Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Islanders will win one of the Ottawa games too I bet. They'll also beat Buffalo and the Devils.

Flames will beat Winnipeg, Florida and Vancouver.

[Matty81]

Last two losses make the top 5 look like a certainty. Hopefully the Isles keep winning... 4th would be nice. So close to that top 3 that maybe one of them will slide or Burke can trade up a slot without breaking the bank.

I am really hoping for Bennett. I think Ekblad and Reinhart will be gone in the first two picks, and I am not even holding out any hope, too much talent. My dream is that whoever picks 3rd of the Oilers/Panthers, take Draitsaitl, Dal Colle or maybe even Nylander. Now that Bennett is out of the playoffs it might serve us well to decrease his visibility down the stretch a little.

Bennett fits exactly the type of identity this team is going for and in addition to the hard work and chippiness, brings a couple badly needed elements, skill and speed.

Also I love the idea of getting another good centre in this draft with so many available, think he will be a centre at the NHL level, Monahan/Bennett down the middle looks good for a long time. One of Stajan or Backs will have to go if another young centre makes the team though. Great problem to have.

[dammage79]

It would still be a couple of years down the road until Backs of Stajan would need to move on though . none of those forwards in the top four are NHL ready for next season IMO. Ekblad is as close to NHL ready as this batch of prospects go

[djsFlames]

Agreed, I really like Bennett. His play could really fit this team and it's identity. And a center to boot.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

It would still be a couple of years down the road until Backs of Stajan would need to move on though . none of those forwards in the top four are NHL ready for next season IMO. Ekblad is as close to NHL ready as this batch of prospects go

I'd guess Reinhart is ready for sure. Bennett, Dal Colle and Drasaitle could be as well.

[dammage79]

I like Reinhardt and Bennett. But I'm not sold on that idea they could play next season. Bennett needs a little more weight and Reinhardt is an interest case. Draisaitl though along with Deal Colle need another year. I relate them to Mantha and Mantha needed another year before making the jump.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I like Reinhardt and Bennett. But I'm not sold on that idea they could play next season. Bennett needs a little more weight and Reinhardt is an interest case. Draisaitl though along with Deal Colle need another year. I relate them to Mantha and Mantha needed another year before making the jump.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Whoever the Oilers take is a cinch to play.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Reinhart will play next year. Draisaitl MAY play. Bennett and Dal Colle definitely need to bulk up more, so unless they go on a crazy off-season program, chance are they will play another year of junior.

For those interested, Tim Murray from Buffalo breaks down the top-end of the draft giving short little summaries on those prospects.

http://audio.wgr550.com/a/89654095/4...tim-murray.htm

Skip to 3:35. Not very long, but interesting enough to have a listen to.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Reinhart will play next year. Draisaitl MAY play. Bennett and Dal Colle definitely need to bulk up more, so unless they go on a crazy off-season program, chance are they will play another year of junior.

For those interested, Tim Murray from Buffalo breaks down the top-end of the draft giving short little summaries on those prospects.

http://audio.wgr550.com/a/89654095/4...tim-murray.htm

Skip to 3:35. Not very long, but interesting enough to have a listen to.

As I said before, as it parallels Murray's review about him, I see Draisaitl going early like Barkov did, which would be unfortunate.

Still my fave.

[Arsenal14]

For those who believe that Craig Button's rankings are the closest to what the Flames do, here are some players he has rated higher than most (I have 9 rankings that I've been tracking):
Brendan Perlini - Button has him 6, others average 9.1 (min 7, max 13)
Nikolaj Ehlers - Button = 7, others = 11.3 (min 5, max 28)
Jared McCann - Button = 8, others = 13 (min 7, max 19)
Adrian Kempe - Button = 9, others = 18.8 (min 13, max 27)
David Pastrnak - Button = 11, others = 18.6 (min 14, max 27)
Anthony DeAngelo - Button = 12, others = mostly not ranked

Guys that he ranks lower than most include:
Jake Virtanen - Button = 41, others = 10 (min 7, max 15)
Nick Ritchie - Button = 15, others = 7.9 (min 5, max 12)
Roland McKeown - Button = 35, others = 21 (min 17, max NR)

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by saXon

As I said before, as it parallels Murray's review about him, I see Draisaitl going early like Barkov did, which would be unfortunate.

Still my fave.

I like Draisaitl, but I'd be more happy if he was off the board by the time our turn at the podium was up. We're in 4th so if Leon gets taken in the first 3 picks that means one of the elites (Reinhart, Bennett, Ekblad) fall into our laps.

[nik-]

Yeah, the more this goes on, the more I think the Oilers are taking him, which means (assuming we stay in 4th slot) we're looking good.

[SuperMatt18]

I think Edmonton takes Draisaitl if he is still on the board, even before Ekblad.

I think MacT actually realizes they need to win sooner than later and d-men take longer to develop.

They take Draisaitl as the big center they need to help shelter RNH and then they move Eberle/Yakupov for d-help.

My guess right now is (barring the lottery changing things):

Buffalo: Reinhart
Florida: Ekblad
Edmonton: Draisaitl
Calgary: Bennett

[nik-]

And unfortunately he would actually be exactly what they need, and probably a lot harder to ruin because Germans are so German.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by nik-

And unfortunately he would actually be exactly what they need, and probably a lot harder to ruin because Germans are so German.

May be harder to ruin, but Draisaitl would unfortunarely start to be considered no good as well...

If I was drafted by the Oilers, you wouldn't see me standing and hugging my family for getting drafted, you'd see me crying and them trying to comfort me. Then as a bonus, I would go and give them the finger.

I wish whatever player the best that gets drafted by Edmonton, because your first 3 years are likely wasted.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by nik-

And unfortunately he would actually be exactly what they need, and probably a lot harder to ruin because Germans are so German.

That's good though. That means they might not be in the running for McDavid/Eichel in 2014/2015.

Draisaitl has enough talent and compete to make a difference and you just know that they'll put him behind RNH on the 2nd line and try to move Gagner. His work ethic might actually resist the disease of Oilers suckage enough to bump them a few spots up to like 9th/10th overall. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

If we get Reinhart or Ekblad I think we can ease them into some sheltered minutes - like Monahan I think their time in juniors are done. Bennett could use another year in the OHL to bulk up.

[nik-]

^ yes. I agree with all of the above. Except I'm on the Reinhart then Bennett bandwagon. I'd be happy with any of those three obviously, but I don't see a way Ekblad makes it to 4.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I still think the Flames will finish ahead of the Islanders.

I hope someone takes Dal Colle or Nylander and one of the Big 4 drops to us.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by nik-

^ yes. I agree with all of the above. Except I'm on the Reinhart then Bennett bandwagon. I'd be happy with any of those three obviously, but I don't see a way Ekblad makes it to 4.

Yeah if Edmonton doesn't get him Florida will go for it. Gudbranson really didn't pan out the way they had hoped.

I'd like Reinhart also, but with how good Reinhart's offensive prowess is I don't think there's a prayer that Buffalo passes on him. Bennett also seems to have more compete.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Flames games remaining:

TBL, FLA, NJD, LAK, WPG, VAN

Isles games remaining:

OTT, WAS, CBJ, OTT, MTL, NJD, BUF

Personally I think the Flames beat Florida, Winnipeg, and Jersey, and earn a point against the Nuckleheads. NYI I could see losing all these games except for Buffalo. Maybe they pick up a point or two in one of those Sens games.

Realistically we'll probably be picking 5th overall unless someone jumps ahead of us at the lottery.

Really? If you break down the schedules, the Islanders probably have an easier road (and have a game in hand and an extra point)

TBL = MTL
FLA > BUF
NJD = NJD
LAK > CBJ
WPG = OTT
VAN = WSH
Plus another game vs. OTT for the Isles.

The Islanders are playing good hockey (6-3-1 in their last ten) as well. It wouldn't shock me if the Flames still finished ahead of the Islanders, but given the current standings and their schedules the odds are definitely in favor of us finishing 4th worst.