Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[moon]

Originally Posted by nik-

Tyler Biggs was a bad draft choice, lets hope Burke doesn't repeat the mistake.

If that is the case we won't have any GM since they all have bad draft choices.

Biggs is 20 years old and drafted around such studs as Noeson, Dandenault and Zach Phillips.

If that is the biggest complaint about Burke then we should be pretty good.

[Scoreface]

I remain hopeful we will get Benett somehow. Dal Colle is next on my list. If neither of them or any of those top guys are still on the board, then I'm down for trading down or completely trading the pick for another first next year.

Given much information here, I don't want to risk a pick on Draisaitl or Ritchie, etc. I'd rather have the team's pick we trade with in next year's draft. As long as it projects to be inside the top ten. 2 picks then + 2nd rounder/B prospect > meh pick this year IMO.

[nik-]

The Bennett/Reinhart dropping to us dream is over. Islanders have pissed away their two games in hand and we're now 2 points up with more ROW.

[Ashasx]

Like 4 days ago we were 3 points back with even games played. Now we're 2 points up with even games played.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

My biggest concern with Ritchie isn't even his weight. Hell, Kessel has a belly and is one of the fastest skaters in the league.

It's that Ritchie lacks any sort of hockey sense. Of the top 10 rated prospects, he has the worst, and it's not even close. He can't effectively use his teammates and often makes the same mistakes over and over.

Yeah, he racks up his points by being on average 50 pounds heavier than his competition, but that's not something that will transition to the NHL.

He's the easiest player to predict to be a bust at this point in time.

Where does any of this come from? He just finished leading his underdog team back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

He had basically no good teammates until they picked up Garlant from Guelph so he was basically a one man team for the most of the year.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Fire

Not sure why so many people are down on his Ritchie. No, he's not going to be dynamic playmaker, but he's going to be top power forward in the NHL. Nathan Horton, Milan Lucic and Jamie Benn are good comparables. People comparing him to Biggs are frankly idiots.

The guy has a wicked shot and a nose for the net. I wouldn't pick him in the top 4, but if the Flames pick 5th or 6th then Ritchie should be a prime target.

Like many as mentioned he also fits a big need in this organization. Only Ferland plays a similar style and he's not at the same level as Ritchie.

Because of the opportunity cost. Speaking as someone who hopes we don't end up with Ritchie, I like Ritchie, just like Dal Colle and Bennett a lot more, they are way better players from what I have seen. If throwing checks and getting in an occasional fight won hockey games, you'd take the big guy over the guys who scores more every time... also the Leafs would be in the playoffs.

Also Burke's mantra of getting guys who score and surrounding them with beef... beef is easier to find than high end scorers.

I figured comments like those were coming from Burke on Draitsaitl, super skilled but won't throw a check or get involved after the whistle to save his life.

[dammage79]

Well, Only chance the Flames get Bennet, Ekblad or Reinhart is a lotto win or a trade up.

I'm wondering if the Draisaitl comments are misleading indeed. Cannot be the ONLY player he did not like in the top five. And to have Ritchie (!?) as a preference over him? Well, I'm no pro scout or GM or anything but that seems right off he mark.

I already feel like I'm going to be disappointed with the pick. Hell, I'd take two or three players further down the list than Ritchie or Dal Colle. Although I wont cry over Dal Colle becoming a Flame but I won't be over the moon either. Ritchie I might.

[Matty81]

Ritchie would not be the end of the world, he's going to play at the NHL level anyway, just doesn't have the same ceiling as the other guys.

My big concern with him going forward is that I believe he's had a couple concussions already.

[nik-]

It is odd that Burke would say "I don't like him, lets move on" He typically doesn't have an issue spelling out his issues with a player.

[Scoreface]

Originally Posted by nik-

The Bennett/Reinhart dropping to us dream is over. Islanders have pissed away their two games in hand and we're now 2 points up with more ROW.

That's why I said 'somehow.' I think Burke will try to trade up to get him if he's still there for the Isles. Even if it costs us our second to do so, I'm fine with that. Even better of course if it only takes Colorado's second. After all, it's Snow we're dealing with. The same guy that allegedly would have handed over all of their picks over last year for MacKinnon.

[nik-]

The only reasonable position I could see us moving to is up one with the Islanders. Going to 1 would be prohibitive, if Florida is at 2, they're going to want to take Ekblad, and Edmonton is not going to trade picks with us.

So what's the point. Eat it this year and hope the hockey gods stop being pricks next year and reward a team trying instead of all these shameful embarrassments to pro hockey.

[Matty81]

I think the Isles want Dal Colle, they lost Vanek and need a sniper to play with Tavares on the wing, they already have Strome and Tavares down the middle and if they add Draitsaitl or Bennett I can't see any of them being a 3rd line centre.

Assuming Ekblad and Reinhart are 1 and 2 as expected the flames draft probably depends on who the coilers pick... if they really like Draitsaitl as has been suggested, maybe Bennett falls to 5. They do really need size. I think it might be wishful thinking though.

Carolina has looked real bad in their last couple and after playing home to washington they go out on the road for the last two against Detroit and Philly right in the mix... they could lose all three. Calgary has the tiebreak with them and only needs to win 2/3 to pass them if that happens. Slipping to 6th isn't out of the question, it seemed like a longshot a week ago but keeps getting more realistic every night.

[Scoreface]

Nik, I agree with that, but if Bennett is still there, would you want to trade up with the Isles for him? If so, what kind of offer would you make?

If Bennett et al are gone (not including Leon), I still would be tempted to make the offer I suggested. It would be a precarious one though. As much as I've read about the rest of the fringe impact players outside those top guys, I'll have to trust Burke on that one.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Carolina has looked real bad in their last couple and after playing home to washington they go out on the road for the last two against Detroit and Philly right in the mix... they could lose all three. Calgary has the tiebreak with them and only needs to win 2/3 to pass them if that happens. Slipping to 6th isn't out of the question, it seemed like a longshot a week ago but keeps getting more realistic every night.

I just puked on my shoes and I'm not even wearing shoes. This post made me walk to my front door, and puke on my shoes

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Scoreface

Nik, I agree with that, but if Bennett is still there, would you want to trade up with the Isles for him? If so, what kind of offer would you make?

First plus Avs 2nd? Probably doesn't get it done but it might because if it's Bennett there they might like Dal Colle as a big winger better for Tavares. If Buffalo takes Bennett first the next picks will go Ekblad, Reinhart and then it's Draisaitl left for us. At that point I probably don't offer to move up.

I'm just so sick of watching this unfold, I just want this season to be over and the lottery to be done. God these other teams are annoying. Like seriously you losers, you can't string a couple wins together?

[YogiBerra]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think the Isles want Dal Colle, they lost Vanek and need a sniper to play with Tavares on the wing, they already have Strome and Tavares down the middle and if they add Draitsaitl or Bennett I can't see any of them being a 3rd line centre.

Assuming Ekblad and Reinhart are 1 and 2 as expected the flames draft probably depends on who the coilers pick... if they really like Draitsaitl as has been suggested, maybe Bennett falls to 5. They do really need size. I think it might be wishful thinking though.

Carolina has looked real bad in their last couple and after playing home to washington they go out on the road for the last two against Detroit and Philly right in the mix... they could lose all three. Calgary has the tiebreak with them and only needs to win 2/3 to pass them if that happens. Slipping to 6th isn't out of the question, it seemed like a longshot a week ago but keeps getting more realistic every night.

Carolina holds the tiebreaker over us so we would need to earn at least 5/6 points to pass them. While Carolina gets 1 point max.

CGY - 28 ROW
CAR - 33 ROW

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by nik-

I just puked on my shoes and I'm not even wearing shoes. This post made me walk to my front door, and puke on my shoes

You just know this team is never going to pick in the top 5.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by nik-

I just puked on my shoes and I'm not even wearing shoes. This post made me walk to my front door, and puke on my shoes

~Haha sorry - the Flames need 2 results out of 6 games (carolina and calgary games) to go their way and one can be an OT loss for either team, so it's not likely.~

Edit, one result... good catch Yogi, I was just looking at the wins column, figuring the flames will have more wins than them if it was a tie and that was it.

1/6 results needed, clean win for carolina or clean loss for the flames

[djsFlames]

We're not passing carolina.

[$ven27]

All I want is one of Ekblad, Reinhart, Bennett or Draisaitl. Is that really too much to ask HG?