Bob McKenzie's Draft Ranking - June 23 5:30PM MT - TSN

[StrykerSteve]

I'm a big fan of Colborne, he fits in nicely in the top 6, IMO.

[theoforever]

The only team that Colborne looks like a top 6 player is the one that competes for the top draft pick. I like the guy and he showed improvement as the year went along, wing position looks good on him.
If he puts another 10lbs this summer and further develops who knows. Odds are he could be a good 3rd line player, needs some development for 2nd line. This upcoming year will tell the story what he is going to be in NHL.

[codynw]

You guys are high. Plays consistently died on Colborne's stick. If he's in the top 6 his team probably isn't going to be very good.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by codynw

You guys are high. Plays consistently died on Colborne's stick. If he's in the top 6 his team probably isn't going to be very good.

I'd give him a full year on the RW before we start criticizing his play. Keep in mind, he was still considered a rookie last year.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by theoforever

The only team that Colborne looks like a top 6 player is the one that competes for the top draft pick. I like the guy and he showed improvement as the year went along, wing position looks good on him.
If he puts another 10lbs this summer and further develops who knows. Odds are he could be a good 3rd line player, needs some development for 2nd line. This upcoming year will tell the story what he is going to be in NHL.

Ya, the good news is he's only 24. Some on the board will allege that he's peaked, but I think there's still plenty of room considering last year was his first full NHL season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by codynw

You guys are high. Plays consistently died on Colborne's stick. If he's in the top 6 his team probably isn't going to be very good.

It was his rookie season last year and his play did improve as the season progressed. He does have pretty soft hands and just needs to keep improving his overall play. I don't think he's top 3 material but it's a little early to write him off as a bottom 6 player.

[neo45]

Why does Colborne have to be top 6? He is a project and could turn out to be anything at this point. Toronto gave up on him too soon

[The Fonz]

I'd love to see a 3rd line this season of Baertschi Monahan Colborne

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It was his rookie season last year and his play did improve as the season progressed. He does have pretty soft hands and just needs to keep improving his overall play. I don't think he's top 3 material but it's a little early to write him off as a bottom 6 player.

Not sure if labelling him as a bottom six player is writing him off. I don't see top 6 in his future but he's developed a good two-way game and has learned to use his size, especially in board play. Saying he has a future as a 3rd line winger, is good praise considering how he started last season.

[bax]

My draft list for the flames:

1. Bennett
2. Reinhart
3. Draisaitl
4. Ekblad

I'm just not convinced that Ekblad becomes anything more than a 3-4 d-man. Could be wrong, but I see more potential in the other 3, especially with drafting this high.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I'd love to see a 3rd line this season of Baertschi Monahan Colborne

Monahan on the 3rd line? Stajan is more likely to shake out there. Backlund and Monahan are likely to be our 1-2 punch this year.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by bax

My draft list for the flames:

1. Bennett
2. Reinhart
3. Draisaitl
4. Ekblad

I'm just not convinced that Ekblad becomes anything more than a 3-4 d-man. Could be wrong, but I see more potential in the other 3, especially with drafting this high.

So the #1 ranked player for this draft is only a 2nd pairing guy? That makes no sense. Ekblad has all the tools to be a top pairing shut down D with strong goal scoring.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Monahan on the 3rd line? Stajan is more likely to shake out there. Backlund and Monahan are likely to be our 1-2 punch this year.

He'll only be 20 next season. I'd like to see him play 15 mins/game again, and see some sheltered minutes. I'd like Stajan + Backlund on lines 1 + 2 getting the tough minutes.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

So the #1 ranked player for this draft is only a 2nd pairing guy? That makes no sense. Ekblad has all the tools to be a top pairing shut down D with strong goal scoring.

He may be the consensus pick for Florida, but plenty of scouting services has Reinhart or Bennett in front of him. Plenty of scouts have mentioned that he a less of a prospect than Jones was last year.

I'm also weary of the fact that he's essentially been a full grown man since the age of 16. I'm just not sold that his game will translate to the NHL. Don't get me wrong, I think he will be good, but I think he's closer to Eric Johnson than Drew Doughty.

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Ya, the good news is he's only 24. Some on the board will allege that he's peaked, but I think there's still plenty of room considering last year was his first full NHL season.

Definitely to early to tell and no way he has picked. The 2014/2015 season will give a good insight, to his potential. The 2015/2016 will define what he is for sure, so that would be 26. We could have a real steal here.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Ekblad is ranked #2 at worst by almost every service. So he's overall the highest ranked player for this draft. Bob Mackenzie said 7/10 of the scouts he talked to have him 1st. His game obviously translates, why wouldn't it? Looks like a Rob Blake type to me.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Ekblad is ranked #2 at worst by almost every service. So he's overall the highest ranked player for this draft. Bob Mackenzie said 7/10 of the scouts he talked to have him 1st. His game obviously translates, why wouldn't it? Looks like a Rob Blake type to me.

I'm not sold on his game translating because he's been physically mature his entire junior career and therefore been able to dominate with his strength. Things are going to be much different at the NHL level.

Once again, not saying that he's not going to be good, just that for the flames needs I would rather have one of the 3 centers

[19Yzerman19]

He's a d-man. Not drafting d-men in the top 5 is quite simply a sound conservative drafting philosophy - they are inherently high risk, high reward. People ranking Ekblad below the other 3 are totally justified in doing so.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by bax

I'm not sold on his game translating because he's been physically mature his entire junior career and therefore been able to dominate with his strength. Things are going to be much different at the NHL level.

Once again, not saying that he's not going to be good, just that for the flames needs I would rather have one of the 3 centers

I think there would be something to worry about IF Ekblad hadn't scored at nearly a PPG clip over the course of the season. In 58 games he scored 23 goals, 30 assists for 53 points. That is impressive to me, and makes me wonder why certain media outlets are questioning Ekblad's dynamism.

These people go on and on about Ekblad being 'no Seth Jones'. Jones, who is also 6'4" and has similar physical gifts, played 61 games & scored 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points in his only season in the CHL. Very similar numbers, but on a Portland team that was stacked.

At worst Ekblad looks like he'll be the shutdown presence on a good team's 1st pairing. If his offence doesn't translate (which is ludicrous considering the cannon of a slapshot he possesses) he still has the physical and mental gifts to be a pretty special defenceman.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

At worst Ekblad looks like he'll be the shutdown presence on a good team's 1st pairing. If his offence doesn't translate (which is ludicrous considering the cannon of a slapshot he possesses) he still has the physical and mental gifts to be a pretty special defenceman.

This. Ekblad apparently has among the highest hockey IQs in the entire draft. That's why he's a shut-down guy, not because he goes around crushing boys.