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Craig Button on the 2014 Draft: Tallon, Nylander and Ehlers, Top 10 Selections


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Craig Button went on TSN Radio Monday June 2, 2014 and had some interesting things to say about the upcoming 2014 entry draft:

On Tallon:

  1. He doesnt think Dale Tallon will end up selecting one of the top 3 rated prospects (reinhart, ekblad, bennent)
  2. When you look at Tallons draft history you can see he really likes high end skilled players
  3. Could see Tallon moving back so he could select one of Nylander or Ehlers

On Nylander and Ehlers:

  1. These 2 are exceptionally talented players
  2. The idea of drafting one of these two is really beginning to pick up traction with teams
  3. Some teams view Nylander and Ehlers in the same category as the top 3
  4. Because of players like Brendan Gallagher, teams are not as afraid to draft smaller players

On the Top 10 Selections:

  1. He believes Leon Draisital, Michael Dal Colle, and Nick Ritchie will be there when the second half of the top 10 make their selections
  2. Button warns teams selecting in the top 10 to not underestimate Nylander and Ehlers
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i can see nylander and ehlers being rated as high as some of the top 5....will nylander or ehlers proof better players than reinhart, bennett,draisatl or dal colle?......maybe.....if both players put on 20 pounds, they will be gretzky/yzerman size....there isn't much difference between 5' 11'' and 6 feet.....i like the big guys but talent always wins out in my mind.....

i would move 6th for ekblad.

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I am in the group that believes skill always wins over other attributes and one thing the Canucks sorely need in the organization is high-end skill. They have plenty of the two-way dependable players but really need a highly skilled player to complement the rest.

Even before this report from Button if I was the Canucks I would have been seriously thinking about drafting Nylander with the 6th overall anyway. Even if some of the aforementioned players drop such as Draisatl or Dal Colle I would still probably take Nylander.

Best case scenario is that the Canucks trade with Anaheim and get the 10th overall and are able to select Nylander and either a power forward such as Virtanen/Perlini/Ritchie with the 10th.

In a few years if all develop well, the Canucks could look very good with Nylander between Shinkaruk and Jensen, Horvat between Kassian and Virtanen.

Looks ok to me!

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If we trade for the 1st overall, we should draft Reinhart. I don't see why would go with the defenseman when our team clearly lacked offense. And like I've said before, the best forward is almost always better than the best defenseman.

If we draft 6th overall and Draisaitl and Dal Colle fall to us, we should take Dal Colle. Draisaitl is really slow. I would even consider Ehlers/Nylander before him.

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IMO, Nylander has the edge over Ehlers because he is already playing in an adult league and appears have great strength and endurance.

Bennett is bit overrated and could fall although Burke seems to like him a lot (he also really likes Ritchie).

Van needs to get faster and Draisaitl is not a quick skater. Edm really likes him.

I would love to see the Nucks move up in the draft and take Rienhart or Ekblad; Keep the 6th and somehow acquire around a 10th and pick Ehlers/Nylander and Virtanen/Perlini/etc

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Keep in mind that Calgary is drafting ahead of us, so they will pick someone off the board as usual.

We could end up with a solid player even without moving up... but if we get into the top 2, destiny is in our hands. Ekblad or Reinhart.

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I would be VERY happy if Leon Draisaitl drops to us at 6th. Players can be taught how to skate but vision of the game is hard to teach and he has an abundance of that. I think what the Canucks prospect pool really lacks moving forwards is a highly skilled center that could certainly fill a top 6 role in the future (I am confident that Horvat will develop into a very good NHL players but will he ever reach higher than being a good 2nd line center?). All this talk about Draisaitls lack of speed is getting out of hand. He clearly keeps up with players in the WHL but doesn't have those quick first few strides, that can be taught.

I am hoping that the 10th overall pick is aquired as well to pick up another player. Hoping that would be Virtanen. With the combination of speed, toughness and a NHL ready shot he has the potential of becoming a very special player as well despite his shoulder surgery.

If the Canucks walk away from the draft with Draisaitl and Virtanen my head might just explode.

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Keep in mind this is Craig Button. He's not exactly a member of mensa.

True, but he is a former GM and player personnel guy; a life-long hockey scout who was raised by thre legendary Jack Button, the man who created the Central Scouting Bureau. I'm always very keen to read/listen to his thoughts on prospects and the draft.

Like him personally or not, he`s the most knowledgeable voice in the media on NHL draft and prospects issues, and second isn't close.

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IMO, Nylander has the edge over Ehlers because he is already playing in an adult league and appears have great strength and endurance.

Bennett is bit overrated and could fall although Burke seems to like him a lot (he also really likes Ritchie).

Van needs to get faster and Draisaitl is not a quick skater. Edm really likes him.

I would love to see the Nucks move up in the draft and take Rienhart or Ekblad; Keep the 6th and somehow acquire around a 10th and pick Ehlers/Nylander and Virtanen/Perlini/etc

Hmm, I kind of have a pet scenario I`ve been playing around with where it`s Bennett that slips into our hands because teams aren`t sure he`s a number 1 center.

I`m keeping my fingers crossed on this.

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I would be VERY happy if Leon Draisaitl drops to us at 6th. Players can be taught how to skate but vision of the game is hard to teach and he has an abundance of that. I think what the Canucks prospect pool really lacks moving forwards is a highly skilled center that could certainly fill a top 6 role in the future (I am confident that Horvat will develop into a very good NHL players but will he ever reach higher than being a good 2nd line center?). All this talk about his lack of speed is getting out of hand. He clearly keeps up with players but doesn't have that quick first few strides, that can be taught.

I am hoping that the 10th overall pick is aquired as well to pick up another player. Hoping that would be Virtanen. With the combination of speed, toughness and a NHL ready shot he has the potential of becoming a very special player as well despite his shoulder surgery.

If the Canucks walk away from the draft with Draisaitl and Virtanen my head might just explode.

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