Hypothetical: Reinhart or Ekblad?

[herashak]

Sam reinhart is a better joe pavelski ekblad is a better seabrook.

[neo45]

This is somewhat interesting, Reinhart's playoff stats:

17 GP, 1 G 2 A for 3 points and -11

Probably mostly indicative of being on an average WHL team. His international numbers are outstanding

[CalgaryFan1988]

Reinhart for me, but I'd be happy with either.



Question, how does it work for NHL expansion?

When a new team comes into the league, do they get to draft the June before they enter the league, or not until the June after? Its been too long and I forget.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by getbak

Then I see a picture like this...

...and I think that a kid who looks like that 3 months after his 17th birthday probably isn't 5 years away from being an impact player like a lot of d-men are.

I'd draft him just for the Weber tier playoff beard.

[Vulcan]

I like Ekblad.

We've got one of the smallest if not the smallest defence in the league. Time to get more size and this guy has skill as well. If not him then another defenceman.

[Rubicant]

I've been saying ekblad for a while now and I don't see any reason to change my mind.

Franchise defenceman IMO.

[moon]

I usually would prefer the forward over defense as that has seemed to work out better at the top of the draft but this year I think I would go with Ekblad (but would be happy with Reinhart).

I hope Reinharts family background doesn't come into play as that seems like something that means nothing but teams can get fooled into overrating.

[jeffman]

Ekblad. Our defensive prospect depth is pitiful

[Poe969]

any way to get a poll on this? Just a simple: Who would you pick between: A) Reinhart or B) Ekblad

[Caged Great]

I would go with Reinhart or Dal Colle instead of Ekblad.

We do not have any high end prospects beyond Gaudreau (too short) and Monahan. We need another awesome forward prospect that's of their calibre.

I would use every other pick that we have in the top 4 rounds on D-men though. I'd repeat the process again next year as well.

It's just that it is possible to get a franchise D-man at 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 or 90 as you are with one in the top 3. So, if you get say 3 more defensemen in the 1st/3rd rounds instead of using it on Ekblad then you are almost as likely to get someone as good in the NHL while having a very good forward prospect.

[SuperMatt18]

Best Player Available.

According to scouts Reinhart is the BPA so you take him.

Pick up a second first rounder and draft a dman with that. Caged Great pretty much put it perfectly above.

[Erick Estrada]

Ekblad as this team is in danger of being built a little like the Oilers with most of the top prospects being forwards.

[AC]

I'd be happy with either, but would like Reinhart simply because my brother-in-law is related to them. It'd be sweet to pry Griffin away from the Islanders.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I'd have to say Ekblad mainly due to our abysmal D core.

[Jake]

Ekblad would be my first choice, but I'd be pretty pumped to have a 1-2 punch like Monahan-Reinhart down the middle.

Right now I don't like the Flames chances though... it is going to be hard to out-suck Buffalo, Edmonton, and Florida, even with all of the injuries.

[Redrum]

After taking three forwards that look pretty promising I would go with Ekblad. We have some good up and coming guys that could be 2nd or 3rd pairing guys but that top pairing D-man is probably the biggest thing we're missing. Although I doubt we get that low in the standings. I know Edmonton made it look easy but they are professionals at sucking total ass.

[H2SO4(aq)]

i take ekblad, but hey, these guys are both excellent.

[PeteMoss]

Ekblad... He's big and just a horse. The only defenseman I can remember in the OHL being a 30 minute workhorse on a good team at 16 was drew Doughty. Even guys like Pieterangelo worked their way up the lineup. Ekblad just strikes me as a guy who can fill that top pairing d spot for 15 years.

[Table 5]

This draft doesn't seem like the best one to get that top pick...which is a shame, because this will probably be our best chance ever at picking Top 2. But hey, I wouldn't complain.

We need a D-man really badly, but the odds of 1st overall Dman turning into superstars have been pitiful over the last two decades. The best Dmen of their class have almost always been picked later, which shows that it's much more of a gamble than forwards (especially Centers). In that time frame, there have been very few 1st pick Forwards who haven't had success (Daigle and Stefan come to mind).

If I had to choose though, I'd still probably go Ekblad...Reinhart hasn't really impressed me that much (not that I'm anyone to impress). However, I might strongly think about trading down...maybe try to pry one of Buffalos choice Dmen from last year in some package.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Jake

Ekblad would be my first choice, but I'd be pretty pumped to have a 1-2 punch like Monahan-Reinhart down the middle.

Right now I don't like the Flames chances though... it is going to be hard to out-suck Buffalo, Edmonton, and Florida, even with all of the injuries.

I have to agree. Lowest I see us finishing is 4th, possibly 3rd if Edmonton or Florida pulls a few hot streaks out of their asses. Well likely get one of Nylander or DalColle.