Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[strombad]

Originally Posted by YogiBerra

Future considerations posted their january rankings:
http://futureconsiderations.ca/fc-re...014-nhl-draft/

1). D Aaron Ekblad, Barrie (OHL), 6-4, 215
2). C Sam Reinhart, Kootenay (WHL), 6-1, 185
3). C Leon Draisaitl, Prince Albert (WHL), 6-2, 210
4). LW/C Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa (OHL), 6-2, 180
5). C/LW Sam Bennett, Kingston (OHL), 6-0, 180

I would be happy with any of the top five, love that they all have decent size picking good years to draft in for that consideration at least.

Swap Dal Colle and Bennett, and you've pretty much got my order of preference as to who the Flames should take.

I find myself wanting Draisaitl and Bennett quite a bit, maybe not because they're better than Ekblad/Reinhart, but more so because I just don't see us dropping into the top two. I think the Flames likely pick 3-5, and I'm totally happy with that.

[Poe969]

My prediction from the begining of the year was that we'd get Ekblad with the #3 pick. I think it'll be something like Reinhart, Dal Colle, Ekblad

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Poe969

My prediction from the begining of the year was that we'd get Ekblad with the #3 pick. I think it'll be something like Reinhart, Dal Colle, Ekblad

Ekblad isn't getting past Edmonton. And Edmonton isn't passing us.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

If its close - I think Buffalo would go forward. They picked two defensemen in the first round last year

Hard to say with new management. They could use a center but if they feel Ekblad is the BPA I feel you still take him.

[nik-]

Ekblad, Myers, Zadarov, Ristolainen, Pysyk, McNabb

... hey Buffalo, stop being dicks. You have enough.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Even if the next 3 picks turn into a Toews, Backstrom, or Kessel?

edit: I guess my point is, that you are right in that you have to be patient with draft picks, but you also need to account for what you are potentially missing out on while you wait on development.

Toews, Backstrom and Kessel have all made much more meaningful impacts to their respective teams to date than what Johnson has or arguably will ever do for his teams

Does this draft seem comparably deep? The Erik Johnson pick looks bad because of those solid players drafted soon afterwards. The only player I would consider picking ahead of him would be Sam.

I do see the possible downside to drafting potential 'stud' defencemen. In the midst of a rebuild there is bound to be a lot more scrutiny over the pick, and subsequently more pressure on the drafted player to live up to the hype. As D take longer to develop, the trend is that teams seem to cut their losses and trade them before they reach their potential. I think this factored into Seth Jones slipping to 4th in 2013.

There are also instances where youngsters drafted early like Doughty & Hedman make instant impacts. Seth Jones looks pretty great, for example. Is there a sense from scouting reports that Ekblad could step straight into the NHL?

[sureLoss]

^
According to Corey Pronman, only Reinhart is NHL ready.

And while the draft isn't going to be that deep, I don't think there is much of a drop off from Ekblad to a Dal Colle, Bennett or Drasital.

I do agree with you that if Ekblad can get into the NHL right away and make an immediate impact, he is a homerun pick but unfortunately there is no guarantee of that.

He is widely considered to be a tier below guys like Doughty and Jones.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Drasital is 6'2'' 210 and a C? wow! looking forward to a top 5 pick.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

^
According to Corey Pronman, only Reinhart is NHL ready.

And while the draft isn't going to be that deep, I don't think there is much of a drop off from Ekblad to a Dal Colle, Bennett or Drasital.

I do agree with you that if Ekblad can get into the NHL right away and make an immediate impact, he is a homerun pick buy unfortunately there is no guarantee of that.

If you rate players out of 10, the way I view the top 5 is Ekblad and Reinhart are both 9.5's, Dal Colle is a 9.25, and Draisaitl, and Bennett are both 9's. Not a huge drop off. Draisaitl looks a decent amount like Kopitar although not quite as impactful that Kopi was in his draft year. Bennett too looks like a quality 2nd line forward with possible 1st line upside (I'm meaning on a championship quality team there)

Monahan would be in a dog fight for #3 with Dal Colle and Draisaitl this year if he was being picked now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If you rate players out of 10, the way I view the top 5 is Ekblad and Reinhart are both 9.5's, Dal Colle is a 9.25, and Draisaitl, and Bennett are both 9's. Not a huge drop off. Draisaitl looks a decent amount like Kopitar although not quite as impactful that Kopi was in his draft year. Bennett too looks like a quality 2nd line forward with possible 1st line upside (I'm meaning on a championship quality team there) .

I'm not sure if you're looking at just this draft, but I think your point system is a little generous if you're including all drafts. Personally for me it kind of goes like this (using some current players for reference)...keeping in mind that my opinions on the three 7.0 guys is mostly from reading/anecdotal/youtube (so huge grain of salt!).

10 - Crosby
9.5 - Ovechkin / Malkin / Stamkos
9.0 - MacKinnon / Jones
8.5 - Barkov?
8.0 - Reinhart / Ekblad / Drouin
7.5 - Monahan
7.0 - Dal Colle / Draisaitl / Bennett

[nik-]

Man I hope we win the lottery

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not sure if you're looking at just this draft, but I think your point system is a little generous if you're including all drafts. Personally for me it kind of goes like this (using some current players for reference)...keeping in mind that my opinions on the three 7.0 guys is mostly from reading/anecdotal/youtube (so huge grain of salt!).

10 - Crosby
9.5 - Ovechkin / Malkin / Stamkos
9.0 - MacKinnon / Jones
8.5 - Barkov?
8.0 - Reinhart / Ekblad / Drouin
7.5 - Monahan
7.0 - Dal Colle / Draisaitl / Bennett

I'm just weighing this year with this year only. Otherwise, I agree with your list entirely except Dal Colle and Monahan are fairly comparable potential wise.

[neo45]

I can confirm with some inside info that Buf won't be taking Ekblad as things are now assuming they draft #1

They feel that they have a very similar player to Ekblad in Ristolainen, and I think theyre right about that

Also management is hoping that the Islanders pick is for next year, as they love McDavid and Eichel, have already started scouting both heavily

[Caged Great]

Unless the pick is in the top 5, the Isles would be stupid to keep this year's pick. There is just too much risk on them being bad again next year and possibly missing out on one of the 4 really good kids (all of whom would likely be #1 this year).

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by neo45

I can confirm with some inside info that Buf won't be taking Ekblad as things are now assuming they draft #1

They feel that they have a very similar player to Ekblad in Ristolainen, and I think theyre right about that

Also management is hoping that the Islanders pick is for next year, as they love McDavid and Eichel, have already started scouting both heavily

Nothing really earth-shattering... I could've made those judgments without any special source. Zadarov as well is similar, big, physical d-man. Reinhart makes the most sense.

[Roof-Daddy]

Imagine if the Islanders kept their pick this year, gave up their 2015 pick, were still horrible and Buffalo ended up with both McDavid and Eichel?

Boy would I be jealous.

[Jebus]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If Ekblad were to turn into a player similar to what Erik Johnson is now would anyone be upset?

Along similar thought process, how about Victor Hedman as a comparable?

A lot of similar press about Ekblad was written about Hedman. Size, strength, hockey IQ, conerstone defenseman, etc.

Based on the sample size to date, would you rather have Hedman or Duschene?

[Table 5]

One thing to consider about Johnson is the guy is already 25 and just starting to round into form. Would you be willing to wait for 7 years for your 1st overall to develop? The Blues didn't, and I'm not sure a lot of Flames fans would.

That's the thing with defensemen...chances are you're going to have to wait years for that guy to reach his peak, and many fans/GMs/owners don't have that kind of patience, so the player might not even be on your team when he does. The saving grace for the Blues was that they at least traded him for a pretty good set of players...Shatenkirk, Stewart and a pick that turned into Ty Rattie.

But while Blues/Avs fans were waiting for Johnson to develop, guys like Toews and Lucic were busy helping their teams win Stanley Cups.

It's not that different with Hedman. The guy is starting to come along, but it's been 5 years since he was drafted. There are good defensemen to be had...but man, you really have to be patient.

[djsFlames]

Baertschi - Monahan - Poirier
Gaudreau - Reinhart - Hudler
Glencross - Colborne - Ferland

I'd love to see us looking something like this by spring of next season if we are lucky enough to land the lottery pick.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Jebus

Along similar thought process, how about Victor Hedman as a comparable?

A lot of similar press about Ekblad was written about Hedman. Size, strength, hockey IQ, conerstone defenseman, etc.

Based on the sample size to date, would you rather have Hedman or Duschene?

Duchene for me. Offensive catalyst, dynamic player, highlight reel most nights.

Hedman while solid doesn't seem to have gamebreaker quality that Duchene has. Hedman's TOI/G is relatively low for an elite dman when compared to others around the league and especially when you consider Tampa's d core looks pretty average on paper.


Imagine a line of Duchene- Stamkos-St.Louis that Tampa could have had.

Again its still early for Hedman, but Duchene has done more for the Avs in his first 4 years than Hedman has done for the Lightning.