Top 5 Draft Poll - 3. Edmonton

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yeah the way I see it - is it comes down to whether or not Bennett goes or Reinhart goes - if Reinhart is the player still available at #3 I think the Oil pass on him. But if Bennett is there they don't.

I still think it will go Ekblad-Bennett-Draisaitl-Reinhart.

I think that based on what the Flames needs are that would be the way the Flames have them ranked as well.

[NewFan]

I'm sure our pick will be a better player because Edmonton is not good for developing a young player. Unless they make a big change for that area. Anyway, I think Edmonton is going to pick Bennett, and we'll pick Draisaitl.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

That's the way I see it also. I also think there is a chance that the flames trade up to #2 to take Bennett.

Buffalo has Hodgson as their long term skilled center... What would it take them to go with the softer Sam R. over the move involved Sam B. ??

They do have Girgensons moving into their #3C slot who plays hard. He was picked with the Flames #14 overall pick in 2012 so the Flames could get Jankowski and Sieloff.

Looking at the Buffalo roster it looks like they are ready to make a move up in the standings.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

That's the way I see it also. I also think there is a chance that the flames trade up to #2 to take Bennett.

i think the only reason the flames have any notions to move up would be is if they want to grab ekblad, otherwise, happy to take one of the forwards that are in that top4 list.

[Robbob]

I didn't see Bill Bumface on the list so I went with the German kid. As much as I think Oilers could use a grittier top 6 like Bennett, I picked Draisaitl for a couple reasons. Draisaitl is more NHL ready and is bigger then Bennett right now. If they drafted Bennett, I don't think his game would translate to NHL next year and may not make the team. Draisaitl gives them a player they can bring in right away (and he is a good player).

Although knowing that franchise they just may accept that Bennett isn't ready and take him and send him back just to stay in the McDavid sweepstakes. I could seriously see them wasting a contract year on a bunch of their core and ELC guys just to increase their odds in rebuild cubed.

[DoubleF]

Wasn't there an interview where Draisaitl said he was excited to become an Oiler? Or am I mistaken?

If Edmonton burns him, I think he would be an interesting addition to any team and he would do his best to really do a number to the Oilers every time he plays them.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Wasn't there an interview where Draisaitl said he was excited to become an Oiler? Or am I mistaken?

If Edmonton burns him, I think he would be an interesting addition to any team and he would do his best to really do a number to the Oilers every time he plays them.

I think that was an Edmonton media outlet interviewing him. It's about as meaningless an answer as "we need to play our game".

[Bingo]

Ok closing this sucker for voting, and opening up the Flames pick.

Question I received on Twitter ...

how would your answer to the Oilers pick change if Bennett was gone and Renhart was available with Draisaitl?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Looking at the Buffalo roster it looks like they are ready to make a move up in the standings.

Well where else exactly are they going to go? They just had a season where they had like 50 points and became the first team since the first world war to score less than 2 goals per game with the benefit of shootout winners counting...and finished behind the other 29 teams in the standings 14 points behind the next worst team. Plus they played in what was by far the weaker conference of the two.

If they don't move up the standings the league added an expansion team..

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Ok closing this sucker for voting, and opening up the Flames pick.

Question I received on Twitter ...

how would your answer to the Oilers pick change if Bennett was gone and Renhart was available with Draisaitl?

It flips to Draisaitl. They won't pass on Bennett for him, but they could pass on Reinhart.

In order for us to luck out, it pretty much has to go Ekblad Bennett 1/2. Thankfully we'll still get a great prospect even in the worst case scenario.

[Atodaso]

Originally Posted by nik-

It flips to Draisaitl. They won't pass on Bennett for him, but they could pass on Reinhart.

In order for us to luck out, it pretty much has to go Ekblad Bennett 1/2. Thankfully we'll still get a great prospect even in the worst case scenario.

I can't help but think the worst case scenario involves either trading down or drafting someone like Ritchie at 4 when one of these guys are still available.

[dammage79]

The reason Draisaitl is ranked so high is mainly because he used his size to protect the puck making him a great puck possession player. This is something the oilers desperately need I. Their system. More so than a little more grit and sandpaper.
But that's my take on this whole thing.

I chose Draisaitl strictly for that purpose for the Oilers. They can't hold o to the puck. They need him more than Bennett.

But I cannot gurantee that anymore than anyone else guaranteeing that is Bennet is still on the board at the Oilers pick that it wouldn't even be a question about them taking him.

We will see. I want Bennett but if the oil take him and the Flames are left with Draisaitl, I'm not going to be disappointed in the least.