Pre-Game Talk: 2014 NHL Entry Draft - Part VI

[Vankiller Whale]

I'm surprised there have been no connections of Ritchie to Edmonton, because he is a big tough top 6 forward that analysts have said Edmonton needed to get.

Probably because I don't think we're optimistic enough that Edmonton does something that stupid.

 

[Drop the Sopel]

I'm surprised there have been no connections of Ritchie to Edmonton, because he is a big tough top 6 forward that analysts have said Edmonton needed to get.

They're deepest on the wing and need more good centremen and defensemen.

I would bet on one of Reinhart, Bennett, Draisaitl or Ekblad for the Oilers.

 

[Nine to Five]

Are we guaranteed the 6th pick regardless of outcome of this game?

 

[Vankiller Whale]

Are we guaranteed the 6th pick regardless of outcome of this game?

Unless someone after us wins the lottery.

 

[iFan]

Are we guaranteed the 6th pick regardless of outcome of this game?

Sad thing is if we beat Calgary they move into the top 4.

 

[Nine to Five]

Yeah sorry, should have passed it as if Carolina had the tie breaker on us. Guess I can go back to cheering for the canucks again

 

[Bleach Clean]

Sad thing is if we beat Calgary they move into the top 4.

I actually want this to happen. Anything to potentially change the expected order of the draft. It makes the possibility of an unlikely faller greater.

 

[y2kcanucks]

I actually want this to happen. Anything to potentially change the expected order of the draft. It makes the possibility of an unlikely faller greater.

How so?

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I actually want this to happen. Anything to potentially change the expected order of the draft. It makes the possibility of an unlikely faller greater.

Why do you say that?

 

[canuck4life16]

I actually want this to happen. Anything to potentially change the expected order of the draft. It makes the possibility of an unlikely faller greater.

Calgary would probably get the faller from Bennett/Reinhart...

 

[medhatcanuck]

I was thinking the other day, the entire last stretch I was hoping for a top 8, now I am hoping for a top 5 pick, or a top5 picks falls to 6. We should just be ecstatic, we are adding ANOTHER amazing talent to our prospect pool. Adding the possibility of Kesler being moved (and I hope he does) and getting another quality pick and prospect, you won't be hearing much about Van's shallow prospect pool. What I've been thinking about is whether Linden regime is going to pick BPA or to our needs, or both.

Shinkaruk /_________ - ____________ - Jensen
Shinkaruk / _____ - Horvat - Kassian
Matthias - Gaunce - ________
Fox - Cassels - _______

I think this is what the management has go to keep in mind. That our prospective team is missing essentially 4 players. A bottom line RW, 3rd line RW, #1C, and most interestingly a LW.

#1 - the LH monopoly of our forwards
Of the top 6, Jensen LH (althought plays RW), Shinkaruk LH, Horvat LH, and Kassian RH.
If, Van is looking towards another LH (Bennett, Draisatl, Ehlers, Ritchie, Perlini, Del Colle) that means that 4/5 of our top 6 have LH shots.
That doesn't seem so bad, but consider that Gaunce, Matthias, Fox are also LH.

Cassels, Kassian being the sole RH forwards. ASSUMING, cassels doesn't play a major factor in our team's future offence. Kassian would be the only RH shot.

I don't know if it's a big deal or not because I'm no hockey expert. But, what that tells me is someone like Nylander may be looked at. (RH shot plays center). Nylander is the type of Center that our future is needing, high skill, high speed passing player, plus the right handed shot, that potentially could be our #1C and if not our first line RW and moving Jensen elsewhere.

#2 - Center or Winger? Powerforward or Skill
In my opinion, we should be attempting to land Reinhart (impossibility), because he is exactly the prospect our team needs #1C RH shot. Secondly, consider that we may never have a chance at a top 5 prospect again in a long while.

Realistically,

Reinhart, Bennett, Ekblad, Draisatl, and MDC are gone.

We are left with Ehlers, Nylander, Ritchie, Perlini, Virtanen.

Linden is left with a choice between (RH Skilled center, Big LW Powerforwards, or small skilled LW)

Seeing as we have Shinkaruk, Jensen. I think we end up with Nylander, Ritchie or Perlini. Assuming the top 5 is picked.

#3 - What are we going to get for Kesler
If we can somehow snake a impact A prospect Center for Kesler, then we can easily go with the LW.

Unnecessary long? Yes. Do I feel satisfied? Yes.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Why do you say that?

I want teams to be put to real decisions regarding BPA vs need. We see it with EDM and Draisaitl. He's not better than Bennett, but they probably lean that way due to their org. weakness. Consequently, Bennett may slip past where he should. This then puts the next team to the same type of decision.

Anything to upset the order of how we expect the top5 picks to shake out is a good thing IMO.

 

[me2]

Adding on nearly 40lbs is not very likely, possible but I wonder how adding that much weight would effect his game.

skip to the 2 min mark. those legs.

 

[Bleach Clean]

What are you trying to say me2?

 

[Wilch]

I took the consensus ranking (ISS/McKeen's/Craig Button/Future Considerations) and matched them up against actual draft results - this is a bit of a step up from my earlier analysis. I've highlighted in blue for what I thought was a drop, and red for the risers.

It seems fairly obvious that top rate players rarely drop outside of their "tier".

In fact, in 2009, the top 5 went exactly as the consensus predicted.

Looking at these observations, it seems fair to say if the rankings are the same as it is now in June, Bennett, Reinhart and Ekblad will all be gone in the first three picks.

Anything beyond that "strong bracket" is fair game, and can see a 1 spot to even a 5-6 spot drop.

Based on these observations, it's reasonable to expect maybe Dal Colle or Draisaitl at 6th, but we can forget about Reinhart, Bennett and Ekblad.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

skip to the 2 min mark. those legs.

Jesus **** those some small legs.

 

[me2]

What are you trying to say me2?

who has bigger legs: Spongebob or Ehlers?

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

if Ehler is avaliable you got to take him

No you don't. He will be available and we won't take him.

 

[iFan]

skip to the 2 min mark. those legs.

You have his legs bookmarked ? But those things are thin

 

[Verviticus]

is dal colle likely to be a winger or centre at the nhl level?

 

[vector209]

It's like some of these kids have never heard of squats. Those are toothpicks.

 

[Bleach Clean]

is dal colle likely to be a winger or centre at the nhl level?

I've wondered this myself. Earlier on I questioned his 2way play, and there was some disagreement there. Also, there was talk about him eventually switching back to C.

Now, it looks like he will stay at LW moving forward.

I would say that this where he stays in the pros.

 

[Vankiller Whale]

It's a bad idea to make your decision on who to draft based on position imo.

 

[me2]

is dal colle likely to be a winger or centre at the nhl level?

He could go either way but will probably end up a winger.

 

[bsjezz]

He could go either way but will probably end up a winger.

certainly if we some how manage to grab him he'll make more sense on the left wing