Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by saXon

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?...d=nhl:topheads

Edit:

Found this over at HFboards. Seems he cross checked another kid in the face.

Good news for us. If Draisaitl lights it up while Bennett is out we could potentially see Sam slip a spot or 2.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by nik-

It wasn't Getzlaf's edge that dropped him, I'm pretty sure it was his perceived questionable motivation/effort.

Agreed... I remember in junior Getzlaf was known for being dominant in one game and invisible in the next. Obviously he has turned it around for the most part but it was a concern at the time.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Tomorrow's games:
BOS @ FLA
LA @ EDM

Florida lost.

Oilers are currently getting their asses kicked.

[The Fonz]

Who's going to mentor Ekblad after the Oilers draft him?

Schultz
Ference
Petry
Belov
Fraser

Ference is the only one of them who's even under contract beyond this season. The Oilers will have to throw stupid money at one of:

Mitchell
Markov
Boyle
Orpik
Timonen

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

just looking at the last few years

Sharks traded a 2nd to move up 20 to 18 last year

Buffalo traded a 2nd to move up 21 to 14 in 2012

I can't see a trade to move up.

Could see a trade to move our seconds for a late first though. A couple of recent examples provide mixed results.

In 2010, Chicago trades 30th overall, for NYI's 2 2nds (35 and 58). NYI picks Brock Nelson, Chicago picks Ludvig Rensveldt and Kent Simpson (who?)

In 2011, Detroit trades 24th overall for Ott's 2 2nds (35 and 48). Ott picks Matt Puempel, Det picks Xavier Ouellette and Tomas Hurco with the 2nds.

NYI benefits from dealing up, Ott misses out on a couple of good prospects. Mixed bag indeed.

[The Original FFIV]

Size appears to be a factor in this year's draft

19 of the top 60 are under 6' on Craigs List
8 of the top 30 are under 6' per ISS
12 of the top 30 in Bobby Mac's list are sub 6'

Given Burke's need for more beef, this presents a conundrum. Less skill and more size, or does he take the potential top six player who is vertically challenged.

Given his comments on Stempniak, if the player is thick built it may not be an issue but a lot of these players are thin, as are some of the +6'.

Will add another dimension to this draft and present interesting scenarios with our extra pick in the top 60.

[driveway]

When it comes to the question of trading up, you'd have to think about what it would take for us to trade down. Imagine we win the lottery and are clearly planning on drafting Ekblad, Edmonton, panicked, approaches us and asks if we're willing to trade down.

What would it take for us to flip #1 for #3 or #4 in that situation? A 2015 1st? Yakupov? Considering the price we'd demand for that pick, you'd have to think a team like Buffalo or Florida would make similar demands of us to trade up.

[moon]

No to Yakupov obviously.

It would have to be a huge package to move to 3 and a ridiculous no chance other team makes it deal to move to 4.

If it was the Oilers for 3 to 1 I would say this years 1st and 2nd, next years 1st and Nurse.

To move from 4 take out Nurse add in RNH.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Size appears to be a factor in this year's draft

19 of the top 60 are under 6' on Craigs List
8 of the top 30 are under 6' per ISS
12 of the top 30 in Bobby Mac's list are sub 6'

Given Burke's need for more beef, this presents a conundrum. Less skill and more size, or does he take the potential top six player who is vertically challenged.

Given his comments on Stempniak, if the player is thick built it may not be an issue but a lot of these players are thin, as are some of the +6'.

Will add another dimension to this draft and present interesting scenarios with our extra pick in the top 60.

However there's lots of players ranked in the top 10 that are over 6 feet. And since that is where our first is going to land looking at the size of the entire first round is misleading.

Ekblad - 6'4
Reinhart - 6'1
Bennett - 6'0
Dal Colle - 6'2
Draisaitl - 6'1
Ritchie - 6'2
Fleury - 6'2
Perlini - 6'2
Virtanen - 6'0

That's 9 players to pick from that are often ranked top 10 and are over 6'0. Plenty there.

The major players getting top 10 consideration that are under 6'0 are Nylander and Ehlers, I'd imagine we pass on them.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by moon

No to Yakupov obviously.

It would have to be a huge package to move to 3 and a ridiculous no chance other team makes it deal to move to 4.

If it was the Oilers for 3 to 1 I would say this years 1st and 2nd, next years 1st and Nurse.

To move from 4 take out Nurse add in RNH.

I can't see it being that much at all...

... for Burke to forego Ekblad and settle for Bennet... I don't see it taking much more than Nurse... certainly not another 1st and 2nd round picks... no GM would ever pay that much.

Now, to drop down to #4 where there's a well-documented drop-off, a 2015 1st and 2nd might very well be necessary.

[Vulcan]

I figure the Islanders will use their 2014 draft pick. Does anyone know what the Islanders might need besides the usual everything?
I'm hoping someone in front of us takes Dal Colle.

[ForeverFlameFan]

From looking at the standings, Nashville is worrying me because they are doing last minute tanking again. At one point, I thought the Hurricanes were trying to make the playoffs a month or two ago, but that is obviously starting to look unlikely now. I do think that they stay ahead of us. From what I am seeing, I think it will go:

1. Buffalo
2. Islanders/Edmonton
3. Edmonton/Islanders
4. Panthers/Predators
5. Predators/Panthers
6. Flames

I think from picking number 6, I would really want Burke to pick (in no particular order):

A) Virtanen - I like the grit to his game, and has a wicked shot. I think he's listed as a LW, but I could see him being moved to the RW for us since we lack RWers.
B) Fleury - Doesn't hurt to add an additional defensman to our prospect list, and is the second-best defenseman in the draft. However, he isn't a RH shooter like Ekblad.
C) Ritchie - A big power forward winger that the Flames could really use. And for Burke, he has truculence written all over him with the great size.

I honestly don't think that anyone besides the top 3 are NHL ready. Hearing that Bennett could still possibly open would be great, but he is definitely not going from the 3rd spot to the 6th spot.

Not sure whether or not Burke will trade for the top 3, I think he is already happy with what the AHL call ups have done. But, I am not Burke, we'll have tp see what happens on draft day. After what he pulled off with Berra, I have full confidence that he can get the best deals for us if he moves up.

[formulate]

Originally Posted by moon

No to Yakupov obviously.

It would have to be a huge package to move to 3 and a ridiculous no chance other team makes it deal to move to 4.

If it was the Oilers for 3 to 1 I would say this years 1st and 2nd, next years 1st and Nurse.

To move from 4 take out Nurse add in RNH.

To me, that sounds like a pretty crazy overpayment. RNH is a former first overall pick who's numbers weren't that much lower in junior. Plus a (likely still high) 2015 pick and a 2nd rounder just to move from Dal Colle or whoever to Ekblad? Of course I'd jump on that, but would settle for much less.

If the Flames happened to win the lottery and Edmonton came knocking with the 4th and 33rd overall picks, plus their 2015 first (or Nurse instead), I'd say thank you very much and have y'all yourselves a mighty fine day Misters Lowe and MacTavish, because somehow I'll have developed a southern accent out of excitement.

In any case, it's likely a dream scenario because we'll likely have to settle for Virtanen or Fleury who are becoming my favorites in the 5-7 slot.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Good news for us. If Draisaitl lights it up while Bennett is out we could potentially see Sam slip a spot or 2.

That's not good news at all. I want Draisaitl

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Flames now have 5 picks in the first 90 choices in the 2014 draft

Flames 1st round (expected to be top 5 pick)
Flames 2nd round (expected to be around 35th overall)
Colorado 2nd round (expected to be around 55th overall)
Flames 3rd round (expected to be around 65th overall)
Penguins 3rd round (expected to be around 85th overall)

Using THW War Room rankings (http://thehockeywriters.com/2014-nhl...ruary-edition/) we can probably start having a look at players we'd like the Flames to pick in the 2nd & 3rd rounds with a clearer eye (and inevitably blow a gasket when they're passed on several times by Burke & co).

Here are a few interesting prospects whose names I haven't often seen that could potentially be available in the 2nd or 3rd round:


53 RD Ben Thomas (WHL): 6'2", 193lb Calgarian, plays for. Hitmen http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=698974

58 RD Aaron Irving (WHL): 6'1", 189lb gritty D man

59 LW/RW Juho Lammikko (Finland): 6'3", 189lb skilled LH winger

60 RD Aaron Haydon (OHL): 6'3", 190lb strong, mobile D man

62 RD Ryan Collins (USHL): 6'5", 205lb SAH D man; committed to NCAA

63 C/RW Nick Magyar (OHL): 6'2", 194lb complete game; high hockey IQ

75 G Linus Soderstrom (Sweden): 6'4" cool & calm goalie.

83 RW Keegan Iverson (WHL): 6'0", 219lb power winger (low skill)

85 RD Brett Lernout (WHL): 6'4", 205lb monstrously physical D man

86 LD Travis Sanheim (WHL): 6'3", 181lb mobile D man (Hitmen)

89 LW Blake Clarke (OHL): 6'1", 199lb power winger (high skill; was ranked top 5 in preliminary rankings — year derailed by injury)

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by stemit14

The islanders are in such a tough spot... They are likely going to finish in the top four picks in the draft this year but they are probably projected to do the same thing next year... Do they surrender this years pick to buffalo knowing that the stronger draft is next year and they will likely have a good lottery pick? Or do they keep this pick knowing its a top five pick and hope they improve next season?

There is very little reason to think they will improve in the offseason this year... They lost MacDonald, Vanek, and Moulson. They are a hard sell to attract free agents cause they don't like to over pay and they are projected to be a bad team.

The only thing they have going for them is Tavares... Both the fact that he is one of the best players in the world and because players might be willing to sign with the islanders for a chance to play with him... The same way players wanted to play with iginla when he was in his prime. Maybe they could attract a guy like cammalleri or gaborik in the offseason. If they are smart, they will fire Garth Snow and have the new GM try to bring Moulson back.

If I'm the Islanders, I don't give up this year's pick and hope that the NHL finds a way to give them next year's pick back.

[devo22]

If I'm the Islanders, I keep the pick and hope that a) Strome emerges as a solid 2nd line center, b) De Haan stays injury-free, c) Reinhart adjusts to the NHL and d) they somehow get solid goaltending. You just can't give up a top 5 pick just because you think you'll be bad next year too. What kind of message would that send to your fans?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by devo22

If I'm the Islanders, I keep the pick and hope that a) Strome emerges as a solid 2nd line center, b) De Haan stays injury-free, c) Reinhart adjusts to the NHL and d) they somehow get solid goaltending. You just can't give up a top 5 pick just because you think you'll be bad next year too. What kind of message would that send to your fans?

Agree.

Also they need to show Tavares they want to build a winner. By defering the 2014 pick and taking the 2015 pick you are waiting an extra year for a potential impact player.

They were a playoff team last year, and goaltending injuries put them in a big hole to start the season this year.

[devo22]

Yup.

Oh, and the most important thing for them: Wang needs to replace Snow and Capuano. Horrible GM and horrible coach. Bring in competent people and things should improve for them.

[saXon]

wrong thread.