2014 Draft - what's after the top 5?

[Shift Disturber]

This may be a bit early. I'm picking 9th and 23rd in the first round in a 24-team league, barring a lottery miracle. I've heard that after the top 5 or so of the 2014 class it's a toss up for the rest of the first round. Has anyone heard good intel on what's available beyond the top 5? I am wondering if I should look into trading down if there's not much difference picking 9th or 20th (for example).

[mounD]

My 2014 draft rankings would be:

1) Sam Bennett
2) Sam Reinhart
3) Aaron Ekblad
4) Michael Dal Colle
5) Leon Draisaitl
-------------------------------------
6) Nikolaj Ehlers (huge riser)
7) Nick Ritchie (PF project-type)
8) William Nylander (huge skills)
9) Brendan Perlini (riser)
10) Jared McCann (jack of all trades)
11) Jake Virtanen (versatile winger)
12) Kaspari Kapanen
13) Nikolay Goldobin (biggest sleeper of draft; mucho offensive wizardry)
14) David Pastrnak (way more pts. in same league/same age as F. Forsberg)
15) Ivan Barbashev (another big sleeper; nice toolbox)
16) Nikita Scherbak (riser)
17) Josh Ho-Sang (mucho skills)
18) Robby Fabbri (small; huge skills)
19) Jakub Vrana (sliding ranks, but very skilled)
20) Sonny Milano (small, highly skilled; Eichel's linemate)

I would be targeting guys like Ehlers / Nylander / Goldobin with your #9 pick; guys like Barbashev / Ho-Sang / Milano with your #23 pick. People are kind of down about this 2014 entry draft, but it's a lot better than people think. You could add a very talented prospect with your #9 pick, and chances are somebody good (upside) will be left at #23. Cheers.

[Shift Disturber]

Great analysis - thanks!

[Axeman33]

Decent list from mounD but missing some gems like Haydn Fleury and Adrian Kempe and even Anthony DeAngelo. All three of these guys are going to be in my top 20.

[mounD]

YEAH. I totally missed out on DeAngelo. Insert him somewhere around 16 or 17 in my list. As for Haydn Fleury, I'm not really too interested from a fantasy perspective. Adrian Kempe was a glaring omission, too. I'd put him in at the 17-20 range.

[The Hockey Hitman]

I'd love to share my list but I know guys in my league read these boards so can't contribute. I will say beyond the first 20 or so picks not much out there fantasy-wise...or so it seems right now.

[Shift Disturber]

I'd love to share my list but I know guys in my league read these boards so can't contribute. I will say beyond the first 20 or so picks not much out there fantasy-wise...or so it seems right now.

Wow - that is a competitive league. I'm learning just how competitive my league is but one of my rival owners still contributed. Thanks axe!

[bigbabybuda]

Decent list from mounD but missing some gems like Haydn Fleury and Adrian Kempe and even Anthony DeAngelo. All three of these guys are going to be in my top 20.

YEAH. I totally missed out on DeAngelo. Insert him somewhere around 16 or 17 in my list. As for Haydn Fleury, I'm not really too interested from a fantasy perspective. Adrian Kempe was a glaring omission, too. I'd put him in at the 17-20 range.

DeAngelo is my favorite Dman in terms of Offensive skill in this draft by a mile. I actually took him with a late round pick 2 years ago. That being said he has serious issues regarding his attitude. He was recently suspended by his team for the 2nd time for off ice issue. He may actually drop out of the first round at this point. The skill is there no question but there are some concerns..

Nice List BTW mound. Reinhart goes 1st though

[mounD]

I'm guessing most of the competitive owners in your league have downloaded and read the FREE pdf from Youngblood: "2014 Entry Draft Midterm Rankings."

Nothing really new beyond what's in there. I pretty much just mish-mashed his list with my own hunches, thoughts, and projections. I'd recommend that PDF for everyone (rivals included).

[Shift Disturber]

I'm guessing most of the competitive owners in your league have downloaded and read the FREE pdf from Youngblood: "2014 Entry Draft Midterm Rankings."

Nothing really new beyond what's in there. I pretty much just mish-mashed his list with my own hunches, thoughts, and projections. I'd recommend that PDF for everyone (rivals included).

Plus the usual such as Dobber's, TSN, Prongman. I like to get lots of opinions especially in years like 2014 where it may be more of a challenge to sort the wheat from the chaff

[Big Ev]

This draft is pretty shallow in terms of quality. Here is a good ranking. http://www.hockeyprospect.com/2014-n...nhl-prospects/

[mounD]

This draft is pretty shallow in terms of quality. Here is a good ranking. http://www.hockeyprospect.com/2014-n...nhl-prospects/

Wow. Ehlers at #3? I know he's been a huge riser, but passing up Bennett? That's interesting ... he's a guy I've been paying attention to all year, and he just keeps getting better.

[Axeman33]

Craig Button did a mock draft the other night on TV and had Reinhart going 4th to Buffalo (from NYI as he expect the Islanders to forfeit this years 1st round pick, not in 2015).

Buffalo taking Bennett
Oilers taking Ekblad
Florida taking Del Colle (they dont really need another C)
Buffalo taking Reinhart
Calgary taking Draisaitl

That was his prediction if the draft was held the other night.

[Shift Disturber]

Craig Button did a mock draft the other night on TV and had Reinhart going 4th to Buffalo (from NYI as he expect the Islanders to forfeit this years 1st round pick, not in 2015).

Buffalo taking Bennett
Oilers taking Ekblad
Florida taking Del Colle (they dont really need another C)
Buffalo taking Reinhart
Calgary taking Draisaitl

That was his prediction if the draft was held the other night.

Ekblad seems to be a no brainer for the Oil - he and Nurse could anchor their blueline for years...

[Axeman33]

To be honest, I agree that Ekblad is a solid piece, but I still think they should take Reinhart if he's there. They need that big solid #2 center and Reinhart is a piece they need. Everyone forgets the youth they have in the system for D. Marincin and Klefbom are already starting to show their potential this year. Nurse is solid too. What they dont have in the system is depth down the middle.