Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I just really hope we go after Ekblad because he already seems like he is NHL ready.

Regardless of who it is, I don't think we're in a position where "NHL-ready" should matter much to us. We just started the rebuild, we have some time to work with.

If you're the Oilers, then yeah, you don't really have the time to wait 3-4 years for a guy to develop. But for us, I'd rather go with whatever guy is best at their peak, not the guy who gets there the fastest.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Regardless of who it is, I don't think we're in a position where "NHL-ready" should matter much to us. We just started the rebuild, we have some time to work with.

If you're the Oilers, then yeah, you don't really have the time to wait 3-4 years for a guy to develop. But for us, I'd rather go with whatever guy is best at their peak, not the guy who gets there the fastest.

I am just saying go for Ekblad if you have the chance since he is a good defenseman in a weak draft year. Next year will be another good draft year with many forwards to pick from.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Monahan clearly has #1 centre potential. Backlund to me has solidified himself as a great #2 centre. Then we've still got Granlund (who had a great year), Jankowski, Arnold, Knight, etc at centre as well. So with two guys currently on the team who look like top two line centres, two more who could be as well (Granlund + Jankowski) and a few options for depth centre we seem relatively set at centre longterm.

On D we've got Giordano who has stepped up and looks like a legit #1 or #2 defender. Brodie is looking like a good #2/#3. Russell, Smid, Butler, Wideman, Wotherspoon now with Sieloff, Kulak, Culkin, Kanzig, Gilmour, Rafikov, etc in the system. Overall we lack size in the top 4. Outside of Wideman we are short on right shooters. Ekblad looks like the perfect compliment to our core and would cement our defense long term IMO.

On wing we've got Hudler, Glencross, Colborne, Jones, Byron, Bouma right now. Our top prospects are skilled wingers with Gaudreau, Baertschi, Poirier, Klimchuk and Granlund could be moved there too. We've got depth options with Agostino, Hanowski, Van Brabant, Jooris, etc. Clear lack of size in the top 6 wingers.

My conclusion is that our biggest needs are for a big, RH, play in all situations top pairing defenseman or a skilled winger with size, preferably one who plays a power game.

So for me Ekblad is clearly the #1 fit for us. So much so that I think we should look at trying to trade up for him if we don't luck out and win the lottery. I'd take any of the highly rated centres even though it isn't a big need for us. If none of them fall to us then we have our pick of all the big wingers which is one of our top two needs.

If we do end up taking a winger the new GM will have a lot of flexibility in terms of being able to move a winger prospect to get a key player.

[IgiTang]

Ekblad, Bennet, Reinhart, Drasaitl, Dal Colle

I think after Ekblad, many of the top picking teams will be looking for Centers. Bennet is a bigger skilled center with tons of potential. I dont think Reinhart will drop out of the top 3 but I dont see him as 1 or 2.

[SuperMatt18]

Ekblad-Bennett-Reinhart-Draisatil-Dal Colle

That is my preference for the Flames in that order.

Getting into the top 4 would be huge IMO.

[FlamesAddiction]

For the poll, I had to go with (Ekblad-Reinhart-Bennett-Draisaitl-Dal Colle), just based on my impression of the hype and what their popularity seems to be among fans.

My first hand knowledge of most of them is zilch.

[djsFlames]

Reinhart is definitely not comparable to Bergeron. Different kind of player.

[Stupid]

I went
Reinhart
Ekblad
Bennett
Dal Colle
Draisaitl

Though if I were the Flames and I had the pick of the litter I'd pick Ekblad first.
The order I picked is how I think they'll go.

[Money Baer]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Reinhart is definitely not comparable to Bergeron. Different kind of player.

I think the comparison is drawn from their fantastic defensive game and high hockey-iq. The comparison isn't that far off, but not quite accurate either.

Fans try really hard to nail down a single comparison for each player being drafted which usually end up way off. I like using hybrid comparisons. I see some of Bergeron's game in Reinhart, but his offensive game reminds me of a B. Richards (TBL/DAL). Excellent playmaking, with a very underrated shot.

[ComixZone]

I went:

Reinhart
Draisaitl
Dal Colle
Ekblad
Bennett

...because I want Bennett . Monahan + Bennett would be a hell of a 1-2 punch.

[Gaskal]

1.) Ekblad: Organizational need. RH defenceman that can play in all roles.

2.) Bennett: Toss up between him and Reinhart but gave edge to Bennett because I like how he plays with jam.

3.) Reinhart: Tremendous offensive upside. 1C.

4.) Draisaitl: German Gretzky. Good size, plays physical.

5.) Dal Colle: Can play a good finisher/power game. Not quite as much upside as the other 4.

[Tbull8]

Could Bennett then be a Duchene-Richards hybrid? Speedy forward with an edge?

[dammage79]

That's where I see it. Doug Gilmour JR. Plays for his hero, models his game after his hero. Wears the same number as his hero. Bennett needs to be a Flame just like his hero was.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by getbak

2 of the top 3 and 3 of the top 20 are the sons of former Flames.

By rights, they should all be property of the Flames then. Make it happen Burke.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by saXon

By rights, they should all be property of the Flames then. Make it happen Burke.

The NHL needs a father-son draft rule. They have that in the AFL back home.
Screw the expansion teams in southern American markets!
It would make the draft a total mess though.

[puckedoff]

Reinhart
Ekblad
Bennet
Draisatl
RITCHIE (w/ Flames pick @ 5)

[nik-]

uhh. Who is the second of the top 3 that is the son of a Flame? Bennett models his game after Gilmour. He's not his son.

[Jacks]

If we win the lottery I'd take Ekblad first just because Edm desperately needs him. The tears would be delicious.

[Five-hole]

1) Reinhart. Seems to have really stepped up his game since the WJC. Destroyed the Hitmen. Game breaking center. You can never have too many of those.

2) Bennett. Seems like a Brian Burke player. I agree with FDW that Monahan has #1 upside but I see him more as a great #2 (like a Ron Francis). Having two great #2 centers is the next best thing to a true #1, and I see Bennett as another great #2.

3) Ekblad. For all the reasons FDW likes him I like him to, but I have to admit that based on what he is I'm skeptical about him in that scouts aren't falling all over themselves to praise him. Peaked too early? If he hits his upside he might be as good or even a better player than Reinhart, if he hits his. I just see centers as more likely to hit their upside than D-men. They seem more variable.

4) Dal Colle. Big, skilled winger. Would look great next to Monahan to increase the size of our top 9 who are looking a bit small at present. Poirier - Monahan - Dal Colle would be a fantastically skilled first line with lots of size.

5) Draisaitl. Seems like a boom/bust player. Question marks of drive and consistency are two of the biggest red flags for prospects for me.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I still think Reinhart is the premier pick this draft.

His numbers are just phenomenal this year. They are easily in the range of most of the #1 centers in the NHL today during their respective draft years. People continually underrate his offensive ceiling - this guy is an offensive dynamo.

His defence is equal to most of the 'defensive specialists' that will be drafted in the later rounds. Brent Sutter - a usually fairly defensive-minded coach as we all know - throws Reinhart as the lone forward on a 5-3 PK, rather than the 'defensive specialist' in Gauthier, who is a year older (which is a big deal developmentally at that age).

He has the highest hockey IQ in the draft - Button (or was it Weisbrod?) made the point that guys with high IQ tend to translate their games better in the NHL - either in similar roles they have had in junior, or in new roles that they are not accustomed to. High-IQ = less chance of busting.

He has the size (6'1" - so definitely not undersized). Put him with anyone, and he makes those players better.

I just don't see any warts at all in his game.

Ekblad - I really like him too. However, there is one big question mark about him - does he project to be a #1 defender? Some scouts say yes, others say no. To me, he seems like the complimentary #2 guy. Why? Ekblad did get comparable points to Seth Jones last year. However, majority of Ekblad's points has come from the PP. I think I read somewhere around 70%. That is a very, very high ratio. I don't think that high ratio is as bad as it would be for a forward - being a good PP quarterback has lots of value in itself, unlike a PP specialist of the forward ranks (they simply do not exist I think). He is also a very good defensive-defencemen. Defensive-Ds should never be taken that high.

It does get a bit more fuzzy comparing Ekblad to Jones though - Jones played on a powerhouse team - a team that put up a lot of goals in the season. It is only natural for a defencemen to put up higher points on such a team at ES. Ekblad isn't the skater that Jones is either - but he is hardly a 'bad' skater - just doesn't have that elite skating ability that Jones had. However, Ekblad plays a much more physical brand of hockey - something that is sorely lacking in the Flames' top 4.

It is this rationale that keeps me thinking Reinhart is the obvious choice for the Flames - fills 2 positions if need be, and in my mind, is a better bet at becoming an elite player. I personally think Ekblad will end up being a top-pairing defencmen, but more of that #2 type, rather than a #1 - and this is due to his offensive game. Ekblad doesn't have any 'warts' as far as I am concerned - just don't think he will become a #1.

Bennett - there are no warts to him either except that he is probably not NHL ready due to his size. However, he is more of a late-bloomer - Reinhart has been at or above 1ppg in his last 3 seasons (well, just a few points shy 3 seasons ago). This is Bennett's first season above 1ppg. However, I haven't watched Kingston at all in the past - so no idea how good or bad they were. Last year, he was 6th in scoring, and none of the players ahead of him were PPG players. Maybe it was just a matter of Bennett not getting the opportunity until this year? Someone who follows the OHL more, and Kingston in particular, can answer that question. I do think he will translate to be a very good #2 or possibly a good #1 center - non-stop motor, aggressive play, will to win, high-IQ, etc. I think he will be a high-impact player in the NHL as well.

Dal Colle - I was not very high on him for most of the season, but mostly because he is a winger. He is listed as a center, but I think he will be much like Huberdeau - a guy that probably plays better on the wing. Gives you size and a high amount of skill. I think he will be a special player, and I have him ranked solidly at #4. He has had a similar pace to Laughton (1.4ppg Dal Colle, 1.6 for Laughton) - and this shows how good he is offensively, considering Laughton is a very good prospect in his own right, and is 2 years older. I think he has the highest offensive potential out of all the wingers. The biggest knock against him right now is that the Flames are fairly 'deep' on LW. Still, I am a firm believer you pick BPA regardless of your strengths. Flames for a number of years were easily the deepest on RW, and suddenly in a 2 year span it became the absolute worst organizationally.

Draisaitl is number 5 on my list - had him at 4. Question marks about his ability to translate to the NHL. Some compare him to Kopitar, however. I don't think I see it. He doesn't compete hard enough according to some scouting reports - though in the games I saw him in that didn't seem to be a problem. I prefer a prospect to have speed - Draisaitl is the slowest of the above I think. If you are a bit slower, I think you have to make up for it with a high IQ - which he has. I don't think it is higher than any of the above though. Scouts question his ability to translate his game to the NHL because he relies on slowing the game down. The NHL is a totally different beast where you don't get that time and space that Draisaitl seems to require (and dictate!) on the ice. He is 'Jagr' in Junior, but can he be Jagr in the NHL (not the same Jagr that has ranked as one of the NHL's all-time best players - but a rough facsimile in play-style). I am not so sure. I think there are more question marks around Draisaitl than the 4 above him, and then it seems there is a bit of a drop after him.

If the Flames draft any of the above, there is no question that they will add a very quality player. Those are just my personal rankings (which can change as I read and see more of course! lol). Just figured I would add some context to my thoughts.