Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[The Fonz]

Honestly, I'm really warming up to Ritchie. I still think he must be over-weight... or his weight is incorrectly reported (230lbs), but the guy can skate, hit, shoot, and he's huge.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Burke said on the radio that they won't draft by position in the first three rounds. So it sounds like they'll just take the best player available on their list. He said it's the GM's job to change depth in the organization if one position is way deeper than another.

[Da_Chief]

Take the BPAs all the way. We're going to get a good prospect with our 2nd round pick as well.

Can't wait for the draft. Not to mention Burkie will be making moves. we have lots of bottom 6 forwards and more coming through, he will need to package couple of them up and get an upgrade hopefully.

[snipetype]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

True, but that is one of the "easier" things to address, and it doesn't need to be done right now, especially when we have a huge hole on the defense.

By easier, you can find bigger nasty guys like Tim Harrison in the 6th round (6-3, fast and hits everything that moves), or Matt Martin (Isles player, taken in the 5th also hits everything). It's one of those things that if you can find guys like that in the deeper part of the draft each year, as we eventually lose guys, we will have fresh troops to fill those spots. Sort of like how the Hawks lost Bolland and Andrew Shaw stepped right into that void in their depth chart.

Yeah I agree our biggest hole is on d. But if you don't draft the best checkers, which are usually available in the second and third rounds, your chances diminish of landing heart and soul guys that can hit, skate, an still chip in 10 goals.
I think we look top six with the first rounder. Then draft some big bodies up front and on the blueline to complement out smaller, skilled nucleus of young players.

[devo22]

Watched Draisaitl closely today in a game between Germany and Finland in preparation for the World Championships. Like his size, like his reach, like his skill. Had a few decent plays and could have easily scored a couple points, but was unlucky and also played on a young line and his linemates were clearly inferior to him. Was a bit surprised that he's listed at 209 lbs because he reminded me a bit of Wayne Simmonds out there (a bit lanky and could put on more weight), but that could just be me. Finland obviously didn't ice a top team, but Draisaitl easily held his own. He should be a lock for the WC team, will be interesting to see how he fares there against NHL competition.

Still hope somebody like Bennett falls to us, but I wouldn't be too upset if we get Draisaitl at 4 after Ekblad, Reinhart and Bennett.

[Badgers Nose]

The 4th pick will be a stud, I have no fear of that.

Its the 2 seconds and 2 thirds that have me excited.

6'7" winger in the 2nd round? I hope the Flames grab him.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=117017

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/03...op-ohl-player/

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Where does Backlund fit in?

Backlund is our current 2nd line C. He doesn't have a good enough shot to keep it though.

Moving forward he's either going to be our 3rd line C, or might get shifted to the wing depending on how things go. A very solid player. I would not trade him unless he was part of a trade that involved a star calibre player coming back our way.

[Badgers Nose]

Look at all this guys fights:

http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/16814/videos

Not sure I would want them using a 2nd, but if he were still around in the 3rd I'd love the Flames to draft him.

At worst a 3rd line energy player. But a 6'7" scrapper would give smaller players space.

[Caged Great]

I'd prefer to get someone that has some actual ability in the top 3 rounds. If he's available in round 6, sure.

We already have McGrattan at the moment, and could easily trade for/sign the next Grats if necessary.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

The 4th pick will be a stud, I have no fear of that.

Its the 2 seconds and 2 thirds that have me excited.

6'7" winger in the 2nd round? I hope the Flames grab him.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=117017

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/03...op-ohl-player/

I've only seen him ranked as high as the 4th round and as low as 191. Where have you seen him listed as a 2nd rounder?

I like the look of him though. Good pedigree and a potential linemate for Dal Colle next season...

[Caged Great]

The 40 points as a draft eligible forward is low. Usually players with that few points go in rounds 5-7/undrafted unless they are either D-men or are huge. Even then you're probably talking a late 3rd/4th at best.

If he's available in the 6th (not impossible) then go for it.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Not sure Watson will be picked. I am pretty sure that Burke is going to pick with truculence/size as the first priority and then skill. I could be wrong, but our team is really lacking size and I hope Burke is able to switch that around with this draft at least, because the next draft will need to be picked by skill.

Back to the Sutter days, woo!

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Back to the Sutter days, woo!

No, it's just that you can't have more than 1 or 2 small guys and win in the playoffs. It's all about trying to find guys that are not undersized + skilled. It's not going to be plugs only.

Monahan and Poirier is an example of skilled plus size.

[driveway]

I was trying to pm a mod to suggest this, but I can't figure out how to do that on this tapatalk thing, why don't we create a couple new threads?

One for first-round pick talk and another for other-round talk?

Now that we know where we're picking we'll be yelling at each other about prospects for the next two and a half months, would probably make things easier to separate the discussions.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I've only seen him ranked as high as the 4th round and as low as 191. Where have you seen him listed as a 2nd rounder?

I like the look of him though. Good pedigree and a potential linemate for Dal Colle next season...

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-draf...ings-combined/

I doubt he'll be around after the 3rd.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by driveway

I was trying to pm a mod to suggest this, but I can't figure out how to do that on this tapatalk thing, why don't we create a couple new threads?

One for first-round pick talk and another for other-round talk?

Now that we know where we're picking we'll be yelling at each other about prospects for the next two and a half months, would probably make things easier to separate the discussions.

Just start a new thread "2nd round and later prospect discussion" or something like that. Can't see why anyone would mind, they can always lock or merge it if they want.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Look at all this guys fights:

http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/16814/videos

Not sure I would want them using a 2nd, but if he were still around in the 3rd I'd love the Flames to draft him.

At worst a 3rd line energy player. But a 6'7" scrapper would give smaller players space.

I'll take Ritchie. He beat the piss out of Smith.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I'll take Ritchie. He beat the piss out of Smith.

Assuming Burke isn't silly enough to use 4th overall with any of Reinhart Bennett or Ekblad on table, I don't see Nick making it further than 10th overall. Smith is as he said a 2nd/3rd rounder.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Assuming Burke isn't silly enough to use 4th overall with any of Reinhart Bennett or Ekblad on table, I don't see Nick making it further than 10th overall. Smith is as he said a 2nd/3rd rounder.

I know, I was just being a just saying Ritchie beat up a 6'7 scrapper.

[Ashasx]

@coreypronman
Potential top 5-7 pick William Nylander with a big day vs. SVK. 4 points through 2 periods, now tied for lead in the tournament with Fiala.

‏@coreypronman
Nylander ends the game with 3 goals, 5 points and 8 shots on goal.