Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Johnny Rotten]

It was mentioned in the Hockey News last year, for what it's worth, but some unknown scout that this year's draft (2014) is an 8/10, next year's draft (2015) is a 10/10, and that the 2013 draft was average or words to that effect.

My question is somewhat related to that... Is the top of this draft (2014) considered better than the past few drafts?

In other words, how do Reinhart, Ekblad, Nylander, etc. compare with Hall, Yakupov, Hopkins, MacKinnon?

(Can't really find anything that states how the past few years' top pick compare with this year's top picks.)

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

It was mentioned in the Hockey News last year, for what it's worth, but some unknown scout that this year's draft (2014) is an 8/10, next year's draft (2015) is a 10/10, and that the 2013 draft was average or words to that effect.

My question is somewhat related to that... Is the top of this draft (2014) considered better than the past few drafts?

In other words, how do Reinhart, Ekblad, Nylander, etc. compare with Hall, Yakupov, Hopkins, MacKinnon?

(Can't really find anything that states how the past few years' top pick compare with this year's top picks.)

Whom ever said that is a bit daft.

Last draft was the best in terms of talent and upper end depth in the last 10 years. This upcoming draft has a few good players at the top all of whom are behind the top 4 from last year. This year's draft reminds me quite a bit of the 11' draft if I was to do a rough comparison. There are some good players but the talent kind of drops off after about the 8-10 mark. Next year you have McDavid and he is the best prospect since Crosby but after him it's not much better if at all than the 2014 draft.

The only two #1's I'd take Reinhart over in the past 4 drafts are RNH and Yakupov and only because Reinhart is bigger phyiscally than RNH, talent wise they are comparable, and Reinhart is not a headcase like Yak seems to be.

This draft is better than the 2012 draft, but that's not surprising as that was the worst draft since the Brendl draft.

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Whom ever said that is a bit daft.

Last draft was the best in terms of talent and upper end depth in the last 10 years. This upcoming draft has a few good players at the top all of whom are behind the top 4 from last year. This year's draft reminds me quite a bit of the 11' draft if I was to do a rough comparison. There are some good players but the talent kind of drops off after about the 8-10 mark. Next year you have McDavid and he is the best prospect since Crosby but after him it's not much better if at all than the 2014 draft.

The only two #1's I'd take Reinhart over in the past 4 drafts are RNH and Yakupov and only because Reinhart is bigger phyiscally than RNH, talent wise they are comparable, and Reinhart is not a headcase like Yak seems to be.

This draft is better than the 2012 draft, but that's not surprising as that was the worst draft since the Brendl draft.

Not disagreeing, but the same scout in Brian Costello's editorial says, "I guarantee the 2015 draft class will be as good or better than 2003."

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

Not disagreeing, but the same scout in Brian Costello's editorial says, "I guarantee the 2015 draft class will be as good or better than 2003."

Everything gets compared to 03. I don't know if it's that good. It's not going to be any worse than this years though. It's probably going to be in the upper half of drafts from 2003 through 2015, maybe in the top 4 of those, but it's so hard to project a year and a half + out exactly how certain players are going to shake out.

Look at Dal Colle, he was projected to be a mid first give or take this year and if he continues on as he has thus far, he might possibly even go #1. McDavid is going to be the #1 next year unless a second Crosby calibre guy comes out of nowhere, but beyond that, who knows. It'll be easier to read about this time next year as you'll be able to see if there are any Dal Colle type guys that rise up to make the upper end depth better or if any of the Nylander types fall off. As it sits now though it should be about = to 2014 with the exception that there is going to be 1 star player in 15'.

[Caged Great]

Plus you have to figure that they (Hockey news + scout guy) need to hype things to make it more interesting than it probably is as well. If you say that the next two drafts are just okay and average, it won't sell magazines. The 2012 draft was hyped up to be good/above average and occasionally great and yet it was a terrible terrible draft. There might only be 4 or 5 good nhl players from the entire draft (+ some decent guys)

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Everything gets compared to 03. I don't know if it's that good. It's not going to be any worse than this years though. It's probably going to be in the upper half of drafts from 2003 through 2015, maybe in the top 4 of those, but it's so hard to project a year and a half + out exactly how certain players are going to shake out.

Look at Dal Colle, he was projected to be a mid first give or take this year and if he continues on as he has thus far, he might possibly even go #1. McDavid is going to be the #1 next year unless a second Crosby calibre guy comes out of nowhere, but beyond that, who knows. It'll be easier to read about this time next year as you'll be able to see if there are any Dal Colle type guys that rise up to make the upper end depth better or if any of the Nylander types fall off. As it sits now though it should be about = to 2014 with the exception that there is going to be 1 star player in 15'.

Good point. Hall seemed to be the only one considered for first overall in his draft year (2010) when Seguin kind of came out of nowhere. How a guy can be so sure of a draft two years down the road is a bit questionable especially when talking about teenagers...(Not so much about McDavid being first overall, but the whole draft in general in saying it will be as good as the '03 draft).

[dammage79]

Was it Spencer Bennett or Tyler Benson that was granted Exceptional status?

Or either. Just remember people making a big fuss about one of them a couple years ago.

Ekblad sould be priority number one for the Flames if they end up drafting top five this year.

[trackercowe]

Whatever happened to Joshua Ho-Sang as well? Remember hearing a lot about him a couple years ago, but seems like he's dropped a lot, since I rarely see him as a projected first rounder now.

Edit: Looks like Button has him ranked 14th, but that's still a pretty big drop from what some were expecting.

[Canada 02]

^neither; only 4 players have been granted exceptional player status by the OHL

Tavares, Ekblad, McDavid and Sean Day

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

^neither; only 4 players have been granted exceptional player status by the OHL

Tavares, Ekblad, McDavid and Sean Day

Right, it was Day. Whens his draft year?

[Canada 02]

2016

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Whatever happened to Joshua Ho-Sang as well? Remember hearing a lot about him a couple years ago, but seems like he's dropped a lot, since I rarely see him as a projected first rounder now.

Edit: Looks like Button has him ranked 14th, but that's still a pretty big drop from what some were expecting.

Ho Sang has been benched for 'internal discipline' problems a few times and I have heard he still has them. (e.g. misses curfew, late for practice) Maturity may be an issue with him.

edit: He was also the highest profile player not to make Canada's Ivan Hilinka roster

[T@T]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ho Sang has been benched for 'internal discipline' problems a few times and I have heard he still has them. (e.g. misses curfew, late for practice) Maturity may be an issue with him.

edit: He was also the highest profile player not to make Canada's Ivan Hilinka roster

He's played every game this year

[devo22]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Whatever happened to Joshua Ho-Sang as well? Remember hearing a lot about him a couple years ago, but seems like he's dropped a lot, since I rarely see him as a projected first rounder now.

Edit: Looks like Button has him ranked 14th, but that's still a pretty big drop from what some were expecting.

no ... 49th.

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

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by T@T

He's played every game this year

Should have been clearer. He was benched last season

[T@T]

Originally Posted by devo22

no ... 49th.

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

Buttons a bafoon...mark my words,no way this kid lasts near that long.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by T@T

Buttons a bafoon...mark my words,no way this kid lasts near that long.

I take it you have viewed him a few times. If so, what are his standout qualities?

[herashak]

Originally Posted by T@T

Buttons a bafoon...mark my words,no way this kid lasts near that long.

People always say stuff like this about buttons list, hes more often right than wrong. plus buttons list is more about how good the player will be not where they were drafted.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by timbit

I take it you have viewed him a few times. If so, what are his standout qualities?

None!

Worst GM in flames history, in person he's an arrogant arsehole and 99% of his lists are compiled from scouts.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by T@T

None!

Worst GM in flames history, in person he's an arrogant arsehole and 99% of his lists are compiled from scouts.

He was asking about Ho-Sang...