If the players are close, I like to get another D-man into the pipeline.
If Ellis or Depres fell to us that would be great.
Definitely! Not sure exactly which d-man to draft, but I'll leave that to the "experts". The Blues need a couple more stud defensemen in the system. You can't have enough of those types.
And I can't imagine either EJ, Pietrangelo, Cole, Junland, or whomever ever flopping and going bust. So it's not like our defensive depth is lacking. But you never know how things are going to turn out.
Im not really sold on making a big signing this summer. We already have a logjam at D and I think getting EJ back and Petro making the squad will be all we need to make a good run next year....
I was thinking about this and there wasn't a single free-agent acquisition I'd make. I could see a trade or two this summer, but nothing major.
But frankly, it's way too early to discuss this. I think what happens this summer will really depend how the playoffs go. If we get killed by Vancouver, then there may be problems that may need to be addressed through free-agency or an aggressive trade.
I think we should aviod Ellis. He is a one dimensional offensive defensemen, who i don't think will translate to the NHL. We already have Pie and such... I would trade down a spot or two if he is the best player available. However I do like Ekman-Larsson who could be had at around 15th to 17th, and Josefson or Schroeder if they fall out side of the top 10. Two of those are swedes so we should know everything about them
And on other note, i too am a HUGE fan of MSP, I would LOVE to trade up to get him. What do you think would it take to trade up if we swap picks?
I feel similar about Ellis. He was good at the WJC, but strikes me as mainly an undersized PP specialist, and I'm not a fan of taking a guy like that in the first round.
I don't think OEL or Schroeder will be around at 15. I heard rumours that Ottawa was actively scouting OEL and think that he will be better than Hedman one day. Schroeder IMO will go 10-15, a bit small but he tore up the NCAA this year as a freshman.
As for MSP (who is actually MPS, apparently the English media got it mixed up - I heard he will shorten to MP after being drafted), I don't think the Blues can get him without trading away too much. He will go in the 4-7 range, along with guys like Kane and Schenn, with Cowen being the wild card (depending on which team think he's worth the risk). Personally I think Duchene is almost a lock at #3 but he might drop a spot or two so he'll be in there somewhere too.
And since this is seen as a top 7 draft, I doubt the Blues can move up that much without giving away a good prospect and a few picks.
I'm not much of a draft junkie, but this is just my take on it.
Anyone have a feeling what it might take the Blues in terms of prospects/picks to jump to the 3-5 spot and nab MSP/MPS/MP or E. Kane?
I'd rather not. This year is hopefully the beginning of our return to contention. What this means is later draft picks, and less draft picks and prospects through trades for players that can help now. We would be best served to use all of our draft picks this last time where we will still probably have a mid-round pick. I want Chris Kreider because he has the potential to be special and will take a while to develop meaning he will be a top prospect when our cupboard thins a bit due to graduations and the lack of picks that we're used to enjoying.
Anyone have a feeling what it might take the Blues in terms of prospects/picks to jump to the 3-5 spot and nab MSP/MPS/MP or E. Kane?
WAY too much. It's not really even worth discussing. The Blues might be able to find a team willing to trade down a few spots but they'd have to find a team willing to trade down 10+ spots to get one of the top guys and that's just not going to happen.
It'd be a bit of a reach/project at 17, but the last time Jarmo went with a little known player in the 1st round for a little known player it's already sold alot of t-shirts. He has all of the characteristics of a winner. Plus he's an NPH fan, and that can only be seen as a good thing
Kreider is #14 on the Final CSS list that came out today so you're not alone in your hype for this kid.
Hedman, MPS, and Josefson all probably go ahead of him too. There'll probably be a European defenseman taken too. So by these rankings he's probably there at 17, but wouldn't be a reach at all. Overall though, he's kind of flying under alot of radars for the time being seemingly. From the descriptions, he sounds like a great mix of the 4 young forwards (Backes, Oshie, Perron, and Berglund) that Jarmo drafted and have been good so far.
I really like the first 2 rounds in this draft. After that, I think it falls off some. I would love it if we could somehow grab ourselves another 2nd rounder or 2. Very good value in that round this year.
Here's my favorites of this draft: (that seem reasonable for a 17th/47th picks)
Zach Kassian, Jacob Josefson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, David Rundblad, Chris Kreider, Richard Panik, Zack Budish, Carl Klingberg, Drew Shore, Ethan Werek, Peter Holland, Alex Chiasson, Stefan Elliott, Charles-Olivier Roussel, Carter Ashton, Jordan Caron.
I'd be happy with any of the above guys in the first 2 rounds.
edit: I would only take Kassian, Josefson, Larsson, Rundblad or Holland with a 17th overall pick...the others I'd want to trade down and a few I'd only take with the 47th pick, nothing sooner.
I called the picks of Berglund and Junland in 2006 and this year the 2 swedes I feel will be very high up on Jarmo's list are Carl Klingberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Don't be surprised if we wind up with one of them.
St. Louis is in a pretty good position for this yrs draft. You have a real solid core of young forwards and dmen so you can pick the best player available and add them to your already long list of top end prospects
I called the picks of Berglund and Junland in 2006 and this year the 2 swedes I feel will be very high up on Jarmo's list are Carl Klingberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Don't be surprised if we wind up with one of them.
I would hope so as they're also two of my favorites as well but I think OEL has advanced himself up the board in most scouts minds' to which he'll end up being drafted well before the Blues will have a chance to get him. I fully expect OEL to go in the top 10 now.
I like Klingberg at the end of the 1st round but I think the Blues will likely have a few better options to chose from when they pick in the 1st round and then I think Klingberg will be gone by the time the Blues' 2nd round pick comes along. We'll just have to see how things play out on draft day. For now though, it's playoff time! Go Blues! Massacre the Canucks!
I agree with what a poster in the early part of the thread said. You guys have tons of offensive talent and lots of prospect depth. You should try and package your 1st with a prospect or roster player for a top 2-3 defenseman and maybe even go after Bouwmeester in free agency as well (to be honest I don't have a clue how much cap space you have). Maybe buy out McKee to make room. And depending on how you feel with Mason, maybe package the pick and something for a top pairing d-man and sign a goalie in free agency?
Soderberg isn't coming over because he believes he's not good enough to make the NHL out of a training camp. .
Small point but that is not even remotely the reason Soderberg won't come over.
Soderberg refuses to cross the pond because he's playing for his Hometown team and he values that stigma more than the paycheck he'll get in the NHL. It has nothing to do with his skill level or what he considers his skill level to be.
As for the Draft; I've been pushing Kassian all year and I'm not changing that tune now. I also really like Olivier Roy but wouldn't take him over a forward like Kassian.
I like either Oliver Ekman-Larsson or John Moore, if they go defense... but the guy I want in the first round is Drew Shore.
P_B
Shore is one guy you see people taking late 20's but I'd take him if we ended with the 17th pick. If he was there, OE-L would be the main guy I want but I think he goes top 15. Possibly top 10.
Drew Shore has really raised his stock at the U18 where some mocks now have Morin in the second round. I would not mind the Blues getting their hands on more USNDP players. I see Glennie gone in top 15, if he is there take him. Does anyone know anything about Chris Kreider?
