Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[herashak]

top defensive prospect next year noah hanifin is as good as seth jones

[saXon]

As it sits, my top 5 are:


1. a)Ekblad
1. b)Dal Colle
3. Draisaitl
4. Reinhart
5. Nylander

Ekblad has all the makings of a franchise defender. He has a monstrous shot from the point. It would be a very good opportunity to have him develop with Gio.

Dal Colle on the other hand is the much needed 'beef' that Burke was talking about. The kid is a bull in a china shop. He goes hard to the net, has a wicked shot, and a larger frame which is sorely lacking in this draft. Last but definitely not least, he's a very confident kid.

I'm torn between the two above. They are tied for first on my personal list.

Draisaitl is another big body, but an all around talent. He doesn't have as much crash and bang in his arsenal, but another kid I would love to see within the Flames' ranks.

Bennett is talented, but to me he looks like another Monahan, with a slightly faster foot speed. That's why he's off my top 5 list.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by moon

He is much further statswise than Max.

He was over a PPG at 17 Max didn't get there until 18 and at a lower rate. SAMs 18 year old season much better than anything Max did.

I said "he's not far ahead". Better stats yes but are they they that much better? Remember Max was a 3rd rounder but at least he wasn't a creampuff when the playoffs rolled around and the games got tougher.

I have seen Sam play 6 or 7 times now and it amazes me that he could be consider for #1 overall.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by herashak

top defensive prospect next year noah hanifin is as good as seth jones

Yup, I heard he might even play at Boston College next year as a 17 year old.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by saXon

Bennett is talented, but to me he looks like another Monahan, with a slightly faster foot speed. That's why he's off my top 5 list.

Bennett is nothing like Monahan, he's a hard nosed talented player who fights for every inch of ice and will punch you in the mouth to get it, infact he's the type of winger Monahan will need in the future.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by T@T

Bennett is nothing like Monahan, he's a hard nosed talented player who fights for every inch of ice and will punch you in the mouth to get it, infact he's the type of winger Monahan will need in the future.

Meh, you must have seen someone I haven't. The other 5 I've listed have more 'punch' than I've seen in Bennett.

[codynw]

"He's just a huge human being, I call him Shrek"

Dumba talking about Ekblad in an interview I saw just now.

[saillias]

Nobody's wowed by 6'3" in the professional leagues. That pmakes him 1 inch taller than an average NHL defender.


All the same things they're saying now about Ekblad, they were saying about Jones last year. And Hedman... Larsson, etc. It makes me skeptical of anything TSN puts out there in regards to who has passed who for the consensus #1. TSN relies on this hype.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The pessimist in me has the following concerns about the "top 2" in this years draft:

1) Sam Reinhart reminds me a little too much of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, skilled but a little too soft/passive.

2) Aaron Ekblad might not have much room left to grow, and if he's close to "maxed out" now, he won't excel against NHLers the way you would hope a top pick would.

Granted, I'm no scout and have had very limited viewings of both players.

Why is Ekblad any more or less likely to grow than anyone else?

[Bourque's Twin]

Unless Reinhart falls, I don't see Burke drafting him. He's going to go hard for Ekblad and DC.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Unless Reinhart falls, I don't see Burke drafting him. He's going to go hard for Ekblad and DC.

It's Probably that Viking Beard he rocks as a 16 year old.

[kn]

TSN mentioned that Reinhart is a future Lady-Byng finalist, having only 2 minutes in penalties in the WHL this year, and 0 in the tournament. That certainly doesn't scream truculence but as Burke says, he won't bypass skill.

I don't follow juniors so the first time I've watched Reinhart and Ekblad play has been in this tournament. If they are the consensus top two players, it seems like a weak draft this year. I'm sure they both will help their respective NHL teams but neither seem like impact players at this point and certainly will need time to develop.

[Gord Wappel]

Yellow Highlite all the Finns on the list.
Just one tournament - almost home ice - but they looked pretty good.
Maybe Flames should get one. kaks, kolm, neli, viis.

[djsFlames]

Dal Colle has better stats, PPG, GPG than Reinhart this season.

Plus he's got the size and grit, with quick hands and apparently a strong 2-way game. I don't know what puts Sam much further ahead.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by saillias

Nobody's wowed by 6'3" in the professional leagues. That pmakes him 1 inch taller than an average NHL defender.


All the same things they're saying now about Ekblad, they were saying about Jones last year. And Hedman... Larsson, etc. It makes me skeptical of anything TSN puts out there in regards to who has passed who for the consensus #1. TSN relies on this hype.

If Ekblad turns out be Hedman or Jones, The Flames should be ecstatic about picking him.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Dal Colle has better stats, PPG, GPG than Reinhart this season.

Plus he's got the size and grit, with quick hands and apparently a strong 2-way game. I don't know what puts Sam much further ahead.

Sam probably gets a big boost in the rankings for the exceptional play he had last season.

He has also played very well for Canada at the U18 tournaments (2x WJC under 18 and Ivan Hlinka) 19gp 21pts over the last 2 years.

Can Dal Colle supplant him as the consensus best forward in the draft? He may but Reinhart has a better resume.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Plus he's got the size and grit, with quick hands and apparently a strong 2-way game. I don't know what puts Sam much further ahead.

A: Longer Track Record
B: Reinhart hasn't had to be moved off center
C: Doesn't play on as good a team
D: He doesn't really have less size he's only one inch shorter and has more weight.

I'd probably put Dal Colle 4th amoungst forwards behind Reinhart, Draisaitl, and Bennet.

[nik-]

Is Dal Colle playing center this year?

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by nik-

Is Dal Colle playing center this year?

Left wing, same as last season.

[nik-]

Yeah, that's what I thought, considerably less attractive imo. This draft is LWer heavy.