Oh, talking about the 2014 NHL mock draft, let me tell you, it’s like picking out which cow’s gonna give the best milk next year. You see, in that year, folks were real excited about who’s gonna go where. I remember folks saying the Buffalo Sabres, at that number one spot, were looking at Sam Reinhart. That boy played center for Kootenay, and people were sure he’d be a smart pick. The Sabres, bless their hearts, needed someone strong, and Reinhart was lookin’ like the fella for the job.
Now, when you’re talkin’ drafts, it ain’t just about the first pick, no sir. You gotta look at the whole crop. The experts from all over, they were ranking these young boys like they’re cattle at the fair. Folks like McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, and Future Consideration, they put out these lists. I think there were about six different places doing rankings, each one tellin’ who they thought was the best of the bunch. Some had different ideas, but mostly, the same names kept comin’ up, just in different orders.
That draft had some real good players. After Reinhart, folks were talking about names like Aaron Ekblad, who was a defenseman, and William Nylander, a right winger. Those boys were ranked high by pretty much everybody. The NHL draft is like planting a garden – you pick your seeds, but you don’t know how they’ll grow. Some sprout fast, some take time, and some, well, they just don’t turn out like you hoped.
When they made their predictions back then, they looked at how these boys performed in the playoffs too. Hockey’s a tough game, you know. Playoffs show you what a player’s made of. It’s one thing to skate around during the season, but playoffs, that’s where the real heart shows. So, folks were projecting who might go in the top 30 picks after watching them play under pressure.
The top teams, like the Sabres, they had a lot to think about. Buffalo, Florida Panthers, and the Edmonton Oilers were all near the top of the draft list. The Panthers were eyeing Ekblad for sure, that boy was a big defenseman and the Panthers needed someone strong to hold their line. Edmonton? Well, they had a lot of rebuilding to do, bless ’em.
The Importance of Mock Drafts
Now, mock drafts, you see, they’re like guessing what the weather’s gonna be. You look at the signs, the clouds, the winds, but at the end of the day, it’s still just a guess. But folks sure do love ’em. Mock drafts give people somethin’ to talk about, somethin’ to hope for. And the 2014 NHL mock draft was no different. Experts were predicting, analyzing, and debating who would end up where.
One thing’s for sure though, the top players like Reinhart, Ekblad, and Nylander, they were expected to do great things. The draft, it’s a big ol’ gamble. Some players pan out and become stars, others, well, they fade away. But that’s how it is with young talent. They’re full of promise, but you never know until they hit the ice with the big boys.
- Buffalo Sabres: Sam Reinhart, center – Kootenay (WHL)
- Florida Panthers: Aaron Ekblad, defense – Barrie (OHL)
- Edmonton Oilers: Leon Draisaitl, center – Prince Albert (WHL)
- Calgary Flames: Sam Bennett, center – Kingston (OHL)
- New York Islanders: Michael Dal Colle, left wing – Oshawa (OHL)
These were some of the top names folks were throwin’ around for the 2014 draft. Each one had a lot of potential, but only time would tell if they were the real deal. As it turned out, a lot of these boys went on to have pretty good careers, but that’s hockey for ya. You never know who’s gonna make it big until they start playin’ with the grown-ups.
Final Thoughts
So, when you look at the 2014 NHL mock draft, it was full of predictions and excitement. Everybody was buzzing about who would go where, and the top players were under a lot of pressure. But just like with anything else in life, you don’t know how it’ll turn out until you get there. Some folks’ predictions were right on the money, others missed the mark, but that’s what makes it fun, ain’t it? Watchin’ how things unfold and who comes out on top.
Tags：[2014 NHL mock draft, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, NHL draft predictions, top 30 picks]
