Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[powderjunkie]

I hope we take Ryan MacInnis with the late 1st rounder we eventually acquire. I know as much about prospects as most here (ie. nothing), but it would be fun to see Ramage, Reinhart, MacInnis and Gilmour (actually no relation to Doug) on the same team. I mean, what could go from living in the past?

[Erick Estrada]

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.

Really? Button was the only Flames GM that took the time to reply personally to my emails. I have a relative that worked at the dome that considers him the nicest guy and though Sutter in comparison was not a very personable man at all. I though he was a class guy and he did have a hand in building the team that went to the finals in 2004. IMO Risebrough was the worst GM in the Flames history by a longshot.

[Calgary4LIfe]

From the little I know about Ho-Sang, he is this year's Shinkaruk - though apparently not the goal scorer Shinkaruk is. People complain that he constantly tries to do everything himself and refuses to pass the puck too much. Extremely selfish with tunnel-vision, but elite skills. I have only seen him play once last year, and he seemed alright, but that was what some fans were saying about him. Seems like a bit of a headcase.

I am liking Dal Colle more and more. LW'er though - our deepest position in terms of higher-end prospects (though nothing is guaranteed). He played center last year, but got moved to LW, and I think is now seen as a LW'er.

I still prefer Reinhart at this time - seems like a clone of Monahan in a number of ways. I am a bit wary of Ekblad ever since I heard the "sometimes guys who are so physically mature compared to their peers don't always translate well at all at the NHL level, as they have molded their game around this advantage too much". Right now, he is #3 on my list.

Reinhart
Dal Colle
Ekblad

Nylander would be a great story (born in Calgary, son of a former Calgary Player) and he is a fantastic player. Just too many small guys. This team needs to be big up front as well as skilled. Gaudreau and even Baertschi are no 'guarantees' to be part of that staple in the top 6, but when you are drafting so high that is when you can take the guys that have both size and skill. Drafting the bigger guys in the mid-round leaves you without a lot of skill, and drafting skilled guys without size leaves you as a talented but small team (of course, just 'averages' - there are plenty of guys in both sizes who have had fantastic careers being drafted outside the 1st round, not to mention as a mid-late 1st rounder).

I still stand behind my dislike of Brian Burke, but he will help ensure this team follows-through with Feaster's words about needing to get bigger and more physical (said before the Burke announcement). I really think they will shy away from Nylander.

I do think the Flames will end up finishing in the bottom 5 - Buffalo is practically assured the last spot, and you still have more teams in the east that could easily fall below that mark.

Flames have been playing mostly decent-to-great teams since the start of the season, and are starting to really show the effects. I think they will stabilize somewhat after they play more eastern teams, but they will really be relegated to the bottom 5 I would think. You can definitely select a franchise player out of the bunch, and hopefully it is someone with size.

Edmonton ended up selecting a lot of smaller guys (bit of bad-luck with whom the 1st over-alls were available as a group in the last few years regarding size, horrible drafting not to find anything else to help beyond the 1st over-alls in that department). People are quick to point out the follies of Edmonton - namely defence and net. However, just as big of a deficiency in their make-up is that they are weak down the middle, and small on the top 6.

I think the world of Jankowski, and see that he COULD develop into a wonderful 1st line center - but I am also not counting on it. That is why the Flames 'need' to draft Reinhart to assure enough depth up the middle. If they are unlucky/lucky (depending on how you see things) to draft McDavid the following year, you do it and move a center to the wing, or trade one to fill holes. Young 1st line center players command a king's ransom.

Will be interesting what other prospects shoot up the draft this year. There are always a few that really pick up the ball and show their quality after perhaps being forced down the depth charts from previous players that have graduated. Will also be interesting to see how many more picks the Flames acquire. I really hope that the Flames end up with another 1st for the 2015 draft just in the hopes of having another team finish outside the playoffs.

[FlameZilla]

^^^^ Craig Button kindly & thoughtfully responded to my management suggestions via email when I was a 17-year-old CP poster.

I see nothing wrong with his list being 99% 'compiled from scouts'. He individually scouts these kids as well, but it's really useful to have a list that has the input from professional scouts around the league.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

^^^^ Craig Button kindly & thoughtfully responded to my management suggestions via email when I was a 17-year-old CP poster.

I see nothing wrong with his list being 99% 'compiled from scouts'. He individually scouts these kids as well, but it's really useful to have a list that has the input from professional scouts around the league.

Yep. You won't find a nicer man in hockey. I really appreciated that he had time for the fans.

[Cole436]

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.

I've met Craig multiple times through my work this past year, and each time he was kind, polite, approachable and took the time out of his day to talk to you.

Outside of his horrendous job as GM, I have nothing but good things to say about him.

[Vulcan]

I want a big defenceman. Anybody seen that kid in Red Deer, Haydn Fleury play?

[Poe969]

Kinda funny how we're looking to embrace the draft and the dealine a lot more than the season at this point. There are a few high end players that would really help this team. Some would prefer Ekblad, some Dal Cole, some Reinhart and a few others. The Flames will likely be in a position to pick on of the top players in the draft and will likely have another (if not a couple other) first round picks to use as well. It's not a bad thing as we're going through a rebuild and this is to be expected.

It's just good that we can be so positive about things. Things worked out pretty well with Monahan, so lets hope it continues for us until this team is on the other end of the spectrum.

Unlike the greasers who'll always pick high and screw things up

[The Original FFIV]

I like Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Dal Colle as a top four, but Ritchie intrigues me with his size and from what I've read, abilities. We don't have a power forward in our prospect mix, but power forwards tend to be more boom/bust than other prospects. Perlini is another name that is rising and seems to be a mix of skill and size.

[sureLoss]

Red line report's top 10:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...eport/3762203/

Going to post their list as I have noticed it won't display on some devices:

1. Reinhart
2. Ekblad
3. Nylander
4. dal Colle
5. Draisital
6. Ritchie
7. Bennett
8. Virtanen
9. McKeown
10. Goldobin

Author also doesn't pull any punches on the prospects he thinks are falling... Especially harsh on Blake Clarke:

Blake Clarke (North Bay): Was a disaster even before the injury. In fact, it might be fair to say he's playing better now that he's on the sidelines than he was when he was on the ice.

Rourke Chartier (Kelowna): Has been just plain bad in every aspect of the game right across the board.

Reid Duke (Lethbridge): Black hole of a franchise has dragged him down into the quagmire. Not scoring or playing any "D."

[jg13]

Comparing Dal Colles stats directly to Reinhart you see some impressive things

Dal Colle - June 1996
Reinhart - November 1995
(Sam Reinhart is 7 Months Older)

Dal Colle is in his 2nd Year in Junior current stats:

2012-2013 63GP - 15G 33A 48PTS +19 (0.76 PPG)
2013-2014 32GP - 22G 32A 54PTS +6 (1.69 PPG)

Reinhart is in his 3rd Year in Junior current stats:

2012-2013 72GP - 35G 50A 85PTS +8 (1.18 PPG)
2013-2014 33GP - 16G 34A 50PTS +4 (1.52 PPG)

I expect this kid to go top 3 for sure, potentially over taking Sam Reinhart depending on how the rest of the season/playoffs go. I think the top 4 picks in this draft are extremely solid and I would be shocked if our pick isn't top 4.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I want a big defenceman. Anybody seen that kid in Red Deer, Haydn Fleury play?

I was wondering about him too.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Really? Button was the only Flames GM that took the time to reply personally to my emails. I have a relative that worked at the dome that considers him the nicest guy and though Sutter in comparison was not a very personable man at all. I though he was a class guy and he did have a hand in building the team that went to the finals in 2004. IMO Risebrough was the worst GM in the Flames history by a longshot.

Agreed

When I was in the Flames dressing room asking Button a question, I got cut off from a veteran Calgary media guy, Button interrupted the interrupter and pushed the floor back to me.

Nice man.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by jg13

Comparing Dal Colles stats directly to Reinhart you see some impressive things

Dal Colle - June 1996
Reinhart - November 1995
(Sam Reinhart is 7 Months Older)

Dal Colle is in his 2nd Year in Junior current stats:

2012-2013 63GP - 15G 33A 48PTS +19 (0.76 PPG)
2013-2014 32GP - 22G 32A 54PTS +6 (1.69 PPG)

Reinhart is in his 3rd Year in Junior current stats:

2012-2013 72GP - 35G 50A 85PTS +8 (1.18 PPG)
2013-2014 33GP - 16G 34A 50PTS +4 (1.52 PPG)

I expect this kid to go top 3 for sure, potentially over taking Sam Reinhart depending on how the rest of the season/playoffs go. I think the top 4 picks in this draft are extremely solid and I would be shocked if our pick isn't top 4.

Interesting points for sure, but the quality of their respective teams and linemates can not be ignored.

Dal Colle
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/l...008072014.html

Reinhart
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/l...017942014.html

I would imagine other teams being able to zero-in on Reinhart on a nightly basis, and that would be a bit harder to do against Dal Colle with Laughton and Cassels there.

As well, Dal Colle has been switched to LW this season permanently. He plays with Laughton if I am not mistaken. Centers typically are worth more to a team than LW'ers.

I like Dal Colle, and I think he definitely deserves to be in the top 5, possibly even challenging for the first over-all. I just don't really see him taking over Reinhart though. If Reinhart and Ekblad are both gone, and the Flames are drafting 3rd over-all, it is either him, Draisaitl (C) or Bennett (LW). Of course, it is still early, and there could very well be additional moves as players get hot, cold, and go onto really good playoff runs (like Horvat last year jumping up in the rankings after his strong playoff drive, while Monahan not having the same opportunity as his team didn't make the post-season).

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I like Dal Colle, and I think he definitely deserves to be in the top 5, possibly even challenging for the first over-all. I just don't really see him taking over Reinhart though. If Reinhart and Ekblad are both gone, and the Flames are drafting 3rd over-all, it is either him, Draisaitl (C) or Bennett (LW). Of course, it is still early, and there could very well be additional moves as players get hot, cold, and go onto really good playoff runs (like Horvat last year jumping up in the rankings after his strong playoff drive, while Monahan not having the same opportunity as his team didn't make the post-season).

I really, really like Dal Colle from what I've seen and read (which admittedly isn't that much). I don't think we're going to end up being able to pick Ekblad or Reinhardt, but I think Dal Colle will be a nice consolation prize. Even with our over-abundance of LW prospects (I don't think Dal Colle is going back to center) I would pick him over Draisatl or Bennett.

[stemit14]

I know that it's likely the islanders will do better as the season goes on but right now they are second last in the league. It will be very interesting if it stays that way at the end of the year. That would likely give the buffalo sabres the top 2 picks in this years draft. Talk about making the draft easy on a team... They would get their blue chip defenseman and centerman in a single draft.

[Ashasx]

The pick is top 10 protected if NYI chooses.

Though that pick could be McDavid next year.

[herashak]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I know that it's likely the islanders will do better as the season goes on but right now they are second last in the league. It will be very interesting if it stays that way at the end of the year. That would likely give the buffalo sabres the top 2 picks in this years draft. Talk about making the draft easy on a team... They would get their blue chip defenseman and centerman in a single draft.

isles pick is top 10 protected

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by herashak

isles pick is top 10 protected

So that means they can opt to surrender their 2015 draft pick instead? I guess they'll probably do that but buffalo will also be excited to have another possible chance to win the McDavid lottery in 2015 if the islanders don't make the playoffs next year.

[Goodlad]

New list from HockeyProspect.
http://www.hockeyprospect.com/2014-n...ember-edition/

1	REINHART, SAM	RC	KOOTENAY	WHL
2	EKBLAD, AARON	RD	BARRIE	OHL
3	DAL COLLE MICHAEL	LW	OSHAWA	OHL
4	DRAISATL, LEON	LC	PRINCE ALBERT	WHL
5	RITCHIE, NICK	LW	PETERBOROUGH	OHL
6	MCCANN, JARED	 LC SAULT STE. MARIE	OHL
7	BARBASHEV, IVAN	LW	MONCTON	QMJHL
8	BENNETT, SAM	LC	KINGSTON	OHL
9	NYLANDER, WILLIAM	LW	MODO	SWE
10	TUCH, ALEX	RW	USNTDP	USHL
11	EHLERS, NIKOLAJ	LW	HALIFAX	QMJHL
12	LARKIN, DYLAN	LC	USNTDP	USHL
13	VRANA, JAKUB	LC	LINKOPING	SWE
14	KAPANEN, KASPER	RW	KALPA	FIN
15	KARLSSON, ANTON	RW	FROLUNDA SWE