Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by nik-

The hockey gods can give us News Anchor Bukkake this year if they want as long as they reward our righteousness next year.

Graphic

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I think Ritchie falls, gets drafted in the 12-16 spot.

There's gotta be concern over his determination. At 230 lbs, he's fat. That's the same weight as 6'7''-Chris Breen, and 6'8''-Tyler Meyers. And if he's not physically fit, that would explain why so many scouts say he's a beast one minute then taking shifts off the next.

He could have all the tools to be great, except for that desire to do what it takes, which in that case he'd just be a big, skilled, lazy, inconsistent player.


I've dropped him out of my top 10.

Keegan Kanzig was 6'5", and 245lbs - and apparently was a fitness freak and had a physique that Conroy compared to Schwarzenegger.

It can go both ways though - he may indeed be fat. However, put him in Calgary's system that preaches fitness, and has trainers taking the kids to the grocery store even (like they did with Howse), and go through some Hartley camps - development can be equally as important as scouting. From the scouting reports I have heard, Ritchie is fast, tough and very skilled - add his size into the equation and he is easily a top 10 draft pick I think.

If Calgary is really interested in him, they will be scouting him a lot, grill him in the interviews about his commitment, and will also be talking to his coaches, trainers and teammates.

He isn't amongst my favorites for the Flames to draft, but I wouldn't hate the pick I think - but I do wish I have had more of a chance to watch him more. I just have him lumped-in with that second tier of prospects, but I have no idea where.

[the_only_turek_fan]

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9593

MacKenzie has Hayden Fleury at #6. The highest that Fleury has been in any ranking.

[SuperMatt18]

Starting to think we are destined to pick 6th, we will just never get a top 5 pick.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

However, put him in Calgary's system that preaches fitness, and has trainers taking the kids to the grocery store even (like they did with Howse)

Again, this is what scares me. We just had a fat lazy kid, Howse, quit hockey on us last fall.

If Ritchie has conditioning problems, I wouldn't touch him. He's been playing high level hockey his whole life... If he isn't eating right and isn't getting in the proper workouts, it's because he doesn't care enough. I remember friends of mine who were drafted into the WHL @ 15 years old, and the direction these teams provided 12 years ago was pretty intense. I can't imagine it's taken a step back.

If this is all the case, he'll struggle in the NHL. Unless he's playing against the Oilers, there aren't any kids in this league that he'll have the upper hand on simply due to out-weighing them by 40-60 lbs.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9593

MacKenzie has Hayden Fleury at #6. The highest that Fleury has been in any ranking.

The only issue I have with picking Fleury is that he doesn't seem to have as much upside as the forwards projected in that range. His ceiling to me is a 2nd pairing dman while Ritchie, Ehlers, Dal Colle, Perlini, Virtanen have some degree of 1st line potential.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9593

MacKenzie has Hayden Fleury at #6. The highest that Fleury has been in any ranking.

Those rankings are also from January.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Again, this is what scares me. We just had a fat lazy kid, Howse, quit hockey on us last fall.

If Ritchie has conditioning problems, I wouldn't touch him. He's been playing high level hockey his whole life... If he isn't eating right and isn't getting in the proper workouts, it's because he doesn't care enough. I remember friends of mine who were drafted into the WHL @ 15 years old, and the direction these teams provided 12 years ago was pretty intense. I can't imagine it's taken a step back.

If this is all the case, he'll struggle in the NHL. Unless he's playing against the Oilers, there aren't any kids in this league that he'll have the upper hand on simply due to out-weighing them by 40-60 lbs.

I, for one, completely agree with you. If Ritchie does have these issues, I would prefer the Flames to draft someone else. Just his size/skill/agility and apparently his IQ are all fairly high. Combine + interviews both with him and the people around him will dictate how high (and even if at all) he gets ranked in the Flames' own draft list.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Graphic

If you can't stand the heat, stay outta the Newsroom.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by nik-

If you can't stand the heat, stay outta the Newsroom.

Oh see, I thought he was asking for a graphic. Bunk, you little devil.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Starting to think we are destined to pick 6th, we will just never get a top 5 pick.

at this point I think we will be lucky to be 6th. Unless we win the lottery there isn't much hope getting any of the five we have been talking about.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Robbob

at this point I think we will be lucky to be 6th. Unless we win the lottery there isn't much hope getting any of the five we have been talking about.

I don't know about that.

Reinhart
Bennett
Ekblad
Draisaitl
Dal Colle

Those are my top 5, and seem to be consistent with the views of other people. This year more than others seems to be a real toss up... I don't think all 5 of the above actually go top 5.

[nik-]

As much as there have been things to enjoy this season, it's still annoying going wire to wire knowing you have no chance at playoffs. Knowing you're rebuilding. Knowing you're going to be relatively crappy. Only to have these perennial losers swoop in at the end of the season, showing no shame at all, and just scooping the top picks again.

Give us a chance at fancy toys too please, losers. You shouldn't keep getting all the best toys just because you keep breaking yours.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

I always think of Jeff Skinner when people talk about Virtanen. I don't follow any of it closely enough to compare the players but the story feels similar - a physically mature goals scorer who doesn't crack the top five because he isn't 'elite' but sure seems effective.

Except Skinner wasn't physically mature in his draft year I don't think. Size was much more of a concern on him.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by nik-

The hockey gods can give us News Anchor Bukkake this year if they want as long as they reward our righteousness next year.

You made me google "News Anchor Bukkake" and....

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Robbob

at this point I think we will be lucky to be 6th. Unless we win the lottery there isn't much hope getting any of the five we have been talking about.

Lots of 'fallers' going off of recent memory

2013
- Jones 1/2 -> #4
- Nichushkin 4-8 -> #10

2012
- Grigorenko 3-6 -> #12
- Forsberg 3-6 -> #11

2011
- Couturier 1-4 -> #6
- Landeskog 4-7 -> #2 (riser)

2010
- Gormley 4-7 -> #13
- Fowler 5-8 -> #12

[dammage79]

Helloooo Perlini! Any kid who gets their name called by Burke on draft day is gonna go "YES! Thank god! That team looks so awesome!"

[MikaelBacklund]

I can just see Burke targeting Ritchie. Can any long time OHL fan comment on what separates Nick Ritchie from Zack Kassian during his draft year. True Ritchie is leading his team in points, but Kassian wasn't far from leading his team. Coincidentally both players played for Peterborough in their draft year and both players stand tall at 6'3.

Kassian's Stats: 61gp 24g 39a 63p 136pim
Ritchie's Stats: 61gp 39g 35a 74p 136pim

Just like most posters, I did some quick youtube scouting on Ritchie and all I really saw was a physical, big winger who has a solid shot. His puck handling didn't appear that great and you could tell it was difficult for him to generate any speed given his size. Does anyone else see him project as the next Kassian 2.0?

[sureLoss]

An NHL scout from an Eastern conference team and an NHL scout from a Western conference team do a mock draft:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...etails=2-29342

Eastern Conference Scout:

1. Sabres - Aaron Ekblad
2. Oilers - Sam Bennett
3. Panthers - Sam Reinhart
4. Islanders - William Nylander
5. Flames - Nicholas Ritchie

Western Conference Scout:

1. Sabres - Sam Reinhart
2. Oilers - Aaron Ekblad
3. Panthers - Sam Bennett
4. Islanders - Michael Dal Colle
5. Flames - Jake Virtanen

[dammage79]

So two scouts don't like draisaitl. Got it.