How are the other top picks doing?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

RNH tore up the pre-season, he was the best forward for the Oilers that pre-season.

Yeah, I'm not sure if the Oilers really had any choice with Nugent Hopkins, which is their own fault for painting themselves into a corner like that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

RNH tore up the pre-season, he was the best forward for the Oilers that pre-season.

Just another example of why it is important to take pre-season in context.

The kids will always look great while the vets aren't in gear and aren't going 100%.

[codynw]

It wasn't just pre-season, before he got hurt RNH had a fantastic rookie season as a whole. He was definitely skilled enough to play in the NHL, he just wasn't ready physically.

[Burke Salad]

In fairness to RNH, he looks more bulked up this season, he must have committed hard this off-season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

RNH tore up the pre-season, he was the best forward for the Oilers that pre-season.

Yeah and you can make a case Bennett has been the Flames best forward so far in pre-season. Doesn't mean he shouldn't play another year of junior. RNH was really, really skinny and slight.

[albertGQ]

RNH had as good of a 9 game tryout as Monahan last year.
I think they wanted to send him back to Red Deer but couldn't with the way he started his NHL career. Very similar to Sean.

[Incogneto]

Any word on how Neon Leon has looked in Edmonton camp?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

Any word on how Neon Leon has looked in Edmonton camp?

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...in-pre-season/

Best to have modest expectations for Draisaitl this season

In Calgary, they’re already gaga over Sam Bennett, the team’s first overall pick in the 2014 entry draft. Bennett was hailed as the best player on the ice in his first pre-season. As for Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, the player drafted third overall and one spot ahead of Bennett, reaction to his first few games have been more muted.

Draisaitl isn’t a flashy attacker, darting here, deking there, pulling fans out of their seats.

I have to say, though, I’ve liked what I’ve seen. The 6-foot, 2-inch, 210-pound Draisaitl’s game is all about winning and keeping the puck by protecting it with his wide frame long enough to move it deftly with a short, accurate forehand or backhand pass. He’s unselfish with the puck, quickly distributing it. He also seems to have a clue about playing on the right side of his man in the defensive zone, though it’s going to take more time and tougher competition to get a fairer and more accurate take on his defensive acumen.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...in-pre-season/

Translation = Edmonton is no good.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by codynw

It wasn't just pre-season, before he got hurt RNH had a fantastic rookie season as a whole. He was definitely skilled enough to play in the NHL, he just wasn't ready physically.

Again, this is the point.

It isn't just about looking good and being able to show off talent against NHL defenders. It is also about being ready physically, their level of positional and defensive play, considering what is the best developmental path, etc.

People see a fast skater and a couple goals or good plays, decide the kid is more talented than some of the vets, and want to hand them the key to the city. It is a more complex decision than that.

Well, outside of Edmonton, anyway.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Again, this is the point.

It isn't just about looking good and being able to show off talent against NHL defenders. It is also about being ready physically, their level of positional and defensive play, considering what is the best developmental path, etc.

People see a fast skater and a couple goals or good plays, decide the kid is more talented than some of the vets, and want to hand them the key to the city. It is a more complex decision than that.

Well, outside of Edmonton, anyway.

This is the exact reason why I hope the Flames give Bennett back to Kingston. RNH was similarly good but got hurt and is only now starting to get back on track. If he went back to the dub, he wouldn't have likely had the shoulder issues, and would probably be in the same conversation as Hall talent/results wise.

[sureLoss]

Ritchie was returned to juniors by the Ducks.

Goldobin has reportedly impressed with the Sharks.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

This is the exact reason why I hope the Flames give Bennett back to Kingston. RNH was similarly good but got hurt and is only now starting to get back on track. If he went back to the dub, he wouldn't have likely had the shoulder issues, and would probably be in the same conversation as Hall talent/results wise.

Unlikely.

Hopkins hurt his shoulder by toe picking and falling into the boards. That could have just as easily happened in juniors.

RNH was first in the NHL in power play points per 60 in his rookie season. That's like having a high shooting percentage. It was luck. He got lucky and then fans expected him to repeat or improve on 52 points in 62 games.

Taylor Hall came into the NHL with shoulder problems from junior. He had three seasons of increasing point totals despite having shoulder problems from the start and a surgery after season two.

Hall was just better from the start.


Patrick Kane wasn't 180 lbs in his rookie season. Stamkos was maybe 180 lbs. I've read articles suggest he gained 17 pounds to get to 190 so perhaps he was smaller.

There are some good organizational reasons to send Bennett down(save entry level contract, tank for McDavid, etc), and it doesn't hurt to be cautious, but I believe that if Bennett makes the Flames this year his development won't be adversely affected because of a number on a scale.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah and you can make a case Bennett has been the Flames best forward so far in pre-season. Doesn't mean he shouldn't play another year of junior. RNH was really, really skinny and slight.

I agree with you in hindsight, but at the time it wasnt a far fetched idea to keep him up. I am leaning towards sending Bennett down, what's your take on him?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Unlikely.

Hopkins hurt his shoulder by toe picking and falling into the boards. That could have just as easily happened in juniors.

RNH was first in the NHL in power play points per 60 in his rookie season. That's like having a high shooting percentage. It was luck. He got lucky and then fans expected him to repeat or improve on 52 points in 62 games.

Taylor Hall came into the NHL with shoulder problems from junior. He had three seasons of increasing point totals despite having shoulder problems from the start and a surgery after season two.

Hall was just better from the start.


Patrick Kane wasn't 180 lbs in his rookie season. Stamkos was maybe 180 lbs. I've read articles suggest he gained 17 pounds to get to 190 so perhaps he was smaller.

There are some good organizational reasons to send Bennett down(save entry level contract, tank for McDavid, etc), and it doesn't hurt to be cautious, but I believe that if Bennett makes the Flames this year his development won't be adversely affected because of a number on a scale.

It's not just the number on the scale alone though. It's play style too. Bennett plays a mean game that he is way too small to in the NHL. Still possible he makes it this year, but unlikely IMO.

[PeteMoss]

Keeping Nugent-Hopkins up wasn't a mistake. He's fine. The problem is having a completely terrible team all around him (and Hall/Eberle) so they end up having to go against top players and are over-matched for the most part.

The Flames were able to shelter Monahan behind guys like Backlund and Stajan and they'd be able to do the same thing with Bennett if he sticks.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Unlikely.

Hopkins hurt his shoulder by toe picking and falling into the boards. That could have just as easily happened in juniors.

RNH was first in the NHL in power play points per 60 in his rookie season. That's like having a high shooting percentage. It was luck. He got lucky and then fans expected him to repeat or improve on 52 points in 62 games.

Taylor Hall came into the NHL with shoulder problems from junior. He had three seasons of increasing point totals despite having shoulder problems from the start and a surgery after season two.

Hall was just better from the start.


Patrick Kane wasn't 180 lbs in his rookie season. Stamkos was maybe 180 lbs. I've read articles suggest he gained 17 pounds to get to 190 so perhaps he was smaller.

There are some good organizational reasons to send Bennett down(save entry level contract, tank for McDavid, etc), and it doesn't hurt to be cautious, but I believe that if Bennett makes the Flames this year his development won't be adversely affected because of a number on a scale.

Yes, but Bennett is a physical forward, not a playmaker like RNH. His being undersized would increase the chance of injury if he plays that type of game in the NHL.

Skill wise, he's more than ready. He and Gaudreau are the two best offensive talents in the organization by a decent margin.

[OutOfTheCube]

Yeah Reinhart has been just okay in camp and pre-season. I don't see him sticking around -- maybe a couple games out of the 9 to get a taste and then back to Kootenay. Not worried, he's going to be a great player.

Grigorenko has really shown up for camp and impressed Ted Nolan. Worked out a lot over the summer, got bigger and stronger, and showed up with a "work to win" attitude. He's probably been the most impressive young guy at camp along with Ristolainen and is looking to get one if the center ice positions (actually earning it this time).

[darthma]

Virtanen still rehabbing. Sent back to Jrs from what I understand.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by darthma

Virtanen still rehabbing. Sent back to Jrs from what I understand.

Zack Kassian 2.0