Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[PeteMoss]

FWIW Dal Colle and Bennett are tied for 3rd in OhL scoring right now. Dal Colle has played 7 more games. But they are both ahead of guys like Domi, Horvat, McDavid, Rychel, etc. Some of those guys missed games due to the World Jrs though.

Also Dal Colle has virtually no PIMS.. 32 in 58 games... seems like a finesse player more than the power forward I've heard he is.

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

I think you are underrating Baertschi's value. For his age and draft year, his production in his limited time in the NHL is not that bad. If you don't count this amazing start with 3 goals in his first five games, Baertschi actually has 21 points in his last 46 games with Calgary. Pretty decent production for a prospect and much better than Buffalo's first from that year. I doubt very much that Buffalo just hangs up if offered Baertschi and Calgary's first. In fact, I'd be glad if they did, I don't think Baertschi and our first is worth moving up in this draft unless something else is added from Buffalo's side, especially if we finish in the 3-5 range as I would expect. If another team is willing to overpay, that's fine.

I don't believe trading Sven to move up a few picks makes sense either. He is an asset who's value is at a low. He still has potential but not as much as we think. Nobody is going to be knocking on Calgarys door asking for him. If we can get a first round pick for him without adding anything to Sven I would make the trade. I don't see his career going very far from what I have seen of him so far. Maybe a trade to Minnesota to play with Nido might be in order? I am a Sven skeptic until he can prove himself at some level. It doesn't bode well when you can't break a very weak Calgary lineup..

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

FWIW Dal Colle and Bennett are tied for 3rd in OhL scoring right now. Dal Colle has played 7 more games. But they are both ahead of guys like Domi, Horvat, McDavid, Rychel, etc. Some of those guys missed games due to the World Jrs though.

Also Dal Colle has virtually no PIMS.. 32 in 58 games... seems like a finesse player more than the power forward I've heard he is.

He is Joe Colborne v2.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

He is Joe Colborne v2.

He's more Tanguay with more size.

[Money Baer]

I'm really starting to warm up to Virtanen. His size, speed, skill, grit, and physicality make him a unique prospect!

The kid should end the year with 40+ goals in his pre-draft! I'm sure the Flames management has seen this kid many, many times live already!

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He's more Tanguay with more size.

I don't see it and I see a lot of OHL hockey.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Speaking of OHL hockey. Has anyone seen Brendon Perlini play live? He seems to be in the mix in the 6-10 range but doesn't get talked about a lot on this board. Good size and decent numbers. Granted - he is another LW though. Anyone have any insight into his style of play?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Money Baer

I'm really starting to warm up to Virtanen. His size, speed, skill, grit, and physicality make him a unique prospect!

The kid should end the year with 40+ goals in his pre-draft! I'm sure the Flames management has seen this kid many, many times live already!

Didn't he start the season struggling to put up points. I don't follow the hitmen but I vaguely remember the first draft ranking report he was way down. Good to see he turned things around, as going into the season I heard a lot of good things about him.

[Jing]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He's more Tanguay with more size.

I have only seen him live in the top prospects game (also watched highlights) but he reminds me of Bobby Ryan, a bigger player who isn't really physical but can protect the puck and has a nice shot/offensive skills.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Speaking of OHL hockey. Has anyone seen Brendon Perlini play live? He seems to be in the mix in the 6-10 range but doesn't get talked about a lot on this board. Good size and decent numbers. Granted - he is another LW though. Anyone have any insight into his style of play?

Haven't seen him play, but from what I have read on him has good hockey sense, speed and NHL caliber shot (deadly from 35 feet out).

Criticisms are he is hesitant to go into dirty areas and needs to work on his defensive game.

Been compared to Van Riemsdyk as a similar style player.

Another concern is if this is just a really good season (i.e. fluke) or a sign of things to come. Was almost completely off the radar before this season.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Speaking of OHL hockey. Has anyone seen Brendon Perlini play live? He seems to be in the mix in the 6-10 range but doesn't get talked about a lot on this board. Good size and decent numbers. Granted - he is another LW though. Anyone have any insight into his style of play?

I only saw him once (on TV) and it was in Niagara's garbage shoebox of an arena with the tiny ice surface, so it's hard to judge anything.

He also grew up in England so it's possible he's a bit of a late bloomer.

[handgroen]

if the flames play .500 hockey down the stretch (10-10-4) sportsclubstats.com has us with a 47% chance of 4th and a 36% chance of 5th.
Seth Jones was as highly touted as ekblad maybe more so and nashville got him at 4th.
I'm holding on to that dream.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by $ven27

Yup, moving up is certainly not cheap. IIRC Florida wanted to trade up from #2 to the top spot and Colorado wanted Gudbranson in return.

Wow if I'm Florida its definitely hard to make that deal but at the same time MacKinnon looked amazing going into that draft.

I think MacKinnon might be better than Gudbranson + Barkov but it will be close for sure. Will be cool to see how these guys develop.

[Rubicant]

I went to the Oshawa - Kingston game tonight as it gave me a chance to look at Bennett and Dal Colle in person.

Dal Colle wound up impressing me more than I thought he would. Seems to have good puck handling skills, decent skating and good offensive instincts. He has a great shot, and made one play where he played a bad pass with his skate to his stick at high speed. I believe he finished with 4 assists.

He seemed lazy when it came to the defensive side of the puck, and I don't think I saw him back check once. Whether that is a symptom of Oshawa's system (mostly a transition offence team from what I saw) or just the way he is I don't know.

Bennett didn't impress me as much as I thought he would given his potential draft position. He seemed to fight the puck all night and didn't make more than a couple plays that stand out in my mind. He did fight hard for the puck and when he had space you could see he is skilled.

One reason he might have been ineffective was he had Scott Laughton on him all night long. Laughton really seemed to have his number in the faceoffs as well. I don't think Bennett had a point.

As a side note, Bennett is not very big at all. Very skinny legs - he reminded me a lot of Doug Gilmour physically - which isn't to say he can't be a player but he didn't look nearly as solid as Dal Colle.

With this very limited viewing it made me feel better about potentially having Dal Colle as a draft choice given where it seems we will finish.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Wow if I'm Florida its definitely hard to make that deal but at the same time MacKinnon looked amazing going into that draft.

I think MacKinnon might be better than Gudbranson + Barkov but it will be close for sure. Will be cool to see how these guys develop.

Apparently Florida also asked what the price to get the 1st without giving up their pick and it was Gudbranson, Huberdeau, and Bjugstad. And honestly I'd probably do that. Seth Jones and MacKinnon as your core forward and Dman is fantastic.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't see it and I see a lot of OHL hockey.

My comparison is based on him being more of a passer and is more able to set up plays vs making the plays himself. He's also a bit of a floater and perimeter player like Tanguay is.

He's not a primary guy like either Bennett or Reinhart are where they push the offense, Dal Colle is a complimentary guy.

I admittedly have not watched a ton of him, so my comparison to Tanguay might not be spot on.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Money Baer

I'm really starting to warm up to Virtanen. His size, speed, skill, grit, and physicality make him a unique prospect!

The kid should end the year with 40+ goals in his pre-draft! I'm sure the Flames management has seen this kid many, many times live already!

He's looking more and more like a top 8 pick, maybe top 5. Late birthday,extremely powerful skater with a built in NHL shot at age 17, not many players get 40+ goals in their 2nd CHL season.

If Bennett isn't available I wouldn't be against Virtanen at all.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by T@T

He's looking more and more like a top 8 pick, maybe top 5. Late birthday,extremely powerful skater with a built in NHL shot at age 17, not many players get 40+ goals in their 2nd CHL season.

If Bennett isn't available I wouldn't be against Virtanen at all.

Just a gut feel but this guy screams Robbie Schremp. Hope we stay clear.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Just a gut feel but this guy screams Robbie Schremp. Hope we stay clear.

LOL. Brutal comparison.

Schremp was only about puck skills, nothing powerful, not big, not a great shot and was a total wimp.

There is nothing in Virtanen's game like Schremp's.

[Ashasx]

Pronman mentioned on Twitter that he doesn't think Virtanen should be considered for a top 5 pick.