Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Canada 02]

ISS November list; same top 5 as Button, but slightly different order

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/story/?id=436652

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=107437

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by 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.

I 100% disagree, I think this team needs a number one defensman more than another forward. Don't get me wrong, getting Reinhart or Dal COlle would be amazing but I think the organizational need is to build up the back end. We have a legit goalie prospect in Gillies and Monahan looks good and so does Gudreau. This team needsd a legit defensive prospect. Badly.

[bubbsy]

unless Reinhart (or another sure-fire #1 center prospect) is available at our spot, and/or if ekblad is gone i wouldn't mind seeing the flames trading the pick down to get another 1st rounder and using the picks to inject some high-end defensive prospects into the system.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I 100% disagree, I think this team needs a number one defensman more than another forward. Don't get me wrong, getting Reinhart or Dal COlle would be amazing but I think the organizational need is to build up the back end. We have a legit goalie prospect in Gillies and Monahan looks good and so does Gudreau. This team needsd a legit defensive prospect. Badly.

But if you read the reports, outside of Ekblad there is question marks amongst the D prospects. Might get a 3-4 but not a top 2 which is what we need.

Take a top six forward over a 3-4 d. Can find a 3-4 d in later rounds but need to hit a home run with our first.

[Poe969]

True, I guess I didn't clearify there... I think if we have a chance at Ekblad, we take it. If he's gone, then go with a skilled forward if there is one there, our first pick should be either Ekblad (I think we'll get him at #3) but if he's gone then take one of the skilled forwards. I don't see too many top end defensmen in this draft other than Ekblad but we could still get a Webber in the late rounds.

I just see Ekblad as the next Pronger. He doesn't have the mean streak in him but I think he could and should develop that.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I 100% disagree, I think this team needs a number one defensman more than another forward. Don't get me wrong, getting Reinhart or Dal COlle would be amazing but I think the organizational need is to build up the back end. We have a legit goalie prospect in Gillies and Monahan looks good and so does Gudreau. This team needsd a legit defensive prospect. Badly.

The way I look at it is that you rarely find a quality 1st line forward outside the top 5 (It happens but with little guarantee) and while Monahan and Gaudreau are looking good, they are not likely going to be star players. Getting a star forward, or several would help.

With D-men, you are just as likely to get a top end guy later in the first or in the second than you are with a top 5 pick. Subban, Weber, Letang, Keith and Chara were all 2nd/3rd round picks. If we spam our potential late first from trading Cammalleri, our 2nd and 3rd rounders plus any other top 3 round picks on D-men, we should be able to find some body that's good.

For the 2014, 2015 and 2016 drafts, if we take a forward with our 1st pick, D with our other first 3 round picks and then a combination beyond that of the other positions, then we should be able to increase the top end of our forwards, making our team legitimately dangerous offensively, while at the same time we should be able to find some defensemen in that secondary firsts/2nd/3rd rounders group.

Also, it is not 100% necessary to get top tier D-men right now. With the contract status of certain players, we have our #2, #3, #4, #5 D men locked in for the next 3 seasons. Giordano Brodie Wideman and Smid. If Sieloff takes #6 later on this year or next, and we keep Russell to see if he can replace Wideman on a more permanent basis, there will not be a huge impetus to rush the D prospects coming up into spots. With spamming 7 or 8 picks in the top 3 rounds with quality D men if they follow my thoughts, then you're likely going to have a similar competition on the farm that guys like Hanowski, Knight, Horak, Granlund etc were/are having in Abby this year. It makes them all better, both by having quality partners, and the ability to have direct comparable players that you're trying to edge out.

Also, the next 3 drafts from what I've heard are very similar as the 2010-2012 years in terms of talent. There should be a 15-20 NHL calibre D-men available in that time.

I believe that if we can get some star power like Seguin and Benn from last night in addition to the already awesome forward depth that we already have, then we should be set long term up front, while throwing most of the other darts at the D position in hopes of getting someone good, and with how our other scouting has been recently, (Poirier, Klimchuk, Grandlund, Janko, Sieloff, Wotherspoon and Gaudreau), they should be able to find those diamonds in the rough

[FlameZilla]

If Ekblad looks like 'the real deal' then I think we'd be silly to pass on him. Sam looks good, but Ekblad looks like a throuroughbred. I know there are a history of 'bust' top D-men picks, but we need to take that risk on a prospect of his ability.

We should try & acquire the Oilers' 2015 pick so that we can nab McDavid.

[FlamesAddiction]

Is Ekblad considered in the same tier as MacKinnon was last season, or is this more like a "Hall/Sequin" type of draft this year.

[Caged Great]

Ekblad isn't as good as Jones.

Reinhart is probably the closest to MacKinnon and he's not quite as good either. He is somewhere between Mac and Monahan.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is Ekblad considered in the same tier as MacKinnon was last season, or is this more like a "Hall/Sequin" type of draft this year.

Everything i have read says Ekblad wouldn't be in the same class as the top 4 of 2013. Seth Jones is considered to be on a whole different tier than Ekblad.

[Bring_Back_Oliwa]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is Ekblad considered in the same tier as MacKinnon was last season, or is this more like a "Hall/Sequin" type of draft this year.

Reinhart is a tier below Barkov, Mackinnon, Drouin. Probably closer to Monahan

Ekblad is below Jones. I think Jones ceiling is way higher.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

unless Reinhart (or another sure-fire #1 center prospect) is available at our spot, and/or if ekblad is gone i wouldn't mind seeing the flames trading the pick down to get another 1st rounder and using the picks to inject some high-end defensive prospects into the system.

This draft is pretty thin on defense at the top end. Not sure it would be wise to trade down for a bunch of question mark defense prospects when a better top 6 forward prospect is right there.

[Caged Great]

If I was combining the 2013 and 2014 drafts

1 Mackinnon
2 Barkov
3 Drouin
4 Jones
5 Reinhart
6 Ekblad
7 Lindholm
8 Monahan

[Parallex]

I'd take Reinhart over Ekblad but that's about it... Personally I think the Flames ought to just go BPA with their own 1st round pick but prioritize D-men with any additional first or second round picks they manage to acquire... I look at the Flames organizational depth chart and I see a lot of guys that look like bottom pairing guys to me so I think it would behoove the org to pick up some more blueliners and hope we get a top 4 guy out of them.

Maybe take a flyer on Demko in the third if he's there.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I too, am in the "draft Reinhart if there is a choice" side. Exceptional hockey IQ, non-stop motor, great leader, and defensively sound already for his age. Sounds a bit like Monahan. Building a team with centers of this type seems like a really good plan.

Defencemen are a bit harder to gauge, and I would be fine with the Flames throwing a few more darts at center until a few start really showing up well. I would hate to draft Ekblad, and see him top out as a #3 or 4 only because he was indeed more physically capable at a younger age than his peers (the big question mark if there is any), and wasn't able to maintain the same advantage in the NHL.

Dal Colle is really interesting. They moved him to LW, which is where Calgary is already relatively deep in. However, he is big and very talented. If he was a RW, I would have preferred him over Ekblad as well. I think Nylander (as much as I would like to have him on the team) would be the guy I hope we skip. I think he is great and all, but is yet another smaller player for the top 6. The Edmonton model perhaps has me a little more nervous than I should be.

[sureLoss]

^Reinhart also has the versatility to be moved to RW if another Flames prospect challenges for a top 6 center position (e.g. Jankowski/Knight/Granlund or future pick) and has the right handed shot that is rare in the Flames organization ATM.

[Mass_nerder]

I like Dal Colle, which probably means he'll jump into the top 3, and become unreachable. I think we'll be picking around 6-7th like last season.

[bubbsy]

i think flames will pick around 4th. i think the jackets and oilers will end up higher in the standings by the time the season's done.

[SeanCharles]

We need to find a way to be in a position to draft Ekblad. He will go in the top 3 I am assuming...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is Ekblad considered in the same tier as MacKinnon was last season, or is this more like a "Hall/Sequin" type of draft this year.

sequin |ˈsēkwin|
noun
1 a small, shiny disk sewn as one of many onto clothing for decoration.

Think you meant Seguin?