Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by jg13

Calgary Flames social media has been sharing quite a bit of Michael Dal Colle related content in the past week. I haven't seen many, if any posts about any other draft eligible player yet.

I wonder if it has any meaning behind it

He's the 2nd most dynamic offensive forward, only behind Bennett and it's rather close. The only reason he's behind the top 3 is that he's a winger, and teams prefer Centers (with good reason)

The good thing is that we have Monahan and Jankowski, so there isn't a "huge" need for a center. Additionally, next year 7 of the top 11 guys are centers, with only 1 winger and 3 D-men (only one 1 d-man in the top 7). With the Flames likely being a bottom 5 team again next year, we'll definitely have a chance at getting one of those centers (especially if we're in McDavid/Eichel range).

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He's the 2nd most dynamic offensive forward, only behind Bennett and it's rather close. The only reason he's behind the top 3 is that he's a winger, and teams prefer Centers (with good reason)

The good thing is that we have Monahan and Jankowski, so there isn't a "huge" need for a center. Additionally, next year 7 of the top 11 guys are centers, with only 1 winger and 3 D-men (only one 1 d-man in the top 7). With the Flames likely being a bottom 5 team again next year, we'll definitely have a chance at getting one of those centers (especially if we're in McDavid/Eichel range).

Wow! Are you that sold on Janko?

[codynw]

I would have said Monahan and Granlund makes it not a "huge" need for a center before Jankowski. And even then, there's never too many centers since most of them can play wing anyways.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He's the 2nd most dynamic offensive forward, only behind Bennett and it's rather close. The only reason he's behind the top 3 is that he's a winger, and teams prefer Centers (with good reason)

The good thing is that we have Monahan and Jankowski, so there isn't a "huge" need for a center. Additionally, next year 7 of the top 11 guys are centers, with only 1 winger and 3 D-men (only one 1 d-man in the top 7). With the Flames likely being a bottom 5 team again next year, we'll definitely have a chance at getting one of those centers (especially if we're in McDavid/Eichel range).

Janko is still a project. If Backlund takes that next step on being an every team 2nd line center then I would say flames are doing all right at center. You can never have to many good center prospects. Their value is gold in the trade market.

Also if you are going by need like you are suggesting in your post, then lw is pretty full up.

[nik-]

Jankowski is a non-factor in our need to draft centers. If we have the chance to draft a high end pivot, you don't balk because there's a chance Jankowski becomes a top 2 center.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by nik-

Jankowski is a non-factor in our need to draft centers. If we have the chance to draft a high end pivot, you don't balk because there's a chance Jankowski becomes a top 2 center.

On the opposite side of the coin just because we have plenty of skilled left wingers and if scouting deems MDC to be BPA you draft MDC.

[dammage79]

I don't know. I can see Arnold, Granlund ( IMO a sure bet to make the main roster next season), Reinhardt making it an easy argument to take a winger. But I still want Bennett or Draisaitl over Dal Colle or Ehlers.

I've decided I'll be pleased with who that pick on D Day. Well, I'll be upset if they take Ritchie.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

On the opposite side of the coin just because we have plenty of skilled left wingers and if scouting deems MDC to be BPA you draft MDC.

Yeah of course. All things being equal though, I'd prefer the center because it seems easier to move a center to a win than vice versa.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah of course. All things being equal though, I'd prefer the center because it seems easier to move a center to a win than vice versa.

Absolutely........When it was appearing we were going to pick 5th, I really came to like MDC. Just because I think that's whom the BPA was hands down that we were getting. Now that were 4th it's even more fun.... there is always the chance someone slips for whatever the reason.... all of the top 5 are really good hockey players.... Put it in the hands of the scouts and the Calgary Flames are pleased to select......Please let the first name start with Sam but if not Leon, Michael, or Aaron(In no particular order) and I'm still celebrating with a Rum and Coke.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think Draisaitl can be a good pick because he's a C/LW, mainly center. Dal Colle is just a LW.

I feel like Draisaitl and Backlund could be switching center and LW if one is having a bad FO game.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I love Jankowski and think he will be a player for the Flames.

With that being said, you do not count on anyone being a long-term center for the Flames except Backlund and Monahan (and in a way, Stajan since he has signed on for a few more years).

I think Granlund is going to be (and closer to Jankowski of course). I think Reinhart could be. I think Arnold will probably end up being a decent center as well. It is all relatively meaningless until the start playing meaningful minutes in the NHL.

This team is short on game-breaking elite players. Loads of depth. I don't care if it is defence, center, RW or even LW - take the guy with the best chance of becoming elite and a driver in the long-term for this team. I think Baertschi and Gaudreau are both going to be very good LW'ers, as is Klimchuk. It may make no sense to draft a LW'er - especially with the 4th pick (and I don't think the Flames will), but I would rather the Flames draft the game-breaking LW'er if that is the best player available, rather than a center or RW who may be a tier below (Not that I think this will happen - mostly centers available at the 4th pick anyways).

I am glad Treliving has come out and stated 'Best Player Available'. Really relaxes me. I have trust in the Flames' scouting based on the last few years, and if they pick one of the 'media-consensus' top 4 or 5, or go a bit lower and select an Ehlers, Nylander, or Ritchie, (all of which could actually be the best player chosen in the draft in hindsight, as some scouts have been alluding to), I will be fine with it. Each player brings something unique to the prospect base.

The most important thing the Flames need is to add elite-level prospects to their pool. There is loads of depth already, but high-end top talent is what is low at every position.

[nik-]

^ to add to that. The further Backlund gets pushed down the depth chart at center, the better it is for us.

In my mind, he's a 3rd line center on a winning team.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by nik-

^ to add to that. The further Backlund gets pushed down the depth chart at center, the better it is for us.

In my mind, he's a 3rd line center on a winning team.

Exactly
When Flames 3rd line is Backlund, Colborne and Poirier (or similar) who will take on tough assignments and score 100+ points, this a a very good hockey team.

[Caged Great]

What I meant by including Jankowski is that we have a legitimate prospect there. He's still a project for sure, but he exists with the potential to be a top 2 line C. It's not like we only have Monahan and nothing but guys like Knight etc. that are trending to be 3rd/4th liners. Unless someone comes along that is in the same ball park as Monahan or better, there's not a huge need to shoehorn a guy in there at C.

Offensively, Dal Colle is superior (more in your face with a better, harder shot) to both Draisaitl and Reinhart. While I would take Reinhart over MDC because two Monahan's is better than 1, we don't need to take the lesser player in Draisaitl because of the depth we have at the center position.

Also, MDC or one of Sven/Gaudreau could slot in as a RW, even though that might not be the preferred thing.

[handgroen]

One thing we need to consider when having the BPA conversation is the drastic lack of right handed shots. Too bad there likely won't be either of the elite rh shots on the board when we pick.

Spoiler!

But it may affect our decision on who to take @ 34th in a big way and i'm in favor of getting some more righties in the prospect pool.

[djsFlames]

So much praise has been coming out of Edmonton for weeks now for Draisaitl. It's getting hard to imagine them calling anybody else at the podium. I think it's better than 50-50 that Bennett is our guy, given this and Trelivings mentality of building out from center and D. I just hope the Islanders don't let Dal Colle fall into Vancouver's hands, cause I have little doubt that he's gonna be a top line winger.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

What I meant by including Jankowski is that we have a legitimate prospect there. He's still a project for sure, but he exists with the potential to be a top 2 line C. It's not like we only have Monahan and nothing but guys like Knight etc. that are trending to be 3rd/4th liners. Unless someone comes along that is in the same ball park as Monahan or better, there's not a huge need to shoehorn a guy in there at C.

Offensively, Dal Colle is superior (more in your face with a better, harder shot) to both Draisaitl and Reinhart. While I would take Reinhart over MDC because two Monahan's is better than 1, we don't need to take the lesser player in Draisaitl because of the depth we have at the center position.

Also, MDC or one of Sven/Gaudreau could slot in as a RW, even though that might not be the preferred thing.

Ehlers has played right wing at times this year but, to my knowledge, MDC hasn't.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

So much praise has been coming out of Edmonton for weeks now for Draisaitl. It's getting hard to imagine them calling anybody else at the podium. I think it's better than 50-50 that Bennett is our guy, given this and Trelivings mentality of building out from center and D. I just hope the Islanders don't let Dal Colle fall into Vancouver's hands, cause I have little doubt that he's gonna be a top line winger.

There is no doubt the Isles pick Dal Colle. If we pick him, they go after another winger since a winger is what they really need.

[Caged Great]

My order of preference

1. Reinhart
2. Ekblad
.
3. Bennett
.
.
.
4. Dal Colle
5. Ehlers
.
.
.
.
6. Draisaitl

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

There is no doubt the Isles pick Dal Colle. If we pick him, they go after another winger since a winger is what they really need.

If they don't get MDC, I'm fairly certain Ehlers is off to them. They really need a top end winger. They are fairly set at center.