ehlers and had virtually identical PPG numbers (both were right around 1.65 PPG) as Ehlers while playing on a much worse team.

If I'm picking a winger over a bigger centre, he better be outscoring him by a decent margin.

I have no problem with taking a center. I am a bit leery of Draisaitl because of how inconsistent he is from game to game. None of the other top 6 have that problem. It can be resolved, but that's a bit of a red flag.

Also, from a pure skill standpoint, he's roughly in the same level (when on) as Ehlers and Dal Colle, so it's not like if they went in a different direction that they are getting a lesser skilled guy.

Just depends on what is deemed most necessary by the Flames scouts.

Also, with next year's draft, 6 of the top 11 players as of today are centers. Realistically, we are looking at another top 8 pick (probably top 5 or possibly top 3), so we might be adding a McDavid/Eichel/Barzal/Strome, all of which I would take over Draisaitl easily (I'd take the first 3 over Reinhart and Strome is about on par with Bennett).

[Caged Great]

The thing I would like most of all is for the Flames to give the Islanders whatever they want for #5 (within reason), that way you could snag two of these guys.

[Caged Great]

It's also a bit weird to have 5 completely different types of forwards at the top of the draft, all of which we could use.

Reinhart - Super Monahan?
Bennett - Matt Duchesne type guy
Draisaitl - Big center who can put up the points
Dal Colle - Big winger who can put up the points
Ehlers - Average sized speedster that's shifty and can put up points.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The thing I would like most of all is for the Flames to give the Islanders whatever they want for #5 (within reason), that way you could snag two of these guys.

or you could give the pick to Buffalo and use it next year.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

or you could give the pick to Buffalo and use it next year.

No you couldn't. If the Islanders trade it that means the Sabres get their pick next year.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Dagger

No you couldn't. If the Islanders trade it that means the Sabres get their pick next year.

It would depend on the terms of the trade.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I have a question... Let's say the Isles trade their #5 for Anaheim's #10 and #28th overall picks (and maybe more)... Assuming Anaheim accepts, can the Isles give the Sabres the #10 pick? Or does trading the pick result in Buffalo automatically taking the 2015 Isles 1st round pick without the Isles having an option since they switched their position?

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I have a question... Let's say the Isles trade their #5 for Anaheim's #10 and #28th overall picks (and maybe more)... Assuming Anaheim accepts, can the Isles give the Sabres the #10 pick? Or does trading the pick result in Buffalo automatically taking the 2015 Isles 1st round pick without the Isles having an option since they switched their position?

Nope, the trade was for the Islanders first, not some other team's first the Islanders acquire.

If the Islanders want to trade their 2014 first then they will have to give Buffalo their 2015 first as required by the Vanek trade.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

It would depend on the terms of the trade.

No it doesn't. If the Islanders trade the pick they are using it, and thus the pick to Buffalo is deferred.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Dagger

No it doesn't. If the Islanders trade the pick they are using it, and thus the pick to Buffalo is deferred.

You could be right but do you have anything to back it up?