[News] Sportsnet's Top 30 - Draft 2014

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Would hate to pass on any of Ekblad/Sams if available, but after that, I think the draft is wide open and that seems to be corroborated by the different mock drafts out there. Who knows, you might see a Nylander/Ritchie/Ehlers/MDC go in the top 5.
Dumb picks are not those that end up busting. Dumb picks are those where they didn't do the due diligence (most posters here, I include myself) or those that did not follow their scouts advice and made a pick in the heat of the moment (oilers)

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

18 year old males without consistency issues are very rare in any situation.

Sure, but the difference is that he get's called out on it in many publically available scouting reports. Considering that the other draft picks in the range the Flames pick at don't I would have to think that his are over and above the expected amount.

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

At centre we've recently spent three 1st rounders (Backlund, Jankowski, Monahan) and have a nice looking 2nd rounder (Granlund).

The only one of those four that really has a decent chance at being elite is Monahan... and that's no sure thing either (Jankowski might not even end up as an anything). That's not to disparage the rest of them (I *Heart* Backlund a lot) but you need to fully secure the Center position before you can wander off and spend a top 5 draft pick on a boutique winger IMO.

[getbak]

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by getbak

Hahaha....nice try kid.

[Bingo]

this one has another guy enter the top four

http://thehockeywriters.com/rezniks-...014-nhl-draft/

[Bourque's Twin]

Ritchie is an absolute beast. He may turn out to be a dominant power forward in the league. However, he's inconsistent. I would rather see the Flames get Ekblad, Reinhart, or Bennett. But, if all three of them were taken, I would not be opposed to the Flames taking him ahead of Draisaitl and Dal Colle.

[FakenHaken]

I know it is getting ahead of yourself but a big if Ritchie were to pan out. Could you imagine a first line of Ritchie - Monahan - Colborne

Joe Colborne
Center -- shoots L
Born Jan 30 1990 -- Calgary, ALTA
[24 yrs. ago]
Height 6.05 -- Weight 213 [196 cm/97 kg]

Sean Monahan
Center -- shoots L
Born Oct 12 1994 -- Brampton, ONT
[19 yrs. ago]
Height 6.02 -- Weight 187 [188 cm/85 kg]

Nick Ritchie
Forward -- shoots L
Born Dec 5 1995 -- Orangeville, ONT
[18 yrs. ago]
Height 6.03 -- Weight 229 [191 cm/104 kg]

Would much rather have a Sam, but that's a whole lot of beef and skill to try and deal with and something that can compete with the Kings, Ducks, and Sharks. Much easier to shelter a Gaudreau - Skilled Center - Poirier as a 1A/1B line with a whole lot of speed and skill.

[Roof-Daddy]

If were to end up with Ritchie, I think about him down the road on his off wing ripping laser beams top shelf off of sweet Johnny Gaudreau set ups.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Bingo

this one has another guy enter the top four

http://thehockeywriters.com/rezniks-...014-nhl-draft/

Ehlers at #4. I like it (and I like the comments too).

[Husky]

Unless the Flames trade down or manage to deal for another 1st...I would be upset if they used their current 1st for Ritchie. IMO, there are better prospects.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If were to end up with Ritchie, I think about him down the road on his off wing ripping laser beams top shelf off of sweet Johnny Gaudreau set ups.

I doubt Johnny would be playing on the third line.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by fotze

I certainly will not be nearly as upset with Ritchie as I was with Chucko.

He wouldn't be my choice buy he certainly has a tonne of intrigue to keep me interested.

For those of us that didn't pay attention back then, what was Chucko projected to be?

[Vulcan]

I think Chucko was expected to go early in the second.

[nik-]

The Chucko pick was annoying the day it happened.

[automaton 3]

Chucko was a questionable pick at 24 at the time, and looks even worse in hindsight.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

960 has been pumping Richie's tires all morning. I'm starting to get very worried that fans are being set up in advance so there's not as much uproar when the team goes off the board and takes Dustin Penner V2 at #4.

Boomer didn't ask Sam Cosentino the right questions (a morning or two ago) when they chatted with him the other morning. On the Pipeline Show, he basically said he wouldn't draft him. I wouldn't go that for, but as I;ve said before, I would not take him at 4th with the options that will be available.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If were to end up with Ritchie, I think about him down the road on his off wing ripping laser beams top shelf off of sweet Johnny Gaudreau set ups.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ritchie would be a wicked line.

[FlameZilla]

I'm warming to Ritchie more every day. You can't teach size, as they say.

My top 6 would be:

Ekblad
Reinhart
Bennett
Ritchie
Dal Colle
Draisaitl

And I would be happy with any of them at #4.

[ComixZone]

When players are close in ability, draft the centre or draft the d-man. Don't draft the winger.

Ekblad won't make it to 4, so:

1. Bennett
2. Reinhart
3. Draisaitl
4. Ritchie

[Rick M.]

1. Reinhart
2. Ekblad
3. Bennett
4. Draisaitl
5. Ehlers
6. Ritchie
7. Dal Colle