Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[neo45]

Originally Posted by devo22

soooo ... does anybody know Nylanders "real" position? I have read everything by now. Button and Red Line have him at LW. Future Considerations and hockeydb have him at C. Eliteprospects and NHL.com have him at C/RW. Would be interesting to know what he plays and likes most.

He plays like Patrick Kane and is not very likely to be a center at the NHL level

[Psytic]

I think the east will have the top 5 locked up. I don't see how we can out suck them. We should start looking in the 6 to10 range again.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I think the east will have the top 5 locked up. I don't see how we can out suck them. We should start looking in the 6 to10 range again.

Considering the Devils look terrible and don't have a first, early on the only way I see the East getting the top 5 picks is if 6 of them finish below the West. As terrible as the East is, unlikely chance.

Also think the Flyers and Rangers bounce back, maybe not all the way to playoffs, but that middle range drafting position. Still, got Edmonton and Dallas to worry about (or I guess not worry about?) that there's just too much sucking in the league this year.

[devo22]

That Devils decision to keep their 2012 pick looks more and more stupid. I still don't get it ... it was 29th overall in a mediocre draft. Don't know if that Jankowski rumours were true, but horrible decision in any case. The 2014 draft won't be a lot deeper I guess, but getting Stefan Matteau instead of possibly Ekblad/Reinhart/Nylander must hurt a lot.

[Canada 02]

Craig Button's November update (link to article and list)

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/story/?id=436555

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=49649

[N-E-B]

Jake Virtanen at 57 seems really low to me. I was under the impression he was a top 15 pick. Has he slid that far?

[Poe969]

I don't care what happens, I just want us to either move up enough to get Ekblad or him to slide enough to get to where we are....

[Da_Chief]

Same Bennett, I want him.
Virtanen with the 2nd round pick if he drops out of R1.

[djsFlames]

Agreed. Ekblad in this draft would be by far the best thing for the team. At this point, Gaudreau and Poirier both look like really promising, possible top end offensive guys for the future, and Klimchuk, although a little more of an unknown to some of us could bring even more promise in that regard. If we are in a position to draft either of Reinhart or Ekblad somehow (lottery) then it could be a tough discussion as top centers are extremely valuable, but Ekblad would be my target. But course those stinkin' Oiler are probably going to get their hands on him.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Jake Virtanen at 57 seems really low to me. I was under the impression he was a top 15 pick. Has he slid that far?

same with Josh Ho-Sang, only at 49

[nik-]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Jake Virtanen at 57 seems really low to me. I was under the impression he was a top 15 pick. Has he slid that far?

He's not putting up points. And no, points aren't everything, but he's .75 PPG as a RW in his draft year and that's a pretty big red flag that he's going to be a poor producer at the next level. I have seen him that high, but it might have been with the expectation that his production would greatly grow, and it really hasn't.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Agreed. Ekblad in this draft would be by far the best thing for the team. At this point, Gaudreau and Poirier both look like really promising, possible top end offensive guys for the future, and Klimchuk, although a little more of an unknown to some of us could bring even more promise in that regard. If we are in a position to draft either of Reinhart or Ekblad somehow (lottery) then it could be a tough discussion as top centers are extremely valuable, but Ekblad would be my target. But course those stinkin' Oiler are probably going to get their hands on him.

I think the ideal position for a rebuilding GM in this years draft is to pick 2nd overall... The decision will essentially be made for you cause it's clear that either ekblad or Reinhart are going #1. If Reinhart goes first, you get a blue chip defenceman. If ekblad goes first, you get a scoring centermen. You won't be criticized for making the franchise decision to focus on defence or centermen.

Personally, for the flames, I would rather be stacked at the centre ice position than any other position. I think having Reinhart, Monahan, Jankowski, Knight, and Backlund as the depth in the organization would be pretty awesome. Not that I would object to having a stud defenceman like ekblad. Honestly though, I don't think the flames will be finishing anywhere near that low in the standings... And that's a good thing.

[CliffFletcher]

I have a hard time seeing the Flames finish bottom three. Edmonton and Buffalo have the bottom two spots locked up, and as we saw last year there are lots of teams capable of tanking in the last month of the season.

But Michael Dal Colle looks like a heck of a consolation prize.

[nik-]

I liked Michael Dal Colle too ... but it seems they've moved him to the wing, and I'd really hope we get another Monahan-ish level center this year.

This draft is a little dangerous for us, because it seems that after 1/2 there are a lot of wingers. Wingers are nice, but I'd much rather the elite D or C.

[RT14]

I highly doubt the Flames end up with the 1st or 2nd pick as they seem to really be behind eachother and have a positive mindset enough to what they know will be a losing year to play themselves out of a top 2 pick. As frustrating as that should be though (knowing we are not contending and still not ending up with a top pick), I do believe not allowing that loser mentality to sink in will pay dividends in the long run for our current young players' development.

That said, if we end up with the #1 pick I would be fully on board with taking Ekblad. All things being equal between the top two picks, we NEED a #1 Dman in the pipeline and knowing McDavid will be available a year later just makes solidifying the D that this year that much more enticing.

[The Original FFIV]

I truly hope that if we don't get Ekblad we go after the best available North American forward. Like the size/smarts of the C/W in the top 15.

[squirtle]

I don't think we are going to be bad enough to overtake edmonton or buffalo. Buffalo has gone full rebuild and edmonton..well has been consistent. I personally think we will pick between 3-5 if we don't win the lottery.

That said, if we drafted 3rd-5th i'd like Leon Draisaitl. Such a bada** name, and has excellent skill + size.

Play like Dion for Leon?

[Caged Great]

I firmly believe with our first we should take a forward even if Ekblad is on the board (unless we're picking at #4 like Nashville last year).

My preference would be either Reinhart or Dal Colle due to the size and their skill.

If we pick up another first by trading Cammaleri, then use that one on a d-man like Mattsson.

[Day Tripper]

Dal Colle seems like the kind of player the Flames scouting staff covet.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by nik-

He's not putting up points. And no, points aren't everything, but he's .75 PPG as a RW in his draft year and that's a pretty big red flag that he's going to be a poor producer at the next level. I have seen him that high, but it might have been with the expectation that his production would greatly grow, and it really hasn't.

Completely agree with your assessment.

Virtanen doesn't really have elite offensive hockey sense. When he enters the zone with the puck he isn't really creative to set up passing plays - just likes to drive wide or to the net hoping to set up a cross-crease tap in.

It works well for him because of his size and speed at this level but it won't at the NHL level where he won't be the biggest fastest strongest guy on the ice at any given time.

He hasn't had to develop a less predictable game yet and probably won't at this point. Not to say he won't be a good NHL player...he just likely won't be a top-line star unless he develops better offensive instincts (something that usually can't be taught).

On another note, this is the kind of year it pays to finish 30th - even if you lose the lottery you can't pick worse than 2nd in a draft with two top consensus players. Wonder if that doesn't come into play for a few NHL teams right now.