FC's 2014 NHL Draft Thread

[FCAV]

It's about that time we at Future Considerations switch our focus from the long-forgotten (kidding) 2013 draft to the upcoming 2014 NHL Draft.

To kick start that, we've released our preliminary ranking for the 2014 NHL Draft.

Rank / Pos. / Name / Team / League / Ht / Wt /

1). C Sam Reinhart, Kootenay (WHL), 6-0, 180
2). C/RW William Nylander, Sodertalje J20 (SuperElit), 5-10, 170
3). D Aaron Ekblad, Barrie (OHL), 6-4, 215
4). LW Blake Clarke, North Bay (OHL), 6-2, 190
5). C Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa (OHL), 6-2, 180

Full Top-30 can be found here: http://futureconsiderations.ca/fc-re...014-nhl-draft/.

(Click a name for their prospect profile -- we have all 30 currently up on the website).

FC will be on hiatus until August, so in the meantime, enjoy!

[devo22]

I know people here aren't big fans of defensemen high in the first round, but Ekblad seems really intriguing ... 6'4" and 215 already and a right shot. Would be a great fit.

[Hockey_Ninja]

No heart for Reinhart!
Real bad for Ekblad!
Kill wins with a sledgehammer for Nylander!

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by devo22

I know people here aren't big fans of defensemen high in the first round, but Ekblad seems really intriguing ... 6'4" and 215 already and a right shot. Would be a great fit.

Exceptional status to play in the CHL earlier.
"Further along" than Jones was at the same respective age.

Looks like the real deal to me at first glance.

[Commandant]

Ekblad was tremendous for Barrie in the OHL playoffs.

The minutes he played in the year before his draft year? Wow.

[GreenLantern]

So far, how deep is the 2014 draft looking compared to 2013?

[sureLoss]

For the Flames drafting Ekblad would bring a lot of balance to the prospect pool.

Even though I understand the desire of having the potential 1-2 punch down the middle in Reinhart and Monahan.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Poor Sam. He's probably going to end up with some dumphole team like Florida. It'd be really neat if we could get him though.

[Caged Great]

I don't like drafting D-men or goalies with top 5 picks, but even I would go with Ekblad. He looks like a better version of Victor Hedman. Can't really complain with that too much.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Is Ekblad at Seth Jones status?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Is Ekblad at Seth Jones status?

I haven't watched that much but apparently Ekblad's playoff beard at 17 is greater or equal to Weber in his prime

Spoiler!

[sureLoss]

Central Scouting's Futures list (list of players NHL Central Scouting believes has 1st, 2nd or 3rd round potential)

North American Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677279
International Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677281

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Central Scouting's Futures list (list of players NHL Central Scouting believes has 1st, 2nd or 3rd round potential)

North American Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677279
International Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677281

From the North American list, Austin Poganski sounds interesting.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Central Scouting's Futures list (list of players NHL Central Scouting believes has 1st, 2nd or 3rd round potential)

North American Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677279
International Players: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677281

I hope Shane Eiserman ends up in Detroit

[Commandant]

Here's my top 10 list

http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/07/...014-nhl-draft/

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Commandant

Here's my top 10 list

http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/07/...014-nhl-draft/

Great write-up!

Under Nylander, you forgot to add that his father also played for the Flames

Really curious to see how Ekblad develops this season. I wonder if he will get as much hype as Jones has this past year - I think he has to explode offensively given the aura around Jones from the last couple of years. Also wonder if Joshua Ho-Sang ends up making the top 15 or so - hear he has top 5 potential from some people, but is either extremely selfish, or has low hockey-IQ/poor vision and doesn't use his team mates near enough.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Great write-up!

Under Nylander, you forgot to add that his father also played for the Flames

Which explains why William Nylander was born in Calgary.

[Commandant]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Great write-up!

Under Nylander, you forgot to add that his father also played for the Flames

Really curious to see how Ekblad develops this season. I wonder if he will get as much hype as Jones has this past year - I think he has to explode offensively given the aura around Jones from the last couple of years. Also wonder if Joshua Ho-Sang ends up making the top 15 or so - hear he has top 5 potential from some people, but is either extremely selfish, or has low hockey-IQ/poor vision and doesn't use his team mates near enough.

Josh Ho-Sang could go either way. The talent is there. I could see him pulling a Drouin and exploding (maybe not to Drouin's level, but to top 10).... or I could see him pulling an Anthony Duclair and falling down the board. The talent level is high, he has the skating and the hands and the vision to really do damage. But he needs to show more hockey IQ, and make the smart plays when he has the chance. Its all up to him.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Kill wins with a sledgehammer for Nylander

Blah, to forced... "Bystander for Nylander"?

[sureLoss]

Gotta say love the early scouting reports and youtube video on playmaking center Leon Draisaitl