Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[$ven27]

As long as we get the 4th pick I'll be happy and relatively worry free. Leaving the draft with one of Ekblad, the Sams or Draisaitl will be huge for this team.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by $ven27

As long as we get the 4th pick I'll be happy and relatively worry free. Leaving the draft with one of Ekblad, the Sams or Draisaitl will be huge for this team.

Yup, Draisaitl would be a pretty nice consolation prize.

If things go wacky and we end up with one of the Sams, it's a home run for us.

Go Islanders.

[dammage79]

Bennett > Draisaitl. Bennett is the more "polished" prospect of the two and will likely see more NHL time earlier on in their Careers. In terms of immediate impact Bennett is who you would draft between the two.

Draisaitl though I feel has the higher ceiling long term. If he can be developed properly. Has all the tools and the IQ to do it. Someone just needs to add the fresh coat of wax to get that sparkly shine.

Could see him go to the Oil if they feel they need that size. But they better get some Troy Ward type development coaches on their farm or they'll ruin him.

Ekblad for the Oil is the safe bet.

It's already a fantastic build up to this draft as the top 4 are all coin flips to go #1. It'd be mega crazy and insane if Ekblad or Reinhart fell out of the top two but Draisaitl and Bennett have elements to their games that teams may fall in love with as well. Who is going to be the best fit for which team?

FLA sure doesnt need any more centers. They have a fine stable of them. Ekblad would be their number 1 guy I would assume. Or they could trade down and nab Dal Colle or what not.

This could be a dramatic draft.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Come on man. They are ranked in the 3-4-5 range in most rankings. Its not like one guy is 3 and the other guy is 22. A tireless worker with some grit along with his skill is great and all and I'm not opposed to Bennett in any way, I'm just pointing out that Draisaitl likely is and will be the better pure offensive player of the 2. To me, that's what the Flames need. Let Bouma and Poirier kill penalties and block shots, we need a guy that can put up 80+ points and I'm not sure Bennett has that upside.

Neither am I opposed to us drafting Draisaitl, but there is literally nothing indicating that Bennett won't be able to produce at that level either. Don't know where you're coming up with that conclusion. Draisaitl is also seen as a strong 2-way player, but a good 2-way game doesn't automatically mean they will not be able to produce at a high click.

Also, as someone else point out, Draisaitl was never viewed as the top prospect in rankings, whereas some scouting sources had Bennett as the consensus number one skater at the midway point of the season. I believe he suffered an injury around that time though, which sidelined him for the prospects game and perhaps slowed him down a little. Some of those factors, including Reinhart's torrid run contributed to his stock falling just slightly. But it's huge that prior to that point, he was considered the best.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Neither am I opposed to us drafting Draisaitl, but there is literally nothing indicating that Bennett won't be able to produce at that level either. Don't know where you're coming up with that conclusion. Draisaitl is also seen as a strong 2-way player, but a good 2-way game doesn't automatically mean they will not be able to produce at a high click.

Also, as someone else point out, Draisaitl was never viewed as the top prospect in rankings, whereas some scouting sources had Bennett as the consensus number one skater at the midway point of the season. I believe he suffered an injury around that time though, which sidelined him for the prospects game and perhaps slowed him down a little. Some of those factors, including Reinhart's torrid run contributed to his stock falling just slightly. But it's huge that prior to that point, he was considered the best.

Assuming that the "rankings" resemble some type of consensus among the 30 NHL teams (which of course we all know that they don't), there is something to be said about trajectory. Considering that most of these kids won't be seeing the NHL for a couple of seasons, a player that rises in the ranks and improves during the year deserves some extra consideration IMO.

I think it's quite possible that many NHL teams had Draisaitl ranked higher than neutral scouting sources all along and that is one of the reason other non-NHL team rankings have pushed him up.

[Racki]

I have a really good feeling the draft order winds up being - Buffalo, Florida, Edmonton, Calgary. Reinhart and Ekblad will go 1 and 2. The Oilers will take Bennett or Draisaitl at #3. Once this happens I will begin the process of convincing myself that I wanted the guy that fell to us at #4 all along.

[moon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Assuming that the "rankings" resemble some type of consensus among the 30 NHL teams (which of course we all know that they don't), there is something to be said about trajectory. Considering that most of these kids won't be seeing the NHL for a couple of seasons, a player that rises in the ranks and improves during the year deserves some extra consideration IMO.

I think it's quite possible that many NHL teams had Draisaitl ranked higher than neutral scouting sources all along and that is one of the reason other non-NHL team rankings have pushed him up.

Considering Bennett was 3rd to start behind the top 2 guys it seems a little harsh to punish him for not "rising."

And where has Draisaitl been rising? He seems to have been in the next group after the top 3 to start the season and is still in that group now.

[Vinny01]

I really think the Oilers are targeting Draisaitl with their pick. They have Nurse, Klefbom, Schultz, Marcinnin whom they are all high on. They do not have a big body centre and they are looking to get bigger up front. If they do draft him that means one of Ekblad Reinhart or Bennett will be available to Calgary.

Reinhart seems like a really smart player and is known for his 2 way play. He would fit really nicely as a top 6 centre or top 6 RW.

Bennett appears to be highly competitive and develop into a heart and soul player. Seems to fit the identity the Flames want to build as he apparently plays with an edge

Ekblad is that big 6'4 215lbs RHD this team needs to build around moving forward.

I would be really happy with any of those 3

[Wolfman]

I can see Edmonton being desperate enough to trade their pick for help now. They can't keep developing young players and wait another 4 years. Just my 2 cents.

Not that I care one way or another.

[Poe969]

Keep developing??? What players have they actually developed?

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Keep developing??? What players have they actually developed?

That's my point brother!!! That's why I see them trading the pick.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I can see Edmonton being desperate enough to trade their pick for help now.

I agree, going into the season Craig MacTavish told the media he didn't think another 18 year old kid was what the Oilers needed...

A few months later Edmonton is last in the West and he's gushing about Ekblad.

I'm guessing he didn't like the ballpark of offers made for the 1st and spoke the later comments as a bluff. He almost can't afford for that pick to not turn into an immediate impact.

[sureLoss]

Kyle Woodlief Director of Scouting for the Redline Report on Edmonton Radio
https://soundcloud.com/630ched/oiler...s/oilers-now-1

Summary:

prominently offence draft this year. only 1 dman in their top 8

Ekblad

• not going to be there past 2 or 3
• Seth Jones has bit more offensive upside overall
• Ekblad has shown more offense skills these last two years, especially since last year's playoff
• but when Ekblad gets to NHL, will be big physical defensive dman in his own end and will contribute in the offensive end (will get some powerplay time)
• doesn't see Ekblad as a 60-70 point dman like Subban or Karlsson
• Ekblad probably has better intrinsic hockey sense than jones
• but Jones can hit the right man at the right time and is a very accurate and crisp passer in terms of breakouts in his own end and in the offensive zone as well
• Ekblad has a cannon, going to be the trigger man on the PP as opposed to the quarterback

Reinhart and Ekblad has been the cream of the crop with Draisaitl and Bennett coming up to meet them as opposed to Reinhart and Ekblad falling back to the rest of the pack.

Some people would put Dal Colle in the same tier, but Redline Report has Dal Colle in the 2nd tier

Top tier is Ekblad, Reinhart, Draisaitl, and Bennett

Reinhart

• has sublime skill, innate hockey sense is off the charts
• not a tremendous skater or huge player
• not going to be a power forward or lightning fast like MacKinnon
• uncanny ability to get open in scoring territory even when defenses key in on him
• buries his chances all the time
• terrfic passer that can get passes through traffic delicately
• not a whole lot he can't do in the offensive end

Draisaitl

• about the same height as Reinhart but much bigger frame
• big physical, down the middle presence that everyone is looking for
• really brought his game up this year
• Reinhart has had an extra season of WHL hockey development and Draisaitl also had to adapt to NA and a higher level of hockey in his first WHL season

Bennett

• plays with great ammount of fire and passion in this game
• almost single handedly brought Kingston up from a losing culture
• taken the Fronteacs by the boot straps and dragged them along on his back all season
• not huge but plays a really phyisical style
• very chippy and agressive player and a real agitator and agressor
• plays as hard in the offensive zone as the defensive zone
• very complete player and not a whole lot not to like about his game

Thinks Reinhart, Draisaitl and Bennett are at worst 2nd line NHL centers and have capability to become 1st line centers at some point


Virtanen

• has virtanen ranked 6th overall could go anywhere 6 to 11
• in 3rd tier after Dal Colle
• his knock is Virtanen is not gifted with innate hockey sense, doesn't see the ice or distribute the puck well
• big strong physical winger that loves physical contact and initiates contact all over the ice
• devestating fighter when he drops the gloves
• one of the best pure skaters in the draft
• pretty good package for a weak draft year
• not going to be a creating winger
• going to be a guy you set him up for the one timer on the PP
• going to be a power forward that wins battles and comes out of the corners with the puck and drives to the net with power

Sleepers:

• John Quenneville is one of the most overlooked players
• really good 2 way center that sees the ice well
• red line report was shocked when he wasn't invited to top prospects game
• has a big frame that is going to fill out to a power center game

• D Aaron Irving
• has Irving ranked #23
• has more offensive potential than people give credit for
• would be suprised if he didn't go 1st round
• smooth skater
• sees ice really well
• already prepares himself like a pro

previewing the 2015 draft

• Noah Hanifin is a once in a generation dman
• more developed than Seth Jones at the same age
• top 3 of McDavid, Eichel, and Hanifin is very dynamic threesome
• 2015 is shaping up to be a very very special draft going through the first 2 rounds

[trackercowe]

John Quenneville is a second cousin to Joel for those wondering (like I was).

[jg13]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

previewing the 2015 draft

• Noah Hanifin is a once in a generation dman
• more developed than Seth Jones at the same age
• top 3 of McDavid, Eichel, and Hanifin is very dynamic threesome
• 2015 is shaping up to be a very very special draft going through the first 2 rounds

This is awesome, glad to know it's not just Eichel & McDavid as potential "generational" talents.

Never heard of the guy either

[trackercowe]

If only we had more assets that could return us first (or second) rounders next year. Maybe Hudler and/or Glencross could be moved at some point in the season, but we don't have the expiring contracts to move like we've had the last two seasons.

[Vinny01]

After reading that Sureloss post I think Bennett really fits the culture the Flames are trying to build.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by jg13

This is awesome, glad to know it's not just Eichel & McDavid as potential "generational" talents.

Never heard of the guy either

Oliver Kylington is another dman that is probably going top 5 next year...

16 years old and already playing significant minutes against men in Sweden's top league

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

If only we had more assets that could return us first (or second) rounders next year. Maybe Hudler and/or Glencross could be moved at some point in the season, but we don't have the expiring contracts to move like we've had the last two seasons.

If Cammy doesn't get you a 1st on an expiring contract, those two guys won't. Heck even Vanek couldn't get a 1st. If Glencross would waive that would be spectacular, cap friendly contract. If Cammy walks you can't lose more than one of them though.

[the_only_turek_fan]

With the Islander win tonight the chance of us getting Reinhart, Bennett, or Leon became a real possibility.