Toggle sidebar

Prospect Info: 2014 Draft

Status
Not open for further replies.
From Sam Bennett's combine blog

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm...stomId=1ck1m31j6loyg&creative_details=2-29342
It's hard to pick out one high moment, but I'm having a lot of fun here and it's really cool meeting some of these guys. I just left an interview with the Tampa Bay Lightning and got to talk to Steve Yzerman, so that was a big highlight; it's always cool when you get a chance to talk with him. I was a little star-struck at first, but then you get over that as soon as you start talking to him because he's such a down-to-earth guy.
Click to expand...
 
Ekblad cannot be only 17 or 18... I look like a child compared to him and I'm four years older

Josh Ho-Sang sounds like he's a hilarious guy
 
Vasilevskiy said:
Ekblad cannot be only 17 or 18... I look like a child compared to him and I'm four years older

Josh Ho-Sang sounds like he's a hilarious guy
Click to expand...

Believe it or not I think that speaks against Ekblad's ability to stay above his peers. Par of why he's so good right now, IMO, is he's a man-child. But everyone else will catch up over the next few years and that's when we'll be able to accurately tell if he really is the best defenseman in this class.
 
Interviews and highlights of a few higher ranked players who may slip to us.

Jake Virtanen http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=622350
Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UpbmydIO1aY

Haydn Fleury http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=622352
Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kh1AHKGybNw

Jared McCann http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=622347
Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umr1Ip5SimU&feature=player_detailpage

Brendan Perlini http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=622346
Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6jLp1eoy_E&feature=player_detailpage

Jacob Vrana http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AyTH6Qas7kI Some parts of it are in English and some parts are in Swedish.
Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZzjpZlAEnk&feature=player_detailpage
 
I just can't see us taking Barbashev. Too many other pressing needs and players that fit those needs that are ranked closely to Barbashev(unless Yzerman and co think Barbashev is a can't miss talent).
 
chasespace said:
I just can't see us taking Barbashev. Too many other pressing needs and players that fit those needs that are ranked closely to Barbashev(unless Yzerman and co think Barbashev is a can't miss talent).
Click to expand...

Yzerman has never drafted based on team need though. Pretty sure he's stated in interviews that you can't do it. I expect him to go BPA, and then, if guys are close, he'll take a player who has the qualities he likes (skill + grit + compete level + IQ).
 
BarberioTheBarbarian said:
I have to think that if Barbashev is available we take him.
Click to expand...
I'd like that pick.
chasespace said:
I just can't see us taking Barbashev. Too many other pressing needs and players that fit those needs that are ranked closely to Barbashev(unless Yzerman and co think Barbashev is a can't miss talent).
Click to expand...

What do you mean by pressing means? Do you mean using the picks for a trade or a prospect pool need, like another top defenseman over a forward or goaltender.

If you mean the second one then yeah I'd prefer a dman, specifically Honka if he is still on the board at 19. I have a feeling he won't though. There might be a gap too after him for dmen, I'm not sure if that gap is large enough where you might have to wait until pick number 28/29. It's not looking like a very D friendly 1st round. Guys like Travis Sanheim and Roland McKeown might be more further towards the end of the 1st round. In this video with Darryl Plandowski from last September he says they've been wanting to get Dmen and centers, and Barbashev is a center. He's naturally a winger but Moncton moved him to center in his rookie Q season.
 
http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=29788

Some interesting quotes from Al Murray:

"It's always a good year to have two first-round picks," he told NHL.com. "If you look at any draft, there's always 45 to 55 [players], depending on the year ... that become regular NHL players. It's our job to make sure we find at least two of those guys in the first round."
Click to expand...

"I think there are probably more wingers than there are centers or [defensemen]," he said. "And I'd say it is a little light on goaltending. Probably the No. 1 position is wingers. Lots of wingers. ... We think the quality is there. It's not all first-line players, top-three defensemen, franchise goalkeepers. There's some good players that will be contributors to NHL teams, in our opinion."
Click to expand...

"I think there are more guys that are similar to each other than a lot of years," he said. "It's a little bit difficult. It tends to come down to team preferences. Everybody has certain attributes they want their players to have. They place a little more emphasis on one of those attributes than the other. That's often why you can get a guy you really like because one team values size more than another team who values speed over another team that values talent.

"Our talented guy, your big guy is there and somebody else's fast guy is there. We all get the guy we want and five years from now we'll see who was the right guy and who wasn't quite up to the challenge."
Click to expand...

All I'm really taking from that is Murray's pretty confident they've spotted some NHL talent.
 
MattM92 said:
Murray is a phenomenal scout. I have no doubt that he and his team will give us several great talents this draft. If there is anything that we should just have blind faith in, it is the drafting of Yzerman and Murray.
Click to expand...

Agreed. (Darth Vader voice: ) If it's there... he shall find it.

And he seems to think it's there.

In other news, Ekblad reminds of oldschool Beverly Hills 90210. He looks like a 30-something playing an 18 year-old on TV.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hcatid=635

Phenomenal athlete for his age though. I just doubt there's all that much more physical maturing ahead of him.
 
TheDaysOf 04 said:
What do you mean by pressing means? Do you mean using the picks for a trade or a prospect pool need, like another top defenseman over a forward or goaltender.
Click to expand...

I meant trying to shore up the lack of defensive depth we have in the prospect pool. Plenty of good defenders will be available when those two picks come around(in theory) so I think Murray and Yzerman very possibly take two defenders in the first round unless there's a player there who they can't believe is still on the board(like Erne last year).
 
chasespace said:
I meant trying to shore up the lack of defensive depth we have in the prospect pool. Plenty of good defenders will be available when those two picks come around(in theory) so I think Murray and Yzerman very possibly take two defenders in the first round unless there's a player there who they can't believe is still on the board(like Erne last year).
Click to expand...

We won't be picking a defender just because we need to shore up the defense. They will have a list and they will select whoever is highest on the list that is still available. It could wind up being 2 defensemen, but they won't throw out scouting these kids for the last 2 or 3 years just to select a defenseman because "we need it".
 
MattM92 said:
We won't be picking a defender just because we need to shore up the defense. They will have a list and they will select whoever is highest on the list that is still available. It could wind up being 2 defensemen, but they won't throw out scouting these kids for the last 2 or 3 years just to select a defenseman because "we need it".
Click to expand...

Yeah. And who knows what we'll need in 4-5 years when these kids are NHL-ready?
 
DFC said:
Yeah. And who knows what we'll need in 4-5 years when these kids are NHL-ready?
Click to expand...

Exactly, that's why we won't draft based on what we need right now. We take the name at the top of our list. That's it.
 
Some mid-round forward options.

LW Ondrej Kase - 5'11 160lbs

KLH Chomutov U20 (Czech U20) 7GP 5G 10A 15P 12PIM
KLH Chomutov (Czech) 37GP 4G 3A 7P 10PIM

EliteProspects said:
Kase is a slick, driven, speedy winger who sees the ice well and understands how to impact the game. A natural playmaker who handles the puck well in tight spaces. Has very acute hockey sense and willingness to go to battle with much larger opponents. Size is only ongoing issue. (November 2013)
Click to expand...

C Tyson Baillie - 5'10 187lbs

Kelowna Rockets "A" (WHL) - 56GP 22G 33A 55P 53 PIM

EliteProspects said:
Baillie plays a strong all-round game. He has good balance and speed and quick hands that allow him to handle the puck well in one-on-one situations. He sees the ice well, makes skilled passes and creates chances. (August 2013)
Click to expand...

LW Warren Foegele - 6'1 179lbs

St. Andrew's College "A" (CISAA) 14GP 17G 6A 23P 15PIM
St. Andrew's College "A" (MPHL) 13GP 12G 17A 29P 14PIM
St. Andrew's College "A" (CAHS) 52GP 58G 49A 107P 67PIM

Bob McKenzie said:
Some scouts have been buzzing about his play of late, a fast-skating, hard-working, two-way left winger. Adding to the chatter is the fact he's one of those seeming "come out of nowhere" kids who's playing at a level of hockey in Canada that doesn't usually attract many, if any, NHL scouts.
Click to expand...

C/RW Jaedon Descheneau - 5'9 185lbs

Kootenay Ice (WHL) 70GP 44G 54A 98P 54PIM

McKeen's said:
A gifted skater who motors through the neutral zone with ease .. can be a handful to mark as he can spin and contort away from coverage, taking the puck gracefully along with him .. boldly darts in and out of openings with confidence, taking advantage of gaps as soon as they appear thanks to a zippy shooting release .. excels at opening up ice for covered teammates as he zips up and through the offensive zone .. delivers passes that are hard and crisp, especially from the backhand .. the primary area of concern however is the ease with which he can be contained when passing lanes close up .. skates himself out of room when bottled or simply sticks to operating on the perimeter.
Click to expand...

LW Edgars Kulda - 6'0 179lbs

Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) 66GP 30G 30A 60P 57PIM

THN said:
Has already adapted well to the North American game. Has excellent offensive instincts: he can set up linemates or finish off plays himself. Is rather industrious. Is a little bit undersized for the NHL game so he must get stronger in order to maximize output at the highest level. His skating isn't at an optimum level.
Click to expand...

RW Nicholas Jones - 5'11 175lbs (Not a great chance this guy gets drafted, but might be worth a look in the seventh round. Led the AJ in points/game this season. I've played with this guy at the outdoor rink (speaking of which, SFY should totally pick me up in 2016), and he's really skilled. Kinda seems like a ****** though :laugh:)

Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) 52GP 41G 31A 72P 88PIM

EliteProspects said:
Jones is a hardworking, slick skating, two-way forward that can contribute anywhere you place him on your roster and in any situation asked of him. Handles the puck and sees the ice well. Not overly physical but does venture into gritty areas to make plays. (November 2013)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom