QOTD: Where would Bennett have gone in the draft with a healthy shoulder?

[Erick Estrada]

I think after seeing Draisaitl struggle mightily in the NHL this season I feel the Oilers would have likely picked Bennett if they had a do-over as they picked Draisaitl because he was more physically mature and they thought he could step in immediately as surely even they should have known Bennett was the better overall prospect. In regards to Buffalo it's really hard to say as I get the feeling they were set on Reinhart and really seeing how this season is gone with Bennett not playing much and Reinhart looking good in the WJC that they likely wouldn't change their pick.

[Brewmaster]

Of the top 4 picks, the only one that has really proved anything is Ekblad. He is already making a huge impact in the NHL and Florida looks real smart for picking him at 1. Reinhart, Draisaitl, and Bennett have all looked good in junior but we will have to wait and see how they pan out in the NHL. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and put Bennett above these other two before he's played a single game.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think after seeing Draisaitl struggle mightily in the NHL this season I feel the Oilers would have likely picked Bennett if they had a do-over as they picked Draisaitl because he was more physically mature and they thought he could step in immediately as surely even they should have known Bennett was the better overall prospect. In regards to Buffalo it's really hard to say as I get the feeling they were set on Reinhart and really seeing how this season is gone with Bennett not playing much and Reinhart looking good in the WJC that they likely wouldn't change their pick.

The question is though, where would Bennett go if he didn't have a bum shoulder?

Bennett would have definitely been at the WJC if he didn't have the injury, and the theory is that Bennett would have been much better pre-draft as well if he wasn't injured.

[JohnnySkittles]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The Flames have gotten the best player in the draft two years in a row.

No we didn't. Sorry but MacKinnon will be a better player then Monahan when its all said and done IMO, but I guess it depends on what you prefer, a Bergeron type or a more offensive star.

Could we have gotten the best players from the last 2 drafts? Perhaps, but we won't know until at least 5 years I'd say. They're still just teenagers.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

Sorry but MacKinnon will be a better player then Monahan when its all said and done IMO, but I guess it depends on what you prefer, a Bergeron type or a more offensive star.

A Bergeron type gets you a championship, another SC appearance, and a president's trophy in a three year span.

At this point Nathan MacKinnon's sophomore season might be looking worse than Ryan Nugent Hopkins' rookie season.

[thymebalm]

I voted 1st. He was ranked 1st overall by central scouting. That's why I voted 1st.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

No we didn't. Sorry but MacKinnon will be a better player then Monahan when its all said and done IMO, but I guess it depends on what you prefer, a Bergeron type or a more offensive star.

Could we have gotten the best players from the last 2 drafts? Perhaps, but we won't know until at least 5 years I'd say. They're still just teenagers.

MacKinnon may be a more offensive star than Monahan in the future, though I'm less and less convinced of that. Frankly, it's hard to imagine a much higher upside than Monahan is trending to, right now.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

MacKinnon may be a more offensive star than Monahan in the future, though I'm less and less convinced of that. Frankly, it's hard to imagine a much higher upside than Monahan is trending to, right now.

Mackinnon is exciting and will make highlight reels for the rest of his career.

Monahan is boring and will win us big games for the rest of his career.

[T@T]

People should thank their lucky stars Bennett hurt himself just in time for the top prospects game, without this "fortunate" un-fortune injury the flames never would have got him. Before his injury he had 66 pts in 40 games with 87 pims(tops in the OHL for draft eligible players), at the time CSS had him ranked 1st, ISS had him a close 3rd behind Reinhart and Ekblad.

Personally,

Never was high on Reinhart and never paid much attention to Draisaitl, for me it was always Bennett with Ekblad being a close second. I truly beleive Bennett will be at least the second best player in this draft.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

MacKinnon may be a more offensive star than Monahan in the future, though I'm less and less convinced of that. Frankly, it's hard to imagine a much higher upside than Monahan is trending to, right now.

From draft positions and playing styles I was trying to think of comparable players from years back.

Think this is close and both teams would take it.

MacKinnon = Dale Hawerchuk

Monahan = Ron Francis

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

The only place he could have moved to was 3rd. Reinhart and Ekblad were rightly going 1-2 regardless. And since his injury status probably wasn't the decider on Mactavish's crush on Leon, it wouldn't have bumped him to 3.

That's simply not accurate. Reinhart and Bennett were a dead heat for top forward.

As to the poll, my guess is that, if healthy he probably puts up more points and maybe that sways Buffalo's opinion. But as someone said, they were high on Reinhart all along.

Which brings me to my answer: I think if its the same teams, its the same order. But if different teams were picking, no way Bennett goes fourth, even with the bum shoulder.

The only team taking Draisaitl top 3 is Edmonton (morons)

Buffalo had Reinhart over Bennett but I would imagine if you polled other teams, Reinhart and Bennett were pretty even.

Ekblad was clearly the best defensemen, and many thought #1. But Florida wanted a D. If other teams are picking first, any of Reinhart, Bennett or Ekblad could have gone #1.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That's simply not accurate. Reinhart and Bennett were a dead heat for top forward.

As to the poll, my guess is that, if healthy he probably puts up more points and maybe that sways Buffalo's opinion. But as someone said, they were high on Reinhart all along.

Which brings me to my answer: I think if its the same teams, its the same order. But if different teams were picking, no way Bennett goes fourth, even with the bum shoulder.

The only team taking Draisaitl top 3 is Edmonton (morons)

Buffalo had Reinhart over Bennett but I would imagine if you polled other teams, Reinhart and Bennett were pretty even.

Ekblad was clearly the best defensemen, and many thought #1. But Florida wanted a D. If other teams are picking first, any of Reinhart, Bennett or Ekblad could have gone #1.

In other words...Edmonton is no good!

[OzSome]

Sam Bennett was projected to be #1 early last season but when he got injured and missed the Prospect Game (Orr vs Cherry), his stock went down quite a bit. I still think Aaron Ekblad would have get picked up first overall even if Bennett was not injured because Florida was really focused on picking a D. It would have been different if another team got the first pick. I was ecstatic when the Flames drafted him as the 4th pick. Thank god the clowns (McT and KLowe) from up north was picking 3rd pick and decided Draisatl is much better.

[Poe969]

Ok, I guess a good follow up question to this would be: If the Flames had the first overall pick last year, who would you pick?

[Erick Estrada]

I still think Ekblad goes first overall seeing the Panthers picked Barkov the prior draft.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Bennett would still get taken at the 4th spot. It all just comes down to Buffalo. Murray's love-affair of Reinhart was the worst kept secret. I am not sure that Bennett with a healthy shoulder could have done THAT much more to make Murray look away from Reinhart. Sure, if Bennett was able to pot another 30-50pts! It didn't hurt that Reinhart was more in the line of a Monahan - very cerebral, known for his playmaking, way above average defensively, very mature and a leader. Reinhart ticked off all the boxes on Murray's checklist from all the snippets I caught (I was really high on Reinhart and was hoping Buffalo would pass on him).

Edmonton will be Edmonton, and they drafted for need. It may have only been an inch, but Draisaitl did have a much bigger frame and was heavier. They fell in love with his big ass, really. They were a team that finally realized their top 6 was way too small to compete in the western conference (though the Flames seem to be doing ok!), and were prepared to take a lesser prospect to compensate.

Before the draft, I am pretty sure I had Draisaitl right below Dal Colle and Nylander (maybe even Ritchie - I wasn't a huge fan of Ritchie, but remember being in so many discussions about him lol) so I am not trying to talk-down Draisaitl simply because he is Oilers' property now. I think he is a heck of a prospect, and I do think that the top of the 2014 draft was underrated, but I just think Draisaitl was just ranked too high because of his downside - slow speed, and slows down when handling the puck. Reinhart may only be a bit faster of a skater, but he handles the puck extremely well and makes fantastic moves and plays at his full speed. Draisaitl doesn't, and I kept wondering if in the NHL when being challenged with less time and space, if Draisaitl would experience more problems.

I do think the draft would have gone down the exact same way from 1-5.

Florida - needed a defencemen, and on many lists Ekblad was #1.
Buffalo - needed their future captain/first line center/Tim Murray was in love anyways - Reinhart
Edmonton - needed an injection of size in their top 6, seemed to be a priority - Draisaitl
Calgary - Defence/Center - would only be interesting if Ekblad dropped
NYI - No way Ekblad was making it there, and their next most glaring need/want was a winger to play with Tavares down the road. - Dal Colle.

I found this past draft to be so interesting. 5 years from now, we will start to see which of the centers seems to be 'the best' - Bennett, Reinhart, Draisaitl or Nylander (remember, many scouts felt he had the POTENTIAL to be the best offensive player in the draft, and a year earlier was touted as being a potential 1st overall). I would bet that Draisaitl finishes last amongst them, however.

I did want Reinhart - thought having two very cerebral, hockey IQ off the charts, natural born leaders as #1 and #2 centers would be impossible to stop. Now I think exchanging one for that speed, non-stop motor and tenacity makes more sense. I anticipate the Flames will be more difficult to stop with a Bennett/Poirier combo attacking relentlessly at speed and creating havoc with their physicality, and then having Monahan/Hudler just being so cerebral and picking apart holes. Gaudreau would be great on either line - compliments Bennett and Poirier with being able to make plays at high speed, or compliments Monahan and Hudler with how cerebral he is himself (and has shown very good chemistry thus far).

Damn I love this team now, the entertainment they look like they will bring for the next decade, and the hope they bring as well.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Ok, I guess a good follow up question to this would be: If the Flames had the first overall pick last year, who would you pick?

I think the Flames would have picked Ekblad. Not necessarily I agree because I want one of the Sams anyways.

Edmonton on the other hand would still picked Draisatl as the first pick

Anyways I am glad it worked out for the Flames and they didn't have up anything to get Bennett.