Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I don't really want to create a negative vibe here, and i know people have strong opinions on the subject, but like a few others i have a feeling that Ritchie is the guy they are looking at. I had the same feeling when we took Jankowski.

I like Ritchie a lot too, but it would be better and safer to pick one of the top 4 players. I think Ritchie's ceiling is higher than the 4, but his floor is very low. Would rather go for the less riskier pick that has a better chance of reaching their potential.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I like Ritchie a lot too, but it would be better and safer to pick one of the top 4 players. I think Ritchie's ceiling is higher than the 4, but his floor is very low. Would rather go for the less riskier pick that has a better chance of reaching their potential.

Well i'm not necessarily advocating taking him at #4, I just think it may happen...

[Ashasx]

I don't see how Ritchie's ceiling is anywhere near the Sams, Ekblad, Draisaitl, or Dal Colle.

The best "power forward" in the NHL is a 60 point player.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Reading some scouting reports on Richie, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Flames drafted him.

Obviously we'd love to get a big, skilled centre like the Sams or Draisaitl, but Richie sounds like a pretty impressive player. He's big, mean and physical. We all know that. But he's also patient with the puck, has a high hockey IQ, battles for pucks effectively, has a great shot and can find teammates with good passing. It also only takes him a few steps to reach full speed, which is one of his greatest assets.

His biggest knocks, from what I've read, are his durability, consistency and defensive game. His durability issues are worrisome, especially for a player that plays as rough as he does. Consistency comes with maturity and easily correctable with a coach like Hartley. Developing a defensive game (for a forward) takes work and won't come easy, but it too is correctable with effort.

I'd love them to draft one of the big 4, but if Richie is their guy, I'll be okay with it.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Reading some scouting reports on Richie, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Flames drafted him.

Obviously we'd love to get a big, skilled centre like the Sams or Draisaitl, but Richie sounds like a pretty impressive player. He's big, mean and physical. We all know that. But he's also patient with the puck, has a high hockey IQ, battles for pucks effectively, has a great shot and can find teammates with good passing. It also only takes him a few steps to reach full speed, which is one of his greatest assets.

His biggest knocks, from what I've read, are his durability, consistency and defensive game. His durability issues are worrisome, especially for a player that plays as rough as he does. Consistency comes with maturity and easily correctable with a coach like Hartley. Developing a defensive game (for a forward) takes work and won't come easy, but it too is correctable with effort.

I'd love them to draft one of the big 4, but if Richie is their guy, I'll be okay with it.

Thanks for this post, PMM. I was afraid to say this.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't see how Ritchie's ceiling is anywhere near the Sams, Ekblad, Draisaitl, or Dal Colle.

The best "power forward" in the NHL is a 60 point player.

You may be right,sir. Just for argument's sake though- the player he is most compared to, Milan Lucic, is also more or less a 60 point player but his impact on a game can be immeasurable. I'm not saying that we should all agree with taking him over one of the consensus top-4 guys, but i don't think it would be a bad thing.

Plus-it would be a huge bonus if he could play his off-wing and ride shotgun with Gaudreau and give him some more space and some protection.

[Ashasx]

Lucic isn't even the best forward on his team. Bergeron and Krejci are much better hockey players.

If that's the kind of player you want (assuming Ritchie even reaches such potential), that's fine. It's just not a player I'd pick 4th overall.

[Pepper2489]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

They had Barry Karns during the Darryl Sutter era. Appears he now works for Minnesota.

Don't know if they have a current one.

I thought Dominic Pittis had that title at training camp. Not sure how involved he was during the year.

[theoforever]

I would be concerned with the fact that Ritchie gets hurt a lot at junior level.
One would think that at NHL level it would get even worse.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Lucic isn't even the best forward on his team. Bergeron and Krejci are much better hockey players.

If that's the kind of player you want (assuming Ritchie even reaches such potential), that's fine. It's just not a player I'd pick 4th overall.

I would agree with you regarding Bergeron, but not Krejci.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Pepper2489

I thought Dominic Pittis had that title at training camp. Not sure how involved he was during the year.

Pittis was on the ice for most home practices. Very involved.

[Matty81]

I think the biggest ritchie concern in getting a clear read isn't actually his work ethic or consistency, it's his size advantage at his current level. Some of the 16 year old kids trying to defend him in the CHL, he could literally have almost 100 lbs on them. The bull in a china shop style is going to be really boom or bust in the nhl, every team has 3 dmen who are 6'3" or bigger now and fighters at the NHL level will be a big challenge for a guy who didn't fight a lot but plays chippy, he will have to drop the gloves a lot more if he is running around at the nhl level - a 160 lb 17 year old would probably skate away.

Huge upside, huge risk. Guys like that have come into the nhl and largely been kept to the perimeter by bigger men or been knocked out in a fight and completely lost what made them successful. They've also thrived and been real game changers with multiple elements to their game.

I guess my perspective as someone who doesn't like him as our pick is when I look at a team Burke is bating over like the Kings, they didn't add their physical big bodies with their high picks at all and guys like Doughty and Kopitar that drive their team are way harder to find than a guy who can hit and fight.

[Hackey]

If you could guarantee a Lucic at 4 Id definitely take that. Whether or not Ritchie comes anywhere close to that is up in the air. Because of that you obviously rather go with a less risky pick who likely has more potential. Don't see any situation where we select Ritchie at 4.

[sureLoss]

David Burstyn - Director of Scouting for McKeen's Hockey.

http://www.thepipelineshow.com/clips...rstyn_Jun7.mp3


Jack Dougherty

• McKeen has have 22nd
• didn't miss a beat going from High School hockey to the USHL unlike most US players
• physical guy
• mobile puck mover - not really a strength - but can attack seams when he sees an opening
• curently 6'1'' 185lbs. going to top out at 6'2'' 200lbs
• was one of the better US players to win the gold at U18

Dominik Masin

• McKeen has him 28th (highest ranking form Masin out there)
• likes how he approaches the game
• at the U18s was absolutely dominant for the Czechs, played 25-30 mins a game
• very strong against Canada
• 102 PIMs to lead the Czech junior league
• has an element of physical assertation
• plays his position with such calmness and business like approach
• thinks he will translate incredibly well at the pro level
• lots of speculation he will come the CHL route, which will aid in his development and make him much more attractive to an NHL team
• currently 6'2'' 190ish lbs, stay at home defenceman
• last name pronounced "Machine"

Travis Sanheim

• McKeen ranked #15
• scouts in the NHL love to see the progression Sanheim made (compares him to Schiefle)
• was healthy scratched at begining of season, an injury gave him an opportunity and he just ran with it
• lot of emphiasis put in the u18 tournament for good reason
• Sanheim was absolute stud at u18, easily the best defenceman, was the go to guy and lead the team in points
• great muscle mass, skating and muscle mass need to come along a little bit
• once he fills out is going to be a solid top 4 dman

David Pastrnak

• ranked #25 by McKeen
• like him as a player, has interesting skills
• tries to do too much, not really viewed as a negative
• needs to improve his playmaking selection a little bit
• skated a few times with his head down, got him injured with a concussion or back injury depending on who you ask
• missed the last 8 games of the playoffs but came back to the U18s and was absolutely dynamic with Vrana
• defensively needs work and needs to fill out
• if you can put him on a line with a couple of guys that can get him the puck, he has the speed and hand skills to finish his chances

Adrian Kempe

• ranked #26 by McKeen
• embodies everything you love from an NHL perspective
• he has size and skating ability, good physical dimension to the game
• problem is he looks good but by the end of the game he really doesn't accomplish much
• got handcuffed by playing in Sweden's top men's league, testament to his skill he was able to play there, but he didn't play a lot of games where he got more than 10 mins of ice
• doesn't know if Kempe will be able to bring an offensive dynamic to an NHL team
• at worst with his skating and physical prowess will make a good 3rd liner

[dammage79]

Why would anyone in their right mind take a Lucic over a Kopitar? Seems ridiculous.

There is no way in my crazy little world that Ritchie is a better pick than Draisaitl or the Sams or Ekblad. It does not register.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

They had Barry Karns during the Darryl Sutter era. Appears he now works for Minnesota.

Don't know if they have a current one.

Thanks sureLoss. I really feel they should have their own skating coach as that's a big part of player development.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't see how Ritchie's ceiling is anywhere near the Sams, Ekblad, Draisaitl, or Dal Colle.

The best "power forward" in the NHL is a 60 point player.

You really like to overrate MDC don't you? People who have not seen him play look at his stats and think he will be something special but I am telling you this guy will not be able to set up like he does in the OHL and just sit there untouched to release that great wrister he has. If he gets hit he shuts down, he is not a physical guy at all. I have zero doubt Ritchie will be a much better NHL player, he is an absolute beast now and once he gets whipped into NHL shape he is going to be extremely hard to stop. I see his upside is a Lucic type player with better hockey IQ, hands, and shot. I think the Flames should draft whichever of the top 4 group that is left so the Ritchie point is a non factor but MDC should in no way be in the same sentence as the other 4 guys you mentioned.

[Sylvanfan]

I went through the last 30 years of the draft. There are seriously like 3 years where you might keep the guy taken with pick 4 over all the guys drafted in front of him.

My conclusion, it's probably worth a lot more than most of us are giving it credit for to move into one of those top two slots. There are a lot of duds who get picked 4th overall. A guy like Stu Barnes was a 4 overall pick...probably makes you puke. He had a better career than a lot of other 4 overall picks in the past 30 years.

After seeing this I would not criticize Flames management if they trade Baertschi + the 4 overall and another pick to move to the top of the draft.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Why would anyone in their right mind take a Lucic over a Kopitar? Seems ridiculous.

There is no way in my crazy little world that Ritchie is a better pick than Draisaitl or the Sams or Ekblad. It does not register.

Thats if you believe a prospect has Kopitar-like potential. Let's just say our scouts don't see the same thing? What then?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Adrian Kempe

• ranked #26 by McKeen
• embodies everything you love from an NHL perspective
• he has size and skating ability, good physical dimension to the game
• problem is he looks good but by the end of the game he really doesn't accomplish much
• got handcuffed by playing in Sweden's top men's league, testament to his skill he was able to play there, but he didn't play a lot of games where he got more than 10 mins of ice
• doesn't know if Kempe will be able to bring an offensive dynamic to an NHL team
• at worst with his skating and physical prowess will make a good 3rd liner

Really like this kid. If he fell to the Flames 34th pick, I would not complain if they took him.