Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Vulcan]

because Bennett mixes it up physically, he is not ready for the NHL because of the style he plays

This could be why Bennett could drop to us. We should have the patience to wait, the Oilers not so much.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

No but Bennett plays a physical style. We've seen physical players who are physically underdeveloped struggle/bust when put straight into the NHL (see Gilbert Brule). Craig Button thinks this is a reason why you might not want Bennett to step in right away.

In many ways I do think Draisaitl fits EDM better than Bennett. I don't think EDM could pass on Reinhart or Ekblad if either fell to them.

Bennett's had injury problems this year in part because of his physical style. He'd need to add strength/muscle to handle the rigors of the NHL.

[Wolfman]

I have full faith in our new management group. (Burke and Treliving)

[ForeverFlameFan]

I have a feeling that Edmonton won't even pick S. Reinhart if he was still available.... I think they are set on either picking Bennett or Draisaitl.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I have a feeling that Edmonton won't even pick S. Reinhart if he was still available.... I think they are set on either picking Bennett or Draisaitl.

Well Reinhart is very similar to RNH and thus doesn't bring something unique to their makeup. I get the impression they love WHLers and I'm just not sure they can turn down a guy who destroyed that league and dominated the playoffs.

It's hard to read EDM. Theoretically they need to get heavier and harder to play against much like we do. They have acknowledged this with MacT's comments about wanting a "Lucic type player". I'm pretty sure they realize it's hard to win with RNH and Gagner matching up against guys like Getzlaf, Thornton, Kopitar, Monahan in our division. So in that sense Draisaitl is the best fit for them as he's the biggest, strongest, heaviest of the three centres while still having elite playmaking capabilities. Would EDM shock us all and grab Dal Colle in an effort to get bigger on the wing or try and convert him back to centre?

I still believe FLA is likely to take Ekblad. I think he fits their biggest need the best and because he's NHL ready he helps in that regard as well.

BUF and EDM are real wildcards with the forward group being so tight and the forwards all bringing different elements. It partially will depend on how BUF evaluates it's own current pieces. Is Grigorenko a future top two line centre? Girgensons had a tremendous year and an awesome Olympics. Is he an ideal 2nd line centre or will he shake out as an elite 3rd? Do they have enough size there to compliment the smaller, slighter Reinhart who could be more gamebreaking offensively? They have shown a propensity to draft bigger players in the last 3 years so do they continue to hammer that and grab Draisaitl which would give them three big, skilled centres to build around? BUF grabbing Draisaitl at #2 would be a very interesting scenario for us as well as we'd have a Sam drop to us.

Personally I keep waffling on these prospects. Lately I've warmed up to the idea of a Draisaitl/Monahan combo with Backlund giving us an elite 3rd line centre. It really looks like we can't go wrong, at least 2 very appealing guys will be there at #4. I really have no problem with the Flames going with Draisaitl, Dal Colle or a Sam.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This could be why Bennett could drop to us. We should have the patience to wait, the Oilers not so much.

Hope so too, but when did Edmonton shy away from putting fragile teenagers into their lineup?
Though to be fair, I was surprised they didn't throw Nurse into the pit last season

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Yoho

From 6 days ago

http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=716239

Read the profile on Bennett from the Oilers site and he sounds more like the kid they need. I am starting to think that is where the lean if they keep their pick. I do think it will very much be in play however.

Gardiner + 8th overall so the Leafs can snag Bennett and the Oil can add Ritchie or Fleury

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Read the profile on Bennett from the Oilers site and he sounds more like the kid they need. I am starting to think that is where the lean if they keep their pick. I do think it will very much be in play however.

Gardiner + 8th overall so the Leafs can snag Bennett and the Oil can add Ritchie or Fleury

Everything Oilers management says indicates they believe they're set on defense outside of adding a franchise, top pairing type guy. They constantly mention their depth in young defensemen and prospects. I really don't think that offer would interest them as they've already got a Gardiner in Schultz and Fleury won't necessarily be any better than Nurse/Klefbom in their eyes.

I doubt they'd entertain trading down. Draisaitl and Dal Colle are clearly two types of players they badly lack and need and I think they'd be hard pressed to turn down either Sam. You don't trade down from 3rd in a draft that looks to have a top tier of 4-5 guys unless you're trading down 1-2 spots.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well Reinhart is very similar to RNH and thus doesn't bring something unique to their makeup. I get the impression they love WHLers and I'm just not sure they can turn down a guy who destroyed that league and dominated the playoffs.

It's hard to read EDM. Theoretically they need to get heavier and harder to play against much like we do. They have acknowledged this with MacT's comments about wanting a "Lucic type player". I'm pretty sure they realize it's hard to win with RNH and Gagner matching up against guys like Getzlaf, Thornton, Kopitar, Monahan in our division. So in that sense Draisaitl is the best fit for them as he's the biggest, strongest, heaviest of the three centres while still having elite playmaking capabilities. Would EDM shock us all and grab Dal Colle in an effort to get bigger on the wing or try and convert him back to centre?

I still believe FLA is likely to take Ekblad. I think he fits their biggest need the best and because he's NHL ready he helps in that regard as well.

BUF and EDM are real wildcards with the forward group being so tight and the forwards all bringing different elements. It partially will depend on how BUF evaluates it's own current pieces. Is Grigorenko a future top two line centre? Girgensons had a tremendous year and an awesome Olympics. Is he an ideal 2nd line centre or will he shake out as an elite 3rd? Do they have enough size there to compliment the smaller, slighter Reinhart who could be more gamebreaking offensively? They have shown a propensity to draft bigger players in the last 3 years so do they continue to hammer that and grab Draisaitl which would give them three big, skilled centres to build around? BUF grabbing Draisaitl at #2 would be a very interesting scenario for us as well as we'd have a Sam drop to us.

Personally I keep waffling on these prospects. Lately I've warmed up to the idea of a Draisaitl/Monahan combo with Backlund giving us an elite 3rd line centre. It really looks like we can't go wrong, at least 2 very appealing guys will be there at #4. I really have no problem with the Flames going with Draisaitl, Dal Colle or a Sam.

Agreed with everything you just said. Buffalo and Edmonton are definitely the wildcards of the top 5.

Draisaitl is the #1 wildcard, with Nylander and Ehlers as the #2 and #3. But, I just don't see Nylander or Ehlers being drafted in the top 5. However, I can still see Buffalo taking a stab at Draisaitl. No source, but I remember someone on here saying that Draisaitl is in the mix with Buffalo's pick. The 2/3/4 drafting positions are going to be really hard to determine. With Florida picking Ekblad at #1, Calgary pretty much picks up whoever Buffalo and Edmonton don't pick up.

Three ways the 2nd/3rd/4th draft positions go: (Buffalo - Edmonton - Calgary)

A) Reinhart - Bennett - Draisaitl/Dal Colle (I like Dal Colle more for some reason)
B) Draisaitl - Bennett - Reinhart
C) Reinhart - Draisaitl - Bennett

Of course there are more combinations, but these are the ones I see happening. We are unfortunately the ones that get last dibs on 3 solid players, but I see all of them helping our organization. In a way I feel as if each team has two players they want:

Buffalo: Reinhart/Draisaitl
Edmonton: Draisaitl/Bennett
Calgary: Reinhart/Bennett (and of course we consider Draisaitl/Dal Colle

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Read the profile on Bennett from the Oilers site and he sounds more like the kid they need. I am starting to think that is where the lean if they keep their pick. I do think it will very much be in play however.

Gardiner + 8th overall so the Leafs can snag Bennett and the Oil can add Ritchie or Fleury

Sorry Vinny I bet the Oilers belive their 3rd overall value is more like Weber plus Nashville's 6th. Predators will hang up the phone and Katz, Katz's kids, MacT, and KLowe are proud to select ...... Oh who the hell knows what Edmonton is thinking it's like trying to make sense of the insane.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I am opening up to Draisaitl.

6'2" Sean Monahan and 6'2" Leon Draisaitl would be a nice 1-2 punch.

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I am opening up to Draisaitl.

6'2" Sean Monahan and 6'2" Leon Draisaitl would be a nice 1-2 punch.

Yeah, and we have a tiny LW for both!

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm increasingly liking Draisaitl the more I read about him. Good shift-by-shift scouting report from one of the Edmonton sites.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...of-the-season/

Some pretty good scouting reports on the other top prospect too with links at the bottom of the page. Glad you posted this!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Personally I keep waffling on these prospects. Lately I've warmed up to the idea of a Draisaitl/Monahan combo with Backlund giving us an elite 3rd line centre. It really looks like we can't go wrong, at least 2 very appealing guys will be there at #4. I really have no problem with the Flames going with Draisaitl, Dal Colle or a Sam.

I'm in the same boat. I had most of March to read how there were three key players and then a drop. Had my head around having to be in those three, then moved to hoping the Oilers would take Draisaitl and drop one of those three to the Flames.

lately though the more I read on Draisaitl and even Dal Colle I just don't care ... let it happen. No downside.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm in the same boat. I had most of March to read how there were three key players and then a drop. Had my head around having to be in those three, then moved to hoping the Oilers would take Draisaitl and drop one of those three to the Flames.

lately though the more I read on Draisaitl and even Dal Colle I just don't care ... let it happen. No downside.

Yep. Most of the quotes lately are talking about a big 4 and then Dal Colle slightly behind them. But then you look at the latest ISS rankings and see them with Dal Colle at #3 ahead of Bennett and Draisaitl and it seems Dal Colle might be in some teams top 4. Dal Colle's 8 goals and 12 assists in 12 games in the playoffs looks pretty outrageous. Confusing the issue is ISS listing Dal Colle at centre and Bennett at LW assuming that wasn't just a spreadsheet typo by them (their head scout has called Dal Colle a centre as well.)

This is the first draft where I don't need to be desperately hoping that one of the guys I really like drops because there's 5 guys I really like the sounds of and we're guaranteed a choice of two. We get to just kick back and relax and see how it all falls and which direction the Flames decide to go. An elite talent should be added to the stable this June.

[Vinny01]

The Oilers need to start winning next year. MacT has basically said he plans to add a top pairing D without trading a core player (assume Big 4).

I think the pick is in play unless Ekblad somehow slips through to 3. They may take a center and if so I think they need a guy like Bennett more than Draisaitl. Regardless of size they need two way forwards that are heart and soul

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Some pretty good scouting reports on the other top prospect too with links at the bottom of the page. Glad you posted this!

You can always count on the Oilers and their media to hype or overhype prospects! They've got a lot of practice with this drafting high thing and selling their fans on the future of these top kids

All kidding aside they do have some good profiles up there. I read the Ekblad, Draisaitl and Bennett ones today. We need to keep a close eye on what the teams ahead of us will be saying about these kids. Need more interviews with their head scouts or asst GMs!

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

You can always count on the Oilers and their media to hype or overhype prospects! They've got a lot of practice with this drafting high thing and selling their fans on the future of these top kids

All kidding aside they do have some good profiles up there. I read the Ekblad, Draisaitl and Bennett ones today. We need to keep a close eye on what the teams ahead of us will be saying about these kids. Need more interviews with their head scouts or asst GMs!

Actually, most media reports hype prospects. I find it interesting to get one person's perspective on the top group, any of whom might find their way to the Oilers just as any of them might end up a Flame.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The Oilers need to start winning next year. MacT has basically said he plans to add a top pairing D without trading a core player (assume Big 4).

I think the pick is in play unless Ekblad somehow slips through to 3. They may take a center and if so I think they need a guy like Bennett more than Draisaitl. Regardless of size they need two way forwards that are heart and soul

That's the thing... there is pretty much no way in hell that Bennett plays in the NHL next year - not even for Edmonton. He isn't ready physically.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That's the thing... there is pretty much no way in hell that Bennett plays in the NHL next year - not even for Edmonton. He isn't ready physically.

That's fine. I said they need to win next year therefore the pick is in play for trade.

If they keep the pick then Bennett makes the most sense as I don't see either he or Draisaitl making the NHL next year. If Drasaitl makes it indont expect he is going to be relied on as an impact player for a team with playoff aspirations.