[News] 2014 NHL Mock Draft: Olympic Hockey Edition

[cral12]

Whether it be the Phoenix Coyotes going off the board to take a Blake Wheeler or the Los Angeles Kings selecting Thomas Hickey seemingly out of nowhere, one’s mock draft can be wrecked quicker than Jake Virtanen can do a lap around the rink.

Sill, inevitably it is difficult to hold back and not go through the futile process of creating a NHL mock draft. My 2013 NHL Mock Draft Final Edition turned out to be one of my most accurate efforts to date, but even then NHL GMs thwarted hockey draft prognostications planet wide with events like:

See who takes the "Battle of Sam"?

Flames go ever so slightly off the board, believed to be due to influence of Burkie. Go ahead and mock the mock.

- Read full article here

For comparison, NHL.com writers also released there mocks today.

Mike Morreale's here.
- He has Flames nabbing Michael Dal Colle.

[Money Baer]

I'd be pretty depressed if we drafted Virtanen at 4th! He's a solid prospect, but there are much better options at that position!

[Ashasx]

If we took a sub point per game forward at 4th overall, I think somebody would have to restrain me.

It's not even like he's a big player. He's below average in height.

[foshizzle11]

who would you take if bennett, reinhart and ekblad are all gone?

[Ashasx]

I would take Dal Colle or Draisaitl pretty easily. To me, Virtanen is a mid-first round pick, like Lazar.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

who would you take if bennett, reinhart and ekblad are all gone?

Draisaitl... although barring a lotto win from a team above us in the standings I think we'll end up drafting third (and would hope we'd take Bennett assuming 1/2 are Reinhart/Ekblad).

[Freeway]

Dal Colle or bust.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Draisaitl... although barring a lotto win from a team above us in the standings I think we'll end up drafting third (and would hope we'd take Bennett assuming 1/2 are Reinhart/Ekblad).

Well the current projection from Sportsclubstats.com has us actually drafting 5th so there's no harm in planning for a scenario in which there are no Sams nor Ekblad.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

who would you take if bennett, reinhart and ekblad are all gone?

I'd prefer Dal Colle, but wouldn't be too upset if they took Draisatl instead. I think Virtanen is a great prospect, but too much of a reach at 4 or 5.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

who would you take if bennett, reinhart and ekblad are all gone?

Nobody, I would trade the pick for a young player or prospect. After those three I see no top end talent.

[Enoch Root]

How many of the mock drafts last year had Calgary taking Monahan?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

How many of the mock drafts last year had Calgary taking Monahan?

all 3 nhl.com writers had the Flames picking Monahan
Sportsnet had the Flames picking Monahan
Button had Lindholm to the Flames with Carolina taking Monahan just before

I think pretty much everyone had Calgary taking one of Lindholm or Monahan

mocking early 1st round picks is pretty easy IMO, really the only wild card last year was where Nichushikin would be picked.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by cral12

See who takes the "Battle of Sam"?

Flames go ever so slightly off the board, believed to be due to influence of Burkie. Go ahead and mock the mock.

- Read full article here

For comparison, NHL.com writers also released there mocks today.

Mike Morreale's here.
- He has Flames nabbing Michael Dal Colle.

Thanks for the link as it helps to break up the Olympic break news doldrums. But as I posted in the other thread, can't see Burke going off the board given that he listed that as one of the reasons for dismissing Feaster/Weisbrod. Can't screw up drafts and I can't see us passing up one of the presumed top 5 in favour of a wild card.

[dissentowner]

I still think Burke will trade with Buffalo to get the 1st pick. I think the Flames will finish 3rd last and will trade #3 plus something to the Sabres to get #1.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I still think Burke will trade with Buffalo to get the 1st pick. I think the Flames will finish 3rd last and will trade #3 plus something to the Sabres to get #1.

And pick Sam or Ekblad?

If it's not too too huge of an overpayment (which it would probably have to be), I wouldn't mind Burke doing that to get Ekblad.

[Poe969]

I'm willing to bet that the flames find a way to get Ekblad. I think Burke really likes him and will move mountains to get him.

[sureLoss]

Last time any team was able to move up to a top 3 pick was in 2003. Seems GMs have been reluctant to trade down or not willing to pay the price in more than a decade.

While moving up is very situational, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[The Original FFIV]

This link was a bit hidden on the original link - so posting it so others can see.

http://dcprosportsreport.com/NHLMocks.htm

[Bar-Down]

Still 20+ games left, Oilers arent THAT far behind.

Once we ship some vets out we could take a big nose dive, especially since most of the other teams will be fighting for playoffs and will be playing well.

We could still very easily finish 29th.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If we took a sub point per game forward at 4th overall, I think somebody would have to restrain me.

It's not even like he's a big player. He's below average in height.

Huh? He's 6'1. I don't know what your average height is, but that's definitely not below average. I love the way Virtanen plays and I'd love him on the Flames. 51 point in 55 games is pretty good for a 18 year old kid, and he plays with an edge too. Probably my favourite Hitmen at the moment. I agree that he shouldn't be drafted 4th but with this draft being really weak, I'm gonna be disappointed with anyone except Ekblad, Reinhart, or Bennet.