Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[sureLoss]

Draisaitl with 1G 2A in the USA vs Germany game.

Looked pretty good. Skating issue is overblown.
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Goal


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[Caged Great]

It's weird, because every time I've watched Draisaitl before he seemed too slow, maybe that's because he tries to slow the game down. That skating in the clips there is perfectly fine and not an issue at all.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Draisaitl with 1G 2A in the USA vs Germany game.

Looked pretty good. Skating issue is overblown.

Goal

Yeah ... that doesn't look like skating issues to me.

[getbak]

He has kind of an hunched-over skating style (I wonder if he needs to use a longer stick?), which looks awkward.

That's the big criticism of traditional scouting, any time a player does something that looks different from the prototypical player, it gets flagged as a possible problem even if it doesn't affect the player's game at all.

Sam Reinhart has also has his skating criticized, but they say that's because he wears his skates with the tongues sticking out, so his skating looks weird because they kind of flop around when he's at speed.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by getbak

He has kind of an hunched-over skating style (I wonder if he needs to use a longer stick?), which looks awkward.

That's the big criticism of traditional scouting, any time a player does something that looks different from the prototypical player, it gets flagged as a possible problem even if it doesn't affect the player's game at all.

Sam Reinhart has also has his skating criticized, but they say that's because he wears his skates with the tongues sticking out, so his skating looks weird because they kind of flop around when he's at speed.

Lol, I was just coming in to say this. He hunches over constantly, looks like Lucic out there. Only halfway through watching the first, but he has been noticable out there.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Brando

I just spoke to someone employed by the Flames (i don't want to say names) that I believe would be closely involved in the drafting process and take it for what it is worth but he told me that the collective scouts don't believe Ekblad is a Franchise D or even on the same level of Jones. He said that they are all divided on the Sams and that they really like Drasaitl but don't believe he will slip by Edmonton. He said a lot of the scouts are really high on Ritchie even more than Da Colle and think he could be a top 4 player. He didn't seem to act as though Da Colle was an option.

The fact that they like Draisaitl is comforting.

However, didn't Burke say he was not a fan? How much sway will he have though? This was pre-Treliving.

The evidence is mounting that the Oilers will take Draisaitl.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

The fact that they like Draisaitl is comforting.

However, didn't Burke say he was not a fan? How much sway will he have though? This was pre-Treliving.

The evidence is mounting that the Oilers will take Draisaitl.

He said, allegedly, that he didn't like him at a Fan forum, but in a decidedly not Burke-ish manner. On the radio, while not being able to say his name properly, he said that he had size and skill.

We really have no idea where Burke lands on him

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by nik-

We really have no idea where Burke lands on him

On a line beside Johnny Hockey if I had my way!

[ignite09]

So announcers have mentioned a couple times Draisaitl is 6'2 212. Anyone know what size Kopitar/Getzlaf/Thornton were on their draft days?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ignite09

So announcers have mentioned a couple times Draisaitl is 6'2 212. Anyone know what size Kopitar/Getzlaf/Thornton were on their draft days?

Thornton: 6'4'' 198 lbs
Getzlaf: 6'2.5'' 195 lbs
Kopitar: 6'3'' 202lbs

[Rick M.]

There's no doubt Draisaitl belongs in the top 4. Scientists built him for the Pacific division! I wish we also had the 5th pick so we could take Ehlers too. He can play either wing.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

There's no doubt Draisaitl belongs in the top 4. Scientists built him for the Pacific division! I wish we also had the 5th pick so we could take Ehlers too. He can play either wing.

Just as long as the oilers don't end up with him!

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by lanny9

Just as long as the oilers don't end up with him!

Edmonton's getting an awesome prospect whether we like it or not. All we can hope for now is that they screw up his developement the way they're doing with Yakupov or RNH.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Who is that Sabres fan on this board? OutoftheCube or something?

Who does he think BUF will take with pick #2?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I don't see the problem with having doubts on Ekblad being super awesome amazing. He is very good, but he doesn't have any skill that was clearly elite. He doesn't have the hockey sense/fluidity that Doughty had, and that's pretty much the last super D prospect from the top 5 in the last while.

Ekblad has a very good shot, is big, is quickish for someone that size and looks good overall, but there's not something that separates him from the Hedman tier of guys. He doesn't have Pronger's mean streak, he doesn't have Al Iafrate or MacInnis' slap shot, he is not Pavel Bure fast. Nothing that you could say is exceptional.

That's not much of a knock though because really how many in history have had those exceptional skills. He should still be at worst an elite #3, with it being more likely that you're getting a good #2 or possible #1 D-man. Can't really complain with that.

Actually he does have an elite point shot.

[djsFlames]

Draisaitl really is a monster. Just so stocky, must be hard to knock him off the puck. He'd do well in the Pacific division.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Actually he does have an elite point shot.

It's very good. It's not at Adrian Aucoin's level or someone elite like Al MacInnis.

That's not saying it's bad, it's around the same level as Wideman's and he's a 40+ point guy.

To me, an elite point shot is someone who can score 15+ goals a year from the blueline. Only 5 did it this year, and I don't think Ekblad's shot is as good as Ekman-Larsson's or Chara's and certainly no where near as good as Karlsson or Weber's

[sureLoss]

Conroy on the Fan 960.

Says everyone talks about top 3. Flames believe there is a top 6.

Want the best player available. Knows they have a lot of LWs but that doesn't matter

Flames do have a specific player in mind they would love to have with that pick, but unsure of if they will get him at 4. Depends on what teams before them do.

Boomer asked if there was a guy in the top 6 they wouldn't draft. Conroy says no. In years past there were guys in the top tier that weren't fits for the Flames they took off the list. Conroy does say they did remove some players from their draft list in the next 14 ranked prospects.

[sureLoss]

My guess as to the Flames top 6 (in no particular order)

Ekblad
Reinhart
Draisaitl
Bennett
Dal Cole
Ritchie

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Conroy on the Fan 960.

Says everyone talks about top 3. Flames believe there is a top 6.

Want the best player available. Knows they have a lot of LWs but that doesn't matter

Flames do have a specific player in mind they would love to have with that pick, but unsure of if they will get him at 4. Depends on what teams before them do.

Boomer asked if there was a guy in the top 6 they wouldn't draft. Conroy says no. In years past there were guys in the top tier that weren't fits for the Flames they took off the list. Conroy does say they did remove some players from their draft list in the next 14 ranked prospects.

I'm starting to get concerned that we are getting Ritchie based on comments like this. When others are saying its a clear cut top four, why are our guys so much smarter than others and can identify a top six? Believe they are laying the path for a Ritchie selection and when he is being compared to a potential Anthony Stewart in the hockey news draft preview, that scares the hell out of me. Burke said they need to get the drafting right and I hope he and Treliving stand by those words.