Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[djsFlames]

Apparently Reinhart and McDavid have tremendous chemistry.

Future Flames duo?

I'm also with people on drafting Ekblad this season, then (hopefully) the franchise center next draft. Ekblad just has the whole package as far as d-men go. Size, grit, booming shot, skating. Next to none of the forwards possess quite the complete player package like that. Maybe Dal Colle. Not to say i'll be disappointed with any of the top forwards, though.

[Wolfman]

It sucks to be talking about picking in top 5 as an organization but at the same time it's fun to be watching the rankings to see where the prospects fit. It doesn't matter where we pick this year, it will be a good player in the top 5. I just wish we can fast forward to the draft already!!!

[djsFlames]

With guys like Draisaitl and Bennett emerging atop the top 5 in scouting now, do we think it's a slam dunk that Buffalo would pick Reinhart 1st overall?

Like they've said, no player has looked head and shoulders above the others, as far as the 'top group' goes.

[sureLoss]

Central scouting discussing the top ranked guys (might want to skip to the 2:40 min mark)



From the video sounds like they think drasital and Reinhart are similar players with the exception that drasital can play a power forward style game

[Clever_Iggy]

What's the point of the CSS? With how much individual teams put into their own scouting, I can't imagine the CSS gets cited much when making decisions. What am I missing?

[Stupid]

Interesting,

1) Bennett
2) Draisaitl
3) Ekblad
4) Reinhart

I think we have a pretty decent shot at Ekblad, if we want him. Seeing Burke scout him personally makes me believe we at least have interest.. I see Buffalo picking a forward with their glut of D prospects and I think we'll pick second..

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

What's the point of the CSS? With how much individual teams put into their own scouting, I can't imagine the CSS gets cited much when making decisions. What am I missing?

Someone has to tell Edm who to pick.

[djsFlames]

Judging by what was said on Bennett, he might the kind of player on Burke's radar.

Actually, the descriptions on him and Draisaitl make them both sound more Burke-like than Reinhart. But I think Ekblad will be the top guy on the Flames list.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Judging by what was said on Bennett, he might the kind of player on Burke's radar.

Actually, the descriptions on him and Draisaitl make them both sound more Burke-like than Reinhart. But I think Ekblad will be the top guy on the Flames list.

I think all of Bennett, Dal Colle and Draisaitl are more Burke style guys than Reinhart.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Apparently Reinhart and McDavid have tremendous chemistry.

Future Flames duo?

I believe that at last years' U18 championships Canada's #1 line was Klimchuck/McDavid/Reinhart... Food for thought!

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

What's the point of the CSS? With how much individual teams put into their own scouting, I can't imagine the CSS gets cited much when making decisions. What am I missing?

CSS is supposed to be help lower budget teams match the scouting budgets of the big money teams by providing a centralized database for draft eligible prospects.

While they may not take the CSS rankings or scouting reports as gospel, it helps point teams in the right direction and gives an objective, non-team biased scouting report on players and a ballpark of where those players might be taken.

Much easier and cheaper than having your own scouting staff do work like that from scratch.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

CSS is supposed to be help lower budget teams match the scouting budgets of the big money teams by providing a centralized database for draft eligible prospects.

While they may not take the CSS rankings or scouting reports as gospel, it helps point teams in the right direction and gives an objective, non-team biased scouting report on players and a ballpark of where those players might be taken.

Much easier and cheaper than having your own scouting staff do work like that from scratch.

I imagine that was its original intent, but do you think it has much application now? Even the low budget teams have pretty robust scouting departments.

Hasn't the CSS just devolved into a resource for fans to utilize and debate?

[The Yen Man]

I think the only realistic chance Flames have at Ekblad is if they draft higher than Edmonton. I doubt they will pass up on him if they pick second, and Reinhart or Bennett go first overall.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not the most valuable year to get a #1 pick it looks like... which is probably why we'll get it.

So basically, we're getting Bargnani'd.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I imagine that was its original intent, but do you think it has much application now? Even the low budget teams have pretty robust scouting departments.

Hasn't the CSS just devolved into a resource for fans to utilize and debate?

I agree with you somewhat but according to this article from 2010:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle4311056/

The size of the scouting departments of NHL teams varies from a high of 22 with the New Jersey Devils to a low of nine with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche. The average is about 13, including scouting directors, who also scout players, full-time and part-time scouts.

"It's one of the easiest places to cut costs," said NHL Network broadcaster and former Calgary Flames GM Craig Button, who also spent years as a scout and player personnel director. "We have Central Scouting [the NHL's service]so people ask why not use Central Scouting?"

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I agree with you somewhat but according to this article from 2010:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle4311056/

Haha. You're like Google.

[Table 5]

"It's one of the easiest places to cut costs," said NHL Network broadcaster and former Calgary Flames GM Craig Button, who also spent years as a scout and player personnel director. "We have Central Scouting [the NHL's service]so people ask why not use Central Scouting?"

It also seems like one of the stupidest places to cut costs for the long-term, considering how important drafting is to your team's success and bottom line.

I wonder how much 1 scout costs a team per season on average (salary/travel/expenses)? I would imagine around 100-150k considering not all guys are senior scouts and not all of them are full-time? If that's anywhere close to accurate, just having having 1 less minimum-wage NHL salary on your team could net you 3-4 extra scouts a year...or provide higher salaries for your scouts to ensure you get the best talent.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It also seems like one of the stupidest places to cut costs for the long-term, considering how important drafting is to your team's success and bottom line.

Would be interesting to see how the Flames would have fared if they had strictly followed central scouting rankings over the last 20 years... perhaps I will look it up when I have more time.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by devo22

These CSS rankings are weird. Draisaitl has done nothing to deserve that jump ... he had a bad WJC tournament (significantly worse than last year, and that's never a good sign) with two game misconducts and a suspension. No way he should be ahead of Ekblad and Reinhart right now. Also they have Anton Karlsson at 6 among European skaters ... that's crazy too. I expect him to be one of the first Euros to go ... maybe behind Kapanen and Nylander, but that's about it.

Truculence.

I haven't seen Bennett play much at all, but I will be trying to see him play more. I am rather surprised he and Draisatl have supplanted both Reinhart and Ekblad in the rankings. Even just a month and a half, the belief was that Reinhart and Ekblad were firmly the 1 and 2 over-all prospects in the draft, with Dal Colle having a possibility of 'making it interesting' in the top 3, with a drop-off after.

I don't think Reinhart or Ekblad have done anything to lower themselves, and it seems like the other prospects are just really pushing.

Whatever the reasons are, it makes me feel a bit more comfortable that the Flames will be selecting from the 'top tier' at least this upcoming draft.

From people who have viewed Bennett, what are your thoughts on him really? I know a few posters in this thread (or the other thread) have been pushing for him, and it seems they were on the ball about him. Has he been that impressive to be considered 1st overall, or has it just been a recent push? I mean, of course he has been great all season to be ranked high all year, but just trying to really figure out if Bennett has really been pushing, or if Reinhart and Ekblad are perhaps suffering from 'over-scouting'? Just curious to see not one, but two prospects move past these 'for sure top 2 picks'.

[Bar-Down]

I really hope the Oilers can climb the standings a bit and draft outside the top 5. But that organization is so pitiful that, that probably is too much to ask.

I'm sure we will be drafting top 3 this year so good shot at Ekblad and hopefully we can pick up a couple more later 1st/2nd rounders in dealing vets and we will be well on our way to stocking those cupboards full.