Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[herashak]

reinhart is far from a bonafide #1 Center. he could be a joe pavelski type which would be nice

[Poe969]

For those high on Reinhart, yiu could argue that only drafting forwards is what the oilers did. You need to get some good d in the system and as of right now Ekblad would be our best defensive prospect.

I'll be happy as long as we get another high pick but at this point, I feel Ekblad should be the goal.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by herashak

reinhart is far from a bonafide #1 Center. he could be a joe pavelski type which would be nice

Not sure who is saying he's a bonafide #1 center. Popular opinion amongst the scouts and most people in this board is that he's a bonafide top 6 center who would be great in combination with someone of similar talent and potential (i.e. Monahan).

I don't think anyone believes that there's a "bonafide #1" anything in this draft. It's all about solid pieces.

[Poe969]

I honestly feel Ekblad will be.a #1 D in the future. I think as soon as he develops a mean streak, he could be the next Pronger.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Well it isn't like we'll have to wait 5 years for another Jankowski, just to see if he can play in the NHL. He'll be playing for us next season, two years ahead of Phaneuf's progress. We won't be any good for another few years anyways and our fans should be smart enough to know what to expect.

All I'm saying is that even Ekblad could take a long time to develop into something good, even if he plays next year, so people really need to be ready for that.

It's a lot different for a guy like TJ Brodie to develop in the background into a good dman when expectations are low, than for a 1st overall draft pick (and honestly, I think thats what it will take this year to get him). The fans here have patience...but if we're in year 4 and Ekblad still isn't showing positive signs, you just know half of CP is comparing him to all the forwards who we passed by and crapping their pants.

The real key is how patient the management/ownership group is. This ownership group wasted half a decade before acting on a rebuild because they were worried about a rebuild, so my feeling is they aren't as patient as we'd hope. But perhaps things are different with Burke in town.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by $ven27

Have you seen Hedman this year? Guy's a beast. If Ekblad becomes him and we draft him it'll be fantastic.

For sure, but he's been real slow developing and there was some doubt as to whether he'd ever get there.

Also as mentioned you can bet he'd have taken a lot more flack on a Canadian team and the pressure and who knows if he'd have developed.

Reinhart may be the safer pick in terms of getting a top-line player.

Hopefully the Flames wind up in a position to even get one of the two, they never have picked in the top 5 before so going to stay skeptical until it happens.

[Poe969]

So defensemen take linger to develop and we probably don't had the patients to develop any. Instead of drafting potential franchise defensemen, let's only draft skilled forwards and take whatever defensemen we can find.

Trying to think of another team that's done that...

Since defensemen take longer to develop, shouldn't we get some good ones early in the rebuild so they have extra time to develop and then get forwards after?

[Red John]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So defensemen take linger to develop and we probably don't had the patients to develop any. Instead of drafting potential franchise defensemen, let's only draft skilled forwards and take whatever defensemen we can find.

Trying to think of another team that's done that...

Since defensemen take longer to develop, shouldn't we get some good ones early in the rebuild so they have extra time to develop and then get forwards after?

Don't disagree, and hopefully management and fans would be patient enough to allow a guy like Ekblad to develop over half a decade.

But the thing is you can find elite defensemen outside of the top 5, and even outside of the 1st round. That doesn't happen as much with forwards. Again, you're playing the odds and Reinhart + a few defensemen later in draft may be a safer option than Ekblad + future 3rd line pluggers.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So defensemen take linger to develop and we probably don't had the patients to develop any. Instead of drafting potential franchise defensemen, let's only draft skilled forwards and take whatever defensemen we can find.

Trying to think of another team that's done that...

Since defensemen take longer to develop, shouldn't we get some good ones early in the rebuild so they have extra time to develop and then get forwards after?

That's what I've been saying, we can get young skilled forwards in the coming drafts, defensemen take longer so get them early. That being said I will be surprised if Burke doesn't make a move to get that 1st overall to make sure we get him. He is a Burke type player.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I honestly feel Ekblad will be.a #1 D in the future. I think as soon as he develops a mean streak, he could be the next Pronger.

A little much....I would liken him to Pietrangelo, and that's being generous.



If the Flames can't get Ekblad, I'd like a crack at Dal Colle. People quickly forget that he was a shot in the dark candidate for first overall a few months ago. The kid is a big body and has a very nice scoring touch.


Comparable would be Corey Perry.

[Jacks]

Edmonton drafted flashy (mostly soft) wingers that don't have a high hockey IQ with exception of RNH who is a smurf. They should have drafted more defensive talent but it didn't need to be 1st overalls. They needed more Reinhart's and less Yakupov's. Of course their pathetic development is partly to blame too.

Would love to see Ekblad in a Flames jersey but you rarely go wrong picking the big, talented, smart centre. Comparing Ekblad to Pronger is a bit premature.

[Table 5]

I really wish Edmonton was taken out of the equation when talking about drafting. There are 29 other teams in the league to look at and compare results with, but people always choose the one circus sideshow to base their argument around.

There are never any guarantees, but personally, I'd much rather go forward with a philosophy that emulates Cup winners over the last decade, than to go with a philosophy who's only argument is "don't turn into Edmonton".

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by Poe969

For those high on Reinhart, yiu could argue that only drafting forwards is what the oilers did. You need to get some good d in the system and as of right now Ekblad would be our best defensive prospect.

I'll be happy as long as we get another high pick but at this point, I feel Ekblad should be the goal.

I somewhat disagree. While I'm not wholly opposed to drafting Ekblad, having two young talented centres such as Monahan and Reinhart is a pretty amazing situation to have. Think of the flexibility it gives you, talented centre men are at a premium, and it's easier to get a stud dman for a stud centre rather than the other way around. Again, if we get Ekblad I'll be happy, but if we get Bennett or Reinhart I'll be happy too.

[sureLoss]

^Agreed the "Edmonton only drafted forwards and look where they are" argument needs context.

Colorado's early 1st round picks have heavily focused on forwards (Duchene over Ekman-Larsson, Landeskog over Larsson, MacKinnon over Jones). Yet because they drafted well in the mid 1st round and 2nd rounds they managed to have assets to trade for Johnson (who is finally coming into his own) and still have enviable forward depth. It also helps that they managed to put more competent people in charge of the team.

Florida has taken a more balanced approach with their high draft picks taking a mixture of defencemen and forwards and still seem to be spinning their wheels.

End of the day, good drafting and putting the right people in charge will end the rebuild faster than the Flames "having to draft a defencman" with their 1st round pick this year.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

^Agreed the "Edmonton only drafted forwards and look where they are" argument needs context.

Colorado's early 1st round picks have heavily focused on forwards (Duchene over Ekman-Larsson, Landeskog over Larsson, MacKinnon over Jones). Yet because they drafted well in the mid 1st round and 2nd rounds they managed to have assets to trade for Johnson (who is finally coming into his own) and still have enviable forward depth. It also helps that they managed to put more competent people in charge of the team.

Florida has taken a more balanced approach with their high draft picks taking a mixture of defencemen and forwards and still seem to be spinning their wheels.

End of the day, good drafting and putting the right people in charge will end the rebuild faster than the Flames "having to draft a defencman" with their 1st round pick this year.

I agree with this. We can always deal from a position of strength. If your over loaded with good forwards you can always move one or two for a dman. Edmontons problem is they are unwilling to move any of the kids, period.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

If EDM finishes last there is still a what, 75% chance they get bumped down 1? Counting on landing Ekblad may be a fool's strategy.

We are all quite likely to be bumped down one spot. But I'm liking the looks of the top 3 especially and top 5 or so. Gonna be interesting.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I honestly feel Ekblad will be.a #1 D in the future. I think as soon as he develops a mean streak, he could be the next Pronger.

Mean streaks aren't usually 'developed'... you either have one or you don't

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I agree with this. We can always deal from a position of strength. If your over loaded with good forwards you can always move one or two for a dman. Edmontons problem is they are unwilling to move any of the kids, period.

And from what we've heard they grossly overvalue their trade value.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I like Ekblad, and I like Reinhart.

But seriously comparing Ekblad as the next Pronger, is as good as me saying Reinhart is the next Gretzky. LOTS of scouts question if Ekblad will ever by more than just a top 4 D. He is starting to raise his stock thanks to some offensive number increases.

If Calgary drafts another forward, and people start pointing and comparing them to Edmonton... please stop.

Edmonton is a failure thus far because they didn't make any of their rookies earn their place. They didn't draft anything beyond their 1st round picks that helps them. They didn't have a good culture on that team. They didn't work hard on defence.

About the ONLY thing Calgary will have in common with Edmonton is that they took a forward.

Calgary has been a much better drafting team than Edmonton, which says all you need to know about Edmonton's drafting, especially factoring in they are picking at or near the very top of each round, and have had multiple picks over the years.

There is no guarantee that Calgary's rebuild is to going mimic that of Chicago or Pittsburgh, or Edmonton. Picking the BPA and managing your team properly is what should be done. Making sure you properly evaluate lower draft round eligible players every year is something this organization takes very seriously. You draft the very best player available at each and every pick. Not a single team wins the cup by drafting alone - you fill the holes with trades. Have a lot of really good players, easier to fill those holes up.

Flames aren't the best drafting team in the NHL, and I will be very interested to see what philosophical differences is imposed this draft. However, the Flames are NOT the Edmonton Oilers, and they will not allow their draft picks to be a bunch of self-entitled, self-absorbed, bunch of lazy selfish players. Baertschi wasn't cutting it? Off to the Heat you go. Sorry Backlund, you are not generating enough offence - to the 4th line you go. Backlund, you are doing well now - 1st line center for you!

Players will learn quickly that in this organization, doing everything you can on and off the ice is going to make you earn everything you get. That is the difference between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. That is the very biggest difference.

[gradin-23]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Comparing Ekblad to Pronger is a bit premature.

If the Oil get him we can always hope he's the next Stajduhar.