Mock draft based on current standings

[Flame12]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=704724&cmpid=nhl-fb

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=704725&cmpid=nhl-fb

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=704722&cmpid=nhl-fb


Hope the Oilers get on a bit of a win streak since I want them to fail at drafting. But what do you think of the players the "experts" picked for us?

[Alberta_Beef]

I'm far from an expert but I will give my early predictions.

1. SABRES - Aaron Ekblad [RD]
2. OILERS - Sam Reinhart [C]
3. PANTHERS - Sam Bennett [C/LW]
4. FLAMES - Leon Draisaitl [C/LW]
5. ISLANDERS/SABRES - Michael Dal Colle [LW]
6. PREDATORS - Nick Ritchie [LW/RW]
7. HURRICANES - Haydn Fleury [LD]
8. JETS - Kasperi Kapanen [RW]
9. CANUCKS - Anothony DeAngelo [RD]
10. CAPITALS - Jake Virtanen [RW]

[Vulcan]

I'm not too interested in another LW, meaning Dal Colle. I'd like a defenceman or a centre.

and what's with these guys listing Draisaitl as a LW. Is he a centre or not?

[devo22]

my take:

1. Buffalo Sabres: C Sam Reinhart
Sabres picked two defensemen in the first round last year (Ristolainen and Zadorov), so they go forward this year. Grigorenko, Girgensons and Reinhart give them a really good young C core.

2. Edmonton Oilers: D Aaron Ekblad
They'd be beyond stupid not to take this guy if he's still available ... seriously, not even the Oilers can be that stupid. Or can they?

3. Florida Panthers: C Sam Bennett
Pretty sure they'd be disappointed to miss Ekblad, especially since they already have a plethora of promising young centermen (Barkov, Bjugstad, Trocheck). But that's a luxury problem to have and since Bennett has also played LW in the OHL, it's a simple choice.

4. Calgary Flames: C Leon Draisaitl
Flames bolster their depth in the middle with an already quite big player with good playmaking skills. Having Monahan/Draisaitl as a 1-2 punch is too good to pass up at that point.

5. New York Islanders: LW Michael Dal Colle
If they finish that low, I doubt they'll give the pick to Buffalo. After going full D mode over the last few years and them lacking a top wing prospect, this is an easy pick to make.

6. Nashville Predators: RW Nick Ritchie
The Preds' HF page has Flames legend Juuso Puustinen listed as their top RW prospect, so it's save to say that they could use a guy like Ritchie in their system.

7. Carolina Hurricanes: D Haydn Fleury
They could use a good winger too, but Fleury is a good choice at that point to improve their D depth. Because after all, there's not much there right now, apart from Ryan Murphy.

8. Winnipeg Jets: RW William Nylander
After using their last two 1st rounders on defensemen, they go forward this year. They already have a lot of size in their lineup, so they could risk taking a smaller, but highly skilled forward this time.

9. Vancouver Canucks: LW Brendan Perlini
They used their last three 1st round picks on centermen, so why don't mix it up for change? Perlini is a big, goal scoring power forward - something they could need in their prospect pool.

10. Washington Capitals: D Anthony DeAngelo
At this point, they could take a skilled winger like Kapanen, but they could really use some promising defensemen in their prospect system.

[thymebalm]

I only want Ekblad.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Although Ekblad is my very first choice, it would be fine if we didn't get him. Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl, are all great centers that could add to our center depth. What would be great is getting another top 10 first round pick and hope to draft Fleury.

Reinhart/Bennett/Draisaitl and Fleury in one round? Success.

[saXon]

Ekblad, Draisaitl, Dal Colle - in that order, for my personal wishlist.

Ekblad most likely falls into the tar pit up north, thus becoming extinct from the rest of the NHL for years. Would really be a sad sight. If Burkie can swing a trade over the heads of the Oilers, he should get a library named after him somewhere.

Draisaitl has been called lazy by a few, but Hartley/Ward will fix that quick, so will a few meetings with Burkie. The kid single handedly carried Germany in last year's World Jr's. A very well rounded player, and has the skills.

Dal Colle has a nice frame to build off of. He's got a wicked shot, and he plays aggressive. I like his swagger.

Don't know why, but Reinhart and Bennett have just never tickled my fancy. I don't buy into the 'lets follow tsn's rankings' crowd.

[Mister Yamoto]

I want the Canucks to get Reinhart.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I want the Canucks to get Reinhart.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I want the Canucks to get Reinhart.

.... I don't even know how to respond to this post except... http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=134696

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by devo22

my take:

6. Nashville Predators: RW Nick Ritchie

8. Winnipeg Jets: RW William Nylander

Ritchie is listed as a LW on pretty much every list.

Nylander is listed as a LW, C, LW/C, C/RW. So some confusion on his position.

[djsFlames]

Not really interested in Draisaitl. Dal Colle looks like a more impact player, but strictly from the offensive blue line in at this point.

I'd be thrilled with Bennett if we can land in the 3 spot. Wouldn't be upset that we miss out on Ekblad or SR if we get him. He looks like a stud. A workhorse and a pain in the rear to play against. Like a Galchenyuk.

[Da_Chief]

Honestly Monahan-Bennett punch up the middle would be amazing.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Honestly Monahan-Bennett punch up the middle would be amazing.

yup. My dream scenario ... well, ideally I want us to draft Ekblad and go for McDavid/Eichel next year, but Monahan-Bennett in the middle would be great too. If we can't crack the top 3, I'd rather have Draisaitl than Dal Colle ... more of a position thing than anything else. Just don't think we need another LW.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I'm far from an expert but I will give my early predictions.

1. SABRES - Aaron Ekblad [RD]
2. OILERS - Sam Reinhart [C]
3. PANTHERS - Sam Bennett [C/LW]
4. FLAMES - Leon Draisaitl [C/LW]
5. ISLANDERS/SABRES - Michael Dal Colle [LW]
6. PREDATORS - Nick Ritchie [LW/RW]
7. HURRICANES - Haydn Fleury [LD]
8. JETS - Kasperi Kapanen [RW]
9. CANUCKS - Anothony DeAngelo [RD]
10. CAPITALS - Jake Virtanen [RW]

Buffalo won't draft another D prospect, their need is a forward, and my guess would be Bennett over Reinhart.

[Jing]

Any thoughts on Alex Tuch? If we grab a second 1st rounder, he could be a possibility (and would fit what Burke looks for).

[saXon]

Originally Posted by T@T

Buffalo won't draft another D prospect, their need is a forward, and my guess would be Bennett over Reinhart.

You never know. Many teams draft BPA for the sake of value. If the Sabres draft Ekblad, then it takes away from the Oilers and he holds that overall value of a 1st pick who's been named to exceptional status previously. They can then swing a trade later on to fill their need with a better developed prospect or a high end roster player in return. Or trade the pick to a team that really wants him and would overpay, aka Edmonton for their 2014 and 2015 1st. You never know.

It would be stupid of Buffalo to pass on Ekblad IMO.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by T@T

Buffalo won't draft another D prospect, their need is a forward, and my guess would be Bennett over Reinhart.

Teams draft the BPA, not based on need. If they end up with too many defensemen they can
trade one down the line.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by saXon

You never know. Many teams draft BPA for the sake of value. If the Sabres draft Ekblad, then it takes away from the Oilers and he holds that overall value of a 1st pick who's been named to exceptional status previously. They can then swing a trade later on to fill their need with a better developed prospect or a high end roster player in return. Or trade the pick to a team that really wants him and would overpay, aka Edmonton for their 2014 and 2015 1st. You never know.

It would be stupid of Buffalo to pass on Ekblad IMO.

It is arguable that Edmonton needs a center as badly as they need a defencemen. Edmonton picking two is still sitting really pretty, unfortunately. However, though Reinhart is not small (6'1"), they really need a big center since their top 6 is tiny. Draisaitl would be a great selection for them if they find themselves jumping up in the standings.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by T@T

Buffalo won't draft another D prospect, their need is a forward, and my guess would be Bennett over Reinhart.

Never say never. If he's the best prospect available by a margin and they end up with the #1 overall pick then you either take him or trade down. Craig Button pointed out in one of his earliest podcasts this season that Buffalo doesn't have a Sam Reinhart type player on their team or in their system but they also don't have an Ekblad level defenseman on their team or in their system. That said if they view the top 3 as fairly close then yes, I'd think they'd take a forward.

But if they love Ekblad they can always trade one or more of Zadorov, Myers, Ristolainen, McCabe, Pysyk for forwards.