2014 NHL Draft Discussion: Part I

[SI90]

Ehlers is so skilled and dynamic, the good far out weights his his size.
He is 5 11, just needs a few pounds.

His size doesn't concern me either. Same build as patty Kane.

Most of the leagues top scorers are 6'0 or under.

 

[TeamKidd]

So here is the ISLES Schedule the rest of the way

TUE MAR 18 WILD ISLANDERS L
SUN MAR 23 BLUE JAC ISLANDERS L
TUE MAR 25 ISLANDERS HURRICANES W
THU MAR 27 ISLANDERS LIGHTNING L
SAT MAR 29 DEVILS ISLANDERS L
TUE APR 1 PANTHERS ISLANDERS W
WED APR 2 ISLANDERS SENATORS L
SAT APR 5 CAPITALS ISLANDERS L
SUN APR 6 ISLANDERS BLUE JACKETS L
TUE APR 8 SENATORS ISLANDERS W
THU APR 10 ISLANDERS CANADIENS L
FRI APR 11 ISLANDERS DEVILS L
SUN APR 13 ISLANDERS SABRES W

Fairly tough schedule the rest of the way, really hard to predict with this team, they can beat almost any team any night...and then lose humiliatingly to an inferior opponent the next night. This season, and our draft placing, will likely come down to that game in Buffalo...which you KNOW we're going to win and slide down out of the top 3...you just know it.

 

[BTrotts19]

His size doesn't concern me either. Same build as patty Kane.

Most of the leagues top scorers are 6'0 or under.

I agree, the only issue I have is we have a whole team of smaller players. With Brock and Anders we have gotten bigger but if you look at the other teams and the lines the scorers play on, they usually have a least one big guy and many times two. Can never have too many skilled players but we need to weed out the little to non-performers so we have the skilled guys, the horses and the specialists.

 

[scott99]

So here is the ISLES Schedule the rest of the way

TUE MAR 18 WILD ISLANDERS L
SUN MAR 23 BLUE JAC ISLANDERS L
TUE MAR 25 ISLANDERS HURRICANES W
THU MAR 27 ISLANDERS LIGHTNING L
SAT MAR 29 DEVILS ISLANDERS L
TUE APR 1 PANTHERS ISLANDERS W
WED APR 2 ISLANDERS SENATORS L
SAT APR 5 CAPITALS ISLANDERS L
SUN APR 6 ISLANDERS BLUE JACKETS L
TUE APR 8 SENATORS ISLANDERS W
THU APR 10 ISLANDERS CANADIENS L
FRI APR 11 ISLANDERS DEVILS L
SUN APR 13 ISLANDERS SABRES W

Fairly tough schedule the rest of the way, really hard to predict with this team, they can beat almost any team any night...and then lose humiliatingly to an inferior opponent the next night. This season, and our draft placing, will likely come down to that game in Buffalo...which you KNOW we're going to win and slide down out of the top 3...you just know it.

I would NOT be shocked if the Islanders finish 5-6-2 or something like that. They are playing well since the Olympic break. The kids are playing with passion and showing their talent. There is NO tanking going on here.

 

[bluechipbonzo]

So here is the ISLES Schedule the rest of the way

TUE MAR 18 WILD ISLANDERS L
SUN MAR 23 BLUE JAC ISLANDERS L
TUE MAR 25 ISLANDERS HURRICANES W
THU MAR 27 ISLANDERS LIGHTNING L
SAT MAR 29 DEVILS ISLANDERS L
TUE APR 1 PANTHERS ISLANDERS W
WED APR 2 ISLANDERS SENATORS L
SAT APR 5 CAPITALS ISLANDERS L
SUN APR 6 ISLANDERS BLUE JACKETS L
TUE APR 8 SENATORS ISLANDERS W
THU APR 10 ISLANDERS CANADIENS L
FRI APR 11 ISLANDERS DEVILS L
SUN APR 13 ISLANDERS SABRES W

Fairly tough schedule the rest of the way, really hard to predict with this team, they can beat almost any team any night...and then lose humiliatingly to an inferior opponent the next night. This season, and our draft placing, will likely come down to that game in Buffalo...which you KNOW we're going to win and slide down out of the top 3...you just know it.

These are all backwards.

 

[TeamKidd]

These are all backwards.

meaning? we're going to go 9-4?

I would NOT be shocked if the Islanders finish 5-6-2 or something like that. They are playing well since the Olympic break. The kids are playing with passion and showing their talent. There is NO tanking going on here.

I appreciate your optimism (in so far as a 5-6-2 record is optimistic) but as the saying goes, water typically finds its level.

 

[bluechipbonzo]

meaning? we're going to go 9-4?




I appreciate your optimism (in so far as a 5-6-2 record is optimistic) but as the saying goes, water typically finds its level.

Joking...

But as it is, and as you said, they could beat or lose to anyone...

Buffalo is done now, so the best we can hope for is second...edmonton looks to have a few wins left in them, so there's a shot...little griff is who we'll get hopefully...we need some brothers on the team again

 

[steveat]

If we didn' have to god awful losing streak, we wouldn't have been having this conversation. We'd be sitting at 72+ points and getting ready for the 2015 draft.

 

[The Underboss]

If we didn' have to god awful losing streak, we wouldn't have been having this conversation. We'd be sitting at 72+ points and getting ready for the 2015 draft.

Or constantly blowing leads, we'd be talking a completely different season.

 

[Cavonnier]

Or constantly blowing leads, we'd be talking a completely different season.

Or if we could play as well at home (10-17-8) as we do on the road (16-17-1).

Last year we were 10-11-3 at home and 14-6-4 on the road. In fact, last year only THREE teams (Pittsburgh, 18; Montreal, 15; and Chicago, 18) had more than 14 road wins. The other teams with 14 were St. Louis and Anaheim.

 

[doublechili]

Hmmm, this could impact the Isles' decision on the 2014 vs. 2015 pick:

"As we head towards a 2015 draft with two talents that have scouts drooling -- Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid -- the NHL is considering a system that could see the lottery going beyond just the No. 1 overall choice.

There are discussions about having the top three picks, or even the top five, selected this way."

Elliotte Friedman

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/ho...ughts-changing-odds-in-nhl-draft-lottery.html

 

[steveat]

The link isn't working. i tried google too....it seems it's been blocked ..502 error

http://www.diebytheblade.com/2014/3...ottery-right-before-mcdavid-is-no-coincidence

this is another link.

 

[Riseonfire]

I wonder when that decision needs to be made. Hopefully before Garth needs to make his own decision. Would love to see Buffalo get screwed after all of their annoying troll posts.

 

[duster19]

I wonder when that decision needs to be made. Hopefully before Garth needs to make his own decision. Would love to see Buffalo get screwed after all of their annoying troll posts.

I think he said June 1 in his interview on sportsnet. He is planning on taking it right to the wire

 

[doublechili]

The link isn't working. i tried google too....it seems it's been blocked ..502 error

http://www.diebytheblade.com/2014/3...ottery-right-before-mcdavid-is-no-coincidence

this is another link.

Sorry about that, and thanks. I was at the page and copied and pasted the address, although I did have trouble getting to the page in the first place. Anyway, thanks.

And this potential change just makes the decision to let Buffalo have the 2015 pick that much more difficult and dangerous. Especially now that it seems like Eichel is moving up into McDavid territory.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Nice write-up about the top 10 guys from the OHL eligible for this year's draft by a guy who knows his OHL stuff (he posts on this forum). Click here for the full analysis.

 

[SI90]

Nice write-up about the top 10 guys from the OHL eligible for this year's draft by a guy who knows his OHL stuff (he posts on this forum). Click here for the full analysis.

Thanks STK.

I still want Bennett for the isles. I he and Reinhart are gone then Dal Colle.

You just know DET is going to pick Goldlom in the late 1st or 2nd and he will be a real player for them.

 

[doublechili]

Nice write-up about the top 10 guys from the OHL eligible for this year's draft by a guy who knows his OHL stuff (he posts on this forum). Click here for the full analysis.

Thanks. Bennett gets a lot of deserved love in the write-up, but based on this article alone you'd hope the ping-pong balls fall right and they take Ekblad.

With the rumors about changes to the lottery next year, I'm starting to think again that it might be wiser to keep the 2015 pick unless the Isles have a top 3 pick this year.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Thanks. Bennett gets a lot of deserved love in the write-up, but based on this article alone you'd hope the ping-pong balls fall right and they take Ekblad.

Just speculation on my part, but I just have a feeling that things will play out similar to this past draft, where Seth Jones dropped because the teams drafting 1-3 went for the high-end forward instead.

Other than the Oilers, the teams selecting in the 1-4 range (including Calgary in this) would likely rather add an impact forward to their organization. So I could see Reinhart, Bennett, and even Dal Colle going before Ekblad, assuming Edmonton isn't in that group.

 

[blinkman360]

Thanks. Bennett gets a lot of deserved love in the write-up, but based on this article alone you'd hope the ping-pong balls fall right and they take Ekblad.

With the rumors about changes to the lottery next year, I'm starting to think again that it might be wiser to keep the 2015 pick unless the Isles have a top 3 pick this year.

Agreed. Hopefully we can get hot, Carolina and Ottawa get cold, and we're able to jump into the 7 spot. At least 6th. Maybe get 'lucky' and a team behind us wins the lotto, bumping us to pick 7 or 8. Anything to make Snow's decision to bail on this '14 pick easier.

I do think we'll be better next year, but even if we are, the odds of missing the playoffs are still pretty good. If that happens, and if they make these alterations to the draft lottery, I'd sleep a lot better knowing we still have our 2015 1st.

Our system is strong. Pretty ridiculously strong, actually. I think we can go a year without adding one high-end prospect(which might not even be the case if we're able to add Demko with our early 2nd - or trade up into the late 1st to grab him). Stock up on some high-ceiling forwards from the MTL 2nd to the CHI 4th(six picks). Hope you hit on at least one or two, and the system should remain strong in all areas up until the '15 draft. By then, even if a good chunk of forwards and defensemen are set to graduate, we'll have an opportunity to restock with two pretty good picks(our 1st and Philly's 2nd).

Snow will absolutely take heat for passing on this 2014 pick, especially if it's top-5, but it might be the 'safe' play. I'd actually respect him more if he made that kind of ballsy decision.

 

[MattMartin]

Just speculation on my part, but I just have a feeling that things will play out similar to this past draft, where Seth Jones dropped because the teams drafting 1-3 went for the high-end forward instead.

Other than the Oilers, the teams selecting in the 1-4 range (including Calgary in this) would likely rather add an impact forward to their organization. So I could see Reinhart, Bennett, and even Dal Colle going before Ekblad, assuming Edmonton isn't in that group.

I'm hoping we can manage too stay at four (or under) for that reason. I believe Edmonton will be top 3 so that would leaves us with one of the top 3 Forwards.

Current Standings

Team|GP |W |L |OTL |PTS |ROW
Calgary |68 |27 |34 |7 |61 |22|
NY Islanders |69 |26 |34 |9 |61 |20|
Florida |68 |25 |35 |8 |58 |18|
Edmonton |69 |24 |36 |9 |57 |21|
Buffalo |68 |19 |41 |8 |46 |13|[/CENTER]

 

[Konk]

Snow will absolutely take heat for passing on this 2014 pick, especially if it's top-5, but it might be the 'safe' play. I'd actually respect him more if he made that kind of ballsy decision.

I'm leaning towards you two on this -- McDavid and Eichel are establishing themselves on another level so far. Konecny is putting up impressive numbers and is making people take notice. Hanifin, Zacha, and Barzal are probably of similar upside as Ekblad, Dal Colle, Bennett, Reinhart, and Draisaitl. Although I haven't had a chance to watch Zacha yet.

With the recent rumblings of a new lottery system for 2015 -- you have to consider letting Buffalo have the 2014 pick. I am not as high on Draisaitl and Dal Colle as some others are (both are too similar to Vanek for me, i.e. inconsistent effort levels). So if they are who the Islanders are looking to land in 2014, why bother? Especially if they feel the same way as I do about the players available. And if the cap is only $48 mil, you all know as well as I do what that means about free agency signings. The Isles are very likely to be in the lottery again next year, why give Buffalo a chance? It's too risky. Worst case scenario they still have a shot at guys like Dylan Strome, Paul Bittner, Mitch Marner, Zack Werenski, Oliver Kylington, Colin White, etc. if they don't win or finish bottom five and they are all very good prospects, respectively.

 

[scott99]

I still say, if we get a shot at Ekblad, we HAVE to take him. The guy is an unbelieveable talent. How many 17 year old 6-4 210 defensemen score 23 goals, AND play on the WJC team before they even get drafted. We have nobody as talented as Ekblad in our D prospect pool. Reinhart-Ekblad-Pulock-Pokka-Pelech-Mayfield-Pedan is just a wonderfully talented D crew, and that doesn't even include De haan and Hamonic. I know last year they were saying Seth Jones was a generational talent, but man, Ekblad is right up there with Jones for young 2-way defensive prospects.

Aaron Ekblad
Defense -- shoots R
Born Feb 7 1996 -- Belle River, ONT
[18 yrs. ago]
Height 6.03 -- Weight 207 [191 cm/94 kg]


2013-14 Barrie Colts OHL 58 23 30 53 91 7

Seth Jones
Defense -- shoots R
Born Oct 3 1994 -- Plano, TX
[19 yrs. ago]
Height 6.04 -- Weight 205 [193 cm/93 kg]

2012-13 Portland Winterhawks WHL 61 14 42 56 33 46

Reminder, Portland was a POWERHOUSE in the WHL, played in the Memorial Cup.

 

[steveat]

Well, think of it this way.

Say we went ahead and got Ekblad for 2014.

When 2015 comes along and for some reason our pick, which is now Buffalo's, end up being McDavid. My questions is. Are you gonna be pissed? If not, then do it, but If I had the chance at Crosby and gave it up for Yandle/Doughty or some other top 2 Dman...I'd not be too happy..wouldn't be totally upset, but would not be happy.

Thing is...there's like 3 players that can outshine Ekblad...like a different level outshine. That's THREE shots at a top cornerstone player. Then you got another 3 that are as good as Ekblad, Reinhart and Bennet. Then probably another 10 which beats out 2014's top 7..basically pick 16 would be equivalent to picks 5-6 in 2014's draft.

No matter how you look at it..the gamble is far greater if we don't give this years pick to Buffalo.

Also Jones is like 6 17 23 and is a - 22. I consider him slightly ahead of Ekblad.

Give me that 2015 pick.

 

[scott99]

Well, think of it this way.

Say we went ahead and got Ekblad for 2014.

When 2015 comes along and for some reason our pick, which is now Buffalo's, end up being McDavid. My questions is. Are you gonna be pissed? If not, then do it, but If I had the chance at Crosby and gave it up for Yandle/Doughty or some other top 2 Dman...I'd not be too happy..wouldn't be totally upset, but would not be happy.

Thing is...there's like 3 players that can outshine Ekblad...like a different level outshine. That's THREE shots at a top cornerstone player. Then you got another 3 that are as good as Ekblad, Reinhart and Bennet. Then probably another 10 which beats out 2014's top 7..basically pick 16 would be equivalent to picks 5-6 in 2014's draft.

No matter how you look at it..the gamble is far greater if we don't give this years pick to Buffalo.

Also Jones is like 6 17 23 and is a - 22. I consider him slightly ahead of Ekblad.

Give me that 2015 pick.

I respectfully disagree. IF Ekblad is the choice, just like Jones, he will be in the NHL next season. The additions of Ekblad and Griffin Reinhart, along with a 2nd season for De haan and a 3rd season for Hickey, makes our D much more talented AND better in my opinion than this years D. THAT alone keeps us from being a bottom 5 team next year. Even if we keep the same goalies, they will be playing in front of a better D. IF (and that's a BIG if) we get a decent to good goalie, we probably make the playoffs. I don't see us giving Buffalo a top 3 pick next season.