Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Fire]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Bennett reminds me of Langkow.

Monahan reminds me of Langkow. I'm hoping for Ekblad this season and in 2015 the Flames can pick up the #1 center they need. The Flames just need the Oilers to be a little bit less sucky.

[Poe969]

Let's hope scrivens goes out and steals some wins for the coil

[djsFlames]

Need to pick strategically.

We'll be an automatic top 3 favorite for McDavid next season with impending sell off trades upcoming.

You pick Ekblad this season, and pick up your defensive anchor and leader for the forseeable future, then your offensive leader in McDavid or Eichel next draft, while the supporting cast in Monahan, Poirier, Gaudreau, Klimchuk continue to develop so that they're ready to step in when (potentially) McDavid steps into the league, which will be the season after he's drafted. It'll allow for everything to fall into place at the right time. To me, that's the right approach. I don't want to become like the Oilers, with a bunch of talented forwards but no one to lead the back end, so then you're scrambling to find a top defenseman who can fill that void, while your group of forwards are playing NHL hockey and having the losing ways ingrained into them. We have our chance this season to pick up that top d-man this draft, with the top forwards this year not being of the best/franchise quality. Get him now, while the opportunity is there.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Let's hope scrivens goes out and steals some wins for the coil

I wouldn't be averse to sending them Stajan, if it meant they got a few more wins.

[Ashasx]

I'm afraid that the Flames are going to pick Nick Ritchie with our first pick.

It'd be like picking Scott Laughton 3rd overall.

[GoFlamesGo1989]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I'm afraid that the Flames are going to pick Nick Ritchie with our first pick.

It'd be like picking Scott Laughton 3rd overall.

Not a chance with Dal Colle, Draisitle, Bennett or one of Ekblad Reinhart on the board.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Need to pick strategically.

We'll be an automatic top 3 favorite for McDavid next season with impending sell off trades upcoming.

You pick Ekblad this season, and pick up your defensive anchor and leader for the forseeable future, then your offensive leader in McDavid or Eichel next draft, while the supporting cast in Monahan, Poirier, Gaudreau, Klimchuk continue to develop so that they're ready to step in when (potentially) McDavid steps into the league, which will be the season after he's drafted. It'll allow for everything to fall into place at the right time. To me, that's the right approach. I don't want to become like the Oilers, with a bunch of talented forwards but no one to lead the back end, so then you're scrambling to find a top defenseman who can fill that void, while your group of forwards are playing NHL hockey and having the losing ways ingrained into them. We have our chance this season to pick up that top d-man this draft, with the top forwards this year not being of the best/franchise quality. Get him now, while the opportunity is there.

To me looking too far ahead at a draft more than 1.5 years away and planning strategy on draft picks who might be there and are 2 years or more away from joining the club is foolish.

Yes I understand the hype of the draft. Connor McDavid is a generational talent. What happens if some over ager goon in the OHL takes a run at him and ends McDavid's hockey career with a knee injury. Jack Eichel, potential franchise center, may decide to quit hockey to take up professional baking.

Yes the early reports say the 2015 draft will be deep, but that is based on projections of the current 2015 class to continue progressing. If for some reason a bunch of them don't meet expectations and regress next season, a deep draft becomes a weak draft.

There is also the chance that the Flames overachieve for parts of next season and end up outside of a top 5 pick.

All of the above may not be likely, but things like this have come up. I know Burke has said the Flames are preparing for the 2015 draft, but I don't think it means that it will impact their decision based on who they think is available.

Just pick the best player available in this year's draft and worry about next year, next year.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I'm afraid that the Flames are going to pick Nick Ritchie with our first pick.

It'd be like picking Scott Laughton 3rd overall.

If we were picking 10th, maybe. But if we make Ritchie the 2nd overall pick I will puke in my mouth, and promptly become an NFL fan.

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by GoFlamesGo1989

Not a chance with Dal Colle, Draisitle, Bennett or one of Ekblad Reinhart on the board.

Draisitle would be a perfect linemate for Monohan, McGratton or Colbourne.

[djsFlames]

Alright, sat down and watched the top prospects game with all my attention focused on the top guys as well as potential 2nd rounders out there.

How I would rank the top group based on overall performance exhibited tonight:
(Bennett exempt due to injury)

1) Reinhart
2) Ekblad
3) Dal Colle
4) Draisaitl

-Reinhart was by far and away the most dominant player. Dangles, faceoffs, playmaking, tenacity, leadership. He just took control when he wanted to and wasn't really cocky about it, he was all business. Seems to carry himself like his brother (which is a positive) but has all the skill the world on top of that. Best word to describe him with is "Sense". He's almost psychic out there when the offensive plays unfold. Knows precisely where to be before the puck arrives there. (it's scary)

-It could easily be Reinhart and Ekblad as 1a/1b, Ekblad was almost equally as strong in his own right. The way he holds the blue line on the attack is incredible. He reads the play, makes the pinch perfectly and keeps the play alive either by chipping it deep or unloading a bomb of a shot, the d-man would rarely if ever beat him to the puck to chip it past. But to be lined up against the Reinhart/Dal Colle line and come out a +1 with 2 assists, it's obvious that he's a winner and a top pairing D-man in the making, WJCs be damned (that whole team was meh). Just looks so advanced, looks like he was sent down from the pros for a scrimmage game or something. Was most impressive in the second period, but boy can he anchor a PP. I'd be SO excited to have him a Flame almost solely for what he could do for our special teams. The kid is just solid. What else can I say.

-Dal Colle's biggest asset is his finishing ability. He looks very clutch. He was at times extremely noticeable in his ability to drive the net or put a laser on net (heck of a shot he's got). The only thing was he didn't really stand out until the puck was past the blue line. Didn't really notice his game in his own end, was pretty quiet in that regard (Reinhart's 200ft game was more impressive). Looked like he was easily able to find chemistry with the players around him and no doubt he has the skills. His compete level seemed up and down, whereas some others in the game looked to have their motors going non-stop. Didn't appear to be a liability, though (like those Oiler kids).

-Where was Draisaitl? I noticed him early on.. He drove the net a couple times but I didn't see much on display when compared to many other kids out there. I suppose he didn't have linemates like Reinhart and Dal Colle for support, but didn't generate all that much. Quiet night.. which is unfortunate cause I wanted to get a better read on him. Safe to say I was more excited by the others.

Most notable potential 2nd picks in the game:
(whether it's with our 2nd rounder, or a second 1st rounder)

- Ho Sang
- Lemieux
- Goldobin

All three look like incredible pains in the a## to play against. Lemieux looks to have first round skill and was everywhere, and he definitely has those blood lines, would love to take him with our second. Ho-Sang was possibly the best puck handler in the entire game, although was a bit of a puck hog (hard to care, though, when you're in a game trying to sell yourself and on the peripheral) and scored a nice one too. It's too bad Goldobin is a russian kid, looks excellent. Drove the net as hard as anyone and was on pace with Reinhart offensively at many points. Great passer and gritty. Hit a post or two. Should've had goal. I was impressed by all three, and didn't know anything about Ho-Sang or Goldobin coming in so that was a pleasant surprise to see other standouts.

Honorables: Virtanen, Barbashev. Both very noticeable, but likely out of our range for drafting.

Anyways, Reinhart being ranked 4th is a joke. He looks to be the head of the class when it comes to forwards. Don't know enough about Bennett to say whether he can hold a match to the other Sam. The whole group is interesting though.

Edit: my mistake on Goldobin, he did score a goal. I must have somehow missed that it was him who scored.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

To me looking too far ahead at a draft more than 1.5 years away and planning strategy on draft picks who might be there and are 2 years or more away from joining the club is foolish.

Yes I understand the hype of the draft. Connor McDavid is a generational talent. What happens if some over ager goon in the OHL takes a run at him and ends McDavid's hockey career with a knee injury. Jack Eichel, potential franchise center, may decide to quit hockey to take up professional baking.

Yes the early reports say the 2015 draft will be deep, but that is based on projections of the current 2015 class to continue progressing. If for some reason a bunch of them don't meet expectations and regress next season, a deep draft becomes a weak draft.

There is also the chance that the Flames overachieve for parts of next season and end up outside of a top 5 pick.

All of the above may not be likely, but things like this have come up. I know Burke has said the Flames are preparing for the 2015 draft, but I don't think it means that it will impact their decision based on who they think is available.

Just pick the best player available in this year's draft and worry about next year, next year.

To add to this, even if we finish last in 2015, with the new lottery rules our odds of getting McDavid are still only 25%.

Pick BPA every time.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

No he reminds Dan Marr of NHL central scouting of Getzlaf. The power forward comment for Dal Colle is kind of interesting. I have read some reports from people who have regularly watched him and they think Dal Colle is more a finesse player than power forward

To be fair, Marr mentioned 'a power forward in the making' and 'excels in both the skill and contact portions of the game.'

His comments of 'Has a nice finishing touch.' aligns with the reports you've heard, but it sounds as if there's more to the kid's game than one dimension finesse offense.

[FlameZilla]

I'm an advocate of drafting BPA.

I would also like to see some areas of weakness in our prospect pool addressed.

Areas of weakness I perceive are:

-lack of players with both high-end skill and size
-lack of a stud D prospect (top pairing potential)
-lack of right-handed shots
-RW

Looking at where we project to draft & the players that project to be in that range, I believe we have an opportunity to draft both BPA and to fill an organisational need. If either Ekblad or Reinhart are on the board, and their stock hasn't plummeted in the months leading up to the draft, I'd be fairly pissed off if we picked someone else.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Just pick the best player available in this year's draft and worry about next year, next year.

Thing is, there may be very, very little to separate the top four or five picks come draft day. That's a case where positional need may come into play.

And keep in mind that when Burke became GM of the Leafs, he remarked that the first need he identified was for the stud defencemen that every contender has. Then he went out and got Phaneuf. Unless one of the forwards available is head and shoulders above the rest, then Burke will take Ekblad if he's still on the board.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Thing is, there may be very, very little to separate the top four or five picks come draft day. That's a case where positional need may come into play.

And keep in mind that when Burke became GM of the Leafs, he remarked that the first need he identified was for the stud defencemen that every contender has. Then he went out and got Phaneuf. Unless one of the forwards available is head and shoulders above the rest, then Burke will take Ekblad if he's still on the board.

Not sure what my post on not using next year's draft to decide this year's draft choice came to this but...

The Flames are pretty thin on top end talent in the prospect pool. Yes the LW and C position looks deep, but none of them are really blue chip prospects (besides Monahan which I am not including for obvious reasons).

Any one of the top group in this year's draft would fit an organizational/positional need for the Flames.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Not sure what my post on not using next year's draft to decide this year's draft choice came to this but...

The Flames are pretty thin on top end talent in the prospect pool. Yes the LW and C position looks deep, but none of them are really blue chip prospects (besides Monahan which I am not including for obvious reasons).

Any one of the top group in this year's draft would fit an organizational/positional need for the Flames.

And my argument was more aimed at saying that because the top forwards in this draft aren't the game-changing, franchise types, we should use this draft as an opportunity to take the top d-man and shore up our back end. And draft a forward next year when there will undoubtedly be more elite talent on the board.

Of course you can't know for sure just where you'll draft in a year, but it's very, very likely we'll be a favourite. You're always playing the odds and taking risks along the way, but the way it's shaping up to be, the Flames may be in a position to take Ekblad this year, and McDavid next year. And for me, that would be the best possible combination. Also IMO Ekblad is already the BPA, if not in the top 2, so you'd be following a BPA approach anyways.

[Caged Great]

The Flames are chock full of 2nd line guys, 3rd line guys, 4th line guys and depth defensemen.

We have no impact guys. Gaudreau, Monahan and Poirier could become that, but there is no guarantee that that will occur.

So if there is a way to acquire skilled forwards, or skilled defensemen, you do it. Also, defensemen are easier to acquire. So we could likely pick one off the trade market for some of our depth.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

I have such a raging clue for just drafting as many players as possible in the top 60 right now.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Damn you tapatalk

[868904]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I'm afraid that the Flames are going to pick Nick Ritchie with our first pick.

It'd be like picking Scott Laughton 3rd overall.

If the scouting staff thinks Ritchie is the better player than yes do it.

But if you think this will happen because Burke is in charge, consider that Burke didn't go the truculence route in 2009 when he could have taken Kassian instead of Kadri.