The 2014 NHL Draft is long over, but the speculation on which young players will make their respected teams is far from finished. Many young players know that their day in the NHL is coming but not as soon as they would like. Others probably feel that their time is now and their teams would agree with them.
Some teams will start their rookies on the sheer fact that they just don't have the depth in their system that this new rookie can bring. Others will keep theirs up because the rookie will earn his way on to the team but shear will.
Last year Sean Monahan for instance played so well for Calgary during his first 9 games that he made it hard for the team to send him back down. Chances are it wasn't as hard as I think for them to keep him up but they certainly portrayed that it was a tough decision.
Other players are obviously NHL ready. Of course you have Sydney Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon's who will make the team first time due to their incredible skills and speed, and then there are others who will work their way on with skill and speed and sheer determination.
Now I'm not saying that elite players don't have determination or that they have it easy at all. They have worked extremely hard to be as good as they are and they have to continue to get better. It just seems to come easier to them than it does to others.
Well now that I have yammered on about basically nothing so far for a few paragraphs, lets get to some of this years draft picks that could make their teams.
First off we have Aaron Ekblad. This is a young d-man who appears to be NHL ready. He has had 3 seasons in the OHL (Barrie Colts) to work on his game and get himself this far, and was drafted 1st overall by the Florida Panthers. Now the Panthers don't have the greatest team in the NHL and their defense leaves a lot of people scratching their heads on how good they actually are going to be. With their big names being Brian Campbell, Erik Gudbranson and (now) Willie Mitchell, there is a lot of room for Ekblad to fit himself in the mix. When looking at the d-men in the Panthers system only 5 of them actually played in the NHL last season. The rest played in the AHL (San Antonio Rampage) or in college and probably won't be as ready as Ekblad. There are a few players that will make it harder for Ekblad to secure a roster spot on the team due to the fact that they have already played some games for the Panthers and have that experience, but that doesn't mean that they will get it over him.
Ekblad is a good skater for his size, 6'4" and 216 lbs, and can move the puck well in all zones on the ice. He also has a cannon of a shot from the point which is quite accurate, which seems to be rare for a d-man of his age, and that seems to be what the Panthers need at the moment. A puck moving d-man with a threatening shot from the point. The only worry for him at the moment is a concussion that he sustained this summer. All reports and statements from Ekblad and those who are around him say he is just fine, but we all know that concussions breed concussions. So that is something to keep an eye on that may hurt his chances to play in the NHL this year. The Panthers defense isn't a big part of the point production for the team, but they aren't that bad. The players that are on the roster now that played in the NHL last year contributed 89 points to their teams (Mitchell had 12 pts in LA) which isn't too bad but could be way better. That is what Ekblad can bring to the table. He shoots the puck and shoots it often. With his accuracy he could contribute decent points for a rookie d-man but he will also have to learn and know when to be able to jump up and contribute like that. This isn't the OHL anymore and these guys will make you pay for your mistakes and burn you with their speed.
But with guys like Campbell and Mitchell and Gudbranson to help guide Ekblad through, he should be ok. I would think that he makes the Panthers roster this year or at the very least he will see his 9 games before they decide what to do. Just don't be surprised to hear his name called out often across the league in the next few years.
Another player that has a really good shot a making the opening night roster and at least 9 games in the NHL is going to be Sam Reinhart in Buffalo. This guy is a wicked playmaker and deadly on the power play and the penalty kill. His size is surprising to me, 6'1" and 185 lbs, since I always thought he was a little shorter then that. But that's besides the point. Reinhart racked up 36 goals and 69 assists last year playing with the WHL's Kootenay Ice in just 60 games. His on ice vision and sense for the game are incredibly high for his age and he can read the play very well. His playmaking skills are unbelievable and he seems to be able to spot someone and get them the puck no matter where they are at the time. A skill he has but can work on, and needs to to fit in, is his speed. Sam has good speed but there is room for improvement there. But given his bloodline and the NHL history in his family, there will be no problem getting up to speed for Sam.
Buffalo's lack of depth at center gives Reinhart an edge at cracking the roster this year. There currently is only 8 players listed in their system at that position and only 3 played last year for the NHL club. That doesn't mean that Reinhart will just be handed the position, with the likes of Mikhail Grigorenko and Johan Larsson fighting for a roster spot as well. Larsson was one of Rochester's (AHL) highest scoring players last season and played 28 games with the Sabres last year. But don't be surprised if you do see Sam Reinhart playing in the NHL this season regardless of the competition placed in front of him. The NHL runs in his blood and he knows it. He is a great young player and has a great shot to play on a team that is rebuilding and make an impact right away. I think he needs a little bit more size to him to stay competitive but that's easy for a guy who is still growing. He will make an impact and he will do so this season in the NHL.
The third overall draft pick was Leon Draisaitl going to the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers as we all know have had so many terrible seasons lately that I can't even remember the last time they didn't have a top 3 draft pick. And with this years pick it's no different. Draisaitl is a big kid with loads of talent that could potentially join an already really young core group of players who were thrust into the NHL at a young age.
He played last season in Prince Albert for the Raiders in the WHL. There he accumulated 38 goals, 67 assists and was a plus 7 in 64 games, and was a leader on the team. He brings a very large frame and strength to a smaller Oilers group of centers and could see some serious time in the circles if he makes the team. He is great at protecting the puck and is able to button hook and continue to carry the puck with him as he goes. His wrist shot and snap shots are accurate and has potential to surprise a lot of goalies. He was dubbed "very Jagr-esque" by NHL central scouting which could lead to big things with the Oilers. Although he was drafted to a team with a boatload of top end forward talent, he very well may fit in right away due to his size and puck control ability. The one thing against him right now is the fact that Edmonton has done nothing but draft in the top 3 for the last, what seems like 10 years, and they haven't gotten anywhere except more top ten draft picks and head aches. Every first round draft pick they have had recently has gone straight to the NHL and seems to have to play for a couple seasons before they really get the hang of it. I think that Edmonton might benefit more by letting Draisaitl get a little more time in junior and bring him in easily instead of right away. Chances are that this won't happen and you will see him in the copper/orange and blue this season where he may or may not help get this struggling team a little farther away from the bottom of the league. Lord knows they need it.
While on the topic of struggling teams, next on the list is Sam Bennett who went to the Calgary Flames at number four overall. Bennett, who comes from the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs, had a fairly productive past season. He scored 36 goals and had 55 assists in just 57 games for his OHL team and was very noticeable throughout all of last season.
For a guy who is 6'1 and only 178 lbs, Bennett plays a very high intensity game that you would think brings injuries with every shift. But he seems to be able to play this style with great skill and maintain it through the whole season. Now playing with bigger men in the NHL might slow that style down, but the grit that comes with Bennett's style makes him a good contender for a 3rd or 4th line role on the Flames. Bennett plays the game the same way in all three zones, hard. He thinks through each shift and each play to see where his teammates and himself will be as it plays out.
The only issue I can see right now is the fact that there are already 4 centers locked into the lineup. Stajan and Backlund are for sure 1 and 2 and Monahan is a lock after his rookie season last year. That just leaves one slot left and there is going to be a battle for that spot. Stepping up to try and take that spot are Max Reinhart (Sam and Griffen's brother), Markus Granlund (Mikael's brother) and finally Lance Bouma who played for the Flames last season. So for Bennett to make the team this season he is going to have to compete hard for his spot. He could see a few games at the start of the season, but chances are that unless he performs similar to how Sean Monahan did at the start of last season he will be sent back down for another year of junior. But you will see him in the next two seasons for sure.
The number five pick this past summer was Michael Dal Colle who was selected by the New York Islanders. He played 2 seasons for the OHL's Oshawa Generals and gathered 39 goals and 56 assists over just 67 games in the 2013/14 season.
Of his 39 goals, 16 were scored on the power play which in any league draws interest. He is a special teams player and does well at both the PP and the PK.
Dal Colle has been tabbed as a "quiet leader" and a player who isn't flashy but gets the job done.
A consistent player who can score big goals and is very versatile when on the ice.
I watched him at the Top Prospects game in Calgary this past year and was very impressed with his play through the whole game. He was noticeable and everywhere you would expect him to be when he needed to be there. Definitely a player who was off my radar until then.
He plays LW but can also shift over to C when needed. Currently though LW is tied up pretty tight by some players who saw some decent time in the NHL last season. Leading the way on LW is Michael Grabner, a player who Dal Colle could learn from coming up in the organization. If Dal Colle plans on making the roster with the big club this year, he is going to have to prove to the coaches and his teammates he belongs up there. He will have his work cut out for him but with his youth and size (6'3 and 185 lbs) he could make an impact on a team that struggles every year but still manages to spark interest in me. If this team gels this year and their youth take over under the leadership of John Tavares they could make a playoff run. But only if they all come together.
The sixth overall pick this summer went to the Vancouver Canucks, who selected Jake Virtanen.
Virtanen comes from the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL where he played his best season in 2013/14. He totaled 45 goals and 26 assists in 71 games which made him a top five leader for the Hitmen.
He is a very solid 6'1 and 208 lbs and has the frame of a NHL player already. He plays a very physical game but maintains some good hands and speed to accommodate his style of play. He has a high skill set and is a very well rounded, all around player. Plays on the PP and the PK and can log large minutes.
Virtanen plays LW which is pretty jammed up already for space to make the roster, but he could see some time on the team if there are some injuries or towards the end of the season. Jake will however be delayed at the start of the 2014/15 season due to having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Look for him to show some skills if he goes to the prospects camp for the Canucks and possibly get an invite to main camp if he impresses.
I don't think he will make the team this year and the Canucks will send him back to Calgary for one more season of play in junior.
He has the ability to play in the NHL and will have a good and hopefully long career in the NHL.
At the 7th overall pick was the Carolina Hurricanes who selected Hayden Fleury. Fleury weighs in at 207 lbs and stands at 6'3". So he has some size to him which can benefit him and his chances to join a Hurricanes team that could use a boost this season. He played 3 seasons in Red Deer for the WHL's Rebels where he had a decent season on the blue line gathering 8 goals and 38 assists in 70 games during the 2013/14 season. Hayden has pretty good mobility on the ice for a guy of his size and is capable of making that first pass out of the d-zone consistently. He has great vision on the ice when carrying the puck and is calm and knows when to jump up and join the rush, which could help him claim his stake on the Hurricanes blue line.
Fleury joins a fairly young D line in Carolina and has a decent shot to at least see a few games at the start of the year to prove his worth. Should he see some time with the big club he would have a decent core of guys to learn from with JM Liles, Justin Faulk, Andrej Sekera and Ron Hainsey to learn from. Granted they aren't the top names you think when you hear defense but they are all able to teach and show a new young player the ropes on being a name in the NHL.
I don't think he will make the team this year unless there are a few trades and he amazes the coaches in training camp and pre-season, but he could have an impact a year or two down the road. Look for him to see some ice time in the NHL in 15/16 season, maybe even later than that.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had the 8th overall pick in the draft where they took C/RW William Nylander who played in the Swedish Elite League last season. Nylander played for 4 teams last season, finally landing in Modo of the SEL where he only played 22 games and gathered just 1 goal and 6 assists.
Nylander has good hands and vision and speed to go with it, and works well on the PP. He has the ability to set up plays or score the big goals when needed.
He is also a dual position player (C/RW) which can benefit him in his efforts to eventually join a NHL club.
With the Maple Leafs being heavy on RW with their star players, (Lupul, Kessel, Clarkson and Frattin) and some new players being added to C in their line-up (Santorelli and Kontiola) along with Kadri and Bozak, makes for a very difficult chance for Nylander to make the team this year.
He has the skills but needs to refine them as well as build a little more size to himself.
He could be a good asset in a season or two, roughly in the 15/16 season.
It's all going to depend on how well he can perform with his given tasks from the Maple Leafs and then see how he develops in their system. He does have NHL bloodlines in his family but that doesn't guarantee he will make it on a roster. He could be a good NHL player in due time.
Coming in at the 9th overall pick this year was the Winnipeg Jets who selected LW Nikolaj Ehlers, a young player who comes from Denmark and played one season in Halifax for the Mooseheads of the QMJHL. In the 2013/14 season he amassed 49 goals and 55 assists in just 63 games played, and 13 of his goals came on the PP and 7 on the PK. He also had 7 GWG during that time and was a +65.
Being a LW player Ehlers has a tough road ahead of him to make the cut and join the Jets, espescially with players by the likes of Kane, Ladd, Tangradi and Cormier standing in his way. Now a trade involving Kane (which has been rumored for multiple seasons) could open up a spot for Ehlers which could work out well for him, but don't expect that to happen any time soon.
Ehlers is a great playmaker and has the ability to make plays at a high speed easily and has also been compared to Mooseheads teammate Johnathan Drouin for his abilities.
Ehlers has quick feet and the skill to separate himself from the check and drive to the net, as well he is a very unselfish player who dishes the puck off in clever ways that always seem to work. With his speed, vision and playmaking ability, look for Ehlers to make a case for himself to stay with the Jets for at least a few games to start the season. He is currently attending the Jets prospect camp in Penticton British Columbia where he is showcasing his skills. I don't think he will make the team this season and will be sent back to Halifax for one more season of junior play, but look for him to have a serious shot and make a promising run for a roster spot with the Jets next season.
A player like him, the Jets can't ignore his point producing skills for long especially in a hockey mad market in Winnipeg.
Finally with the 10th overall pick the Anaheim Ducks selected a large LW in Nick Ritchie. Ritchie played for 3 seasons in Peterborough for the Pete's of the OHL where he tallied 39 goals and 35 assists in just 61 games played in the 2013/14 season. He also gathered 11 PPG, 1 SHG and 5 GWG during the season as well.
Ritchie brings some serious size for a player of his age to the Ducks, weighing in at 226 lbs standing at 6'2" making him the third largest LW in the Ducks organization behind Heatley and Maroon.
He is a big power forward who has the ability to end a shift with his offensive skill or with his fists, whichever works better at the time. With 136 PIM in the 13/14 season Ritchie is no stranger to the sin bin, so you can figure that his fists and fighting ability are pretty solid.
His chances of making the Ducks opening night roster are pretty slim this season, seeing as how they have a pretty solid roster already at LW, but look to see him possibly make the roster in a 4th line capacity in the 2015/16 season. He will most likely attend the Ducks prospect camp and then maybe their main camp towards the end of Sept, but look for him to be sent back to Peterborough for the upcoming season with some tasks to work on from the Ducks.
Look for one of those tasks to be consistency issued to Ritchie. He has offensive skill but it doesn't always shine through on a game to game basis. So look for him to work on that in his game and once he has that, look for him to stay in a Ducks sweater for the season.
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