Blues Draft Review

Well...in some ways it went as I expected. The Blues wound up taking one of the highly touted defensemen (and quite clearly the best one available at #4), and, as I had thought they might, the Blues took a goaltender with a second round pick. In neither case did the Blues get the player I would have preferred (I would have liked Bogosian over Pietrangelo, and Pickard over Allen), but I like the approach.

The Blues had three third round picks which they used on forwards, which makes a lot of sense for a franchise that is so set on the blueline. If one or more of them turn into useful pros, then the Blues will have something.

The one thing missing is that one winger with real goal scoring upside. Maybe this is something the Blues feel they can address in free agency (I doubt), or via the trade route (possibly.) A part of me was pained to see someone in our division pick up Filatov. If he pans out we may have a pain in the ass in Columbus for years to come.

Still, on balance the Blues did well. Picking up Mason from Nashville also fills a hole at backup goalie, which will be helpful. I was sort of sad to see long time Blues forward Jamal Mayers go in a trade...but we do have a surplus of 3rd line forwards. Jamal bled Blue, but we needed to go in a different direction.

Filatov

Based upon my continued reading leading up to this NHL Entry Draft, I have to make a slight alteration in the GASL Draft Board for the Blues. I listed the probability of Nikita Filatov being around at #4 as 90%, but the more I read from him, the more it becomes clear that he really wants to play in the NHL. If NHL teams are sold on that, then the only issue that comes up with him is if he will ever fill out his skinny six foot frame to survive the rigors of North American hockey. Most scouts believe he will.

Given this, I will have to revise my estimate. This will also alter chance that a couple of other players on the GASL board would still be around.

The Changes:

#2) Zach Bogosian, RD: Was 15%. Now, make that 25%.
#3) Nikita Filatov, LW: Was 90%. Now, 50%.
#5) Alex Pietrangelo, RD: Was 90%. Now, 100%.
#6) Colin Wilson, C: Was 98%. Now, 100%.
#7) Drew Doughty, RD: Was 85%. Now 90%.

If the Blues don't decide to trade the pick, I increasingly get the feeling Doughty will get selected. This is reinforced by the rumors I hear that the Blues have been talking up Luke Schenn. That has the feel of trying to discourage teams in the Top Ten from attempting to trade up to #3.

Blues Draft Preview

Alright, this is not much of a preview because, lets face it, I've no idea what the draft board for the Blues looks like. After all, do I look Finnish to you?

That being said, I see no reason why GASL shouldn't have a draft board of their own. Here is how I think the Blues draft board should set up from #1 to #10.

#1) Steven Stamkos, C - Unfortunately, the kid probably already has a Florida drivers licence. 0.00% chance he will be around at #4.

#2) Zach Bogosian, RD - Probably the best upside of the defensive prospects. Probably won't be around at #4. I'd say maybe a 15% chance he's still around.

#3) Nikita Filatov, LW - I'm betting this high potential forward is still around, but I doubt the Blues would take a chance on a Russian player however talented they are. 90% chance he's around at #4.

#4) Mikkel Boedker, LW - Oh, he will be there at #4, but will the Blues value another potential number 3 or 4 defenseman over offensive depth? 100% chance he will be around.

#5) Alex Pietrangelo, RD - The next best defenseman. 90% chance he's still around.

#6) Colin Wilson, C - I know the Blues don't really need another young center, but he's still aways from making the jump. He's got good size. 98% chance he's still around.

#7) Drew Doughty, RD - Ho hum. Another defensman some people like. (And the player the pessimist in me believes the Blues will actually draft.) 85% chance he's around at #4.

#8) Cody Hodgson, C - Two way center the Blues could draft and use as trade bait? 100% chance he will be around at #4.

#9) Joshua Bailey, C - Now, I'm just putting in guys because I don't want the guy I've listed at #10. Bailey is also more of a two way player. 100% Bailey is around at #4.

#10) Luke Schenn, RD - If the Blues select this player, who sounds like the next coming of Murray Baron, with the #4 pick, I will run screaming from the room. 100% chance he's still around at #4. If he falls to the Blues in the second round I will celebrate...but not at number four of the first.

I'll add, since there are no big name goaltending prospects around this year, the Blues would have a chance to get the best of this bunch with a later pick. As we went through goalies in this organization rather quickly this year, it might not be a bad idea to grab another with some potential. Thomas McCollum, Chris Carrozzi, Chet Pickard, or Dustin Tokarski (love the name) could be such an option.

An Eternal Question

What do you do with a #4 draft pick?

Oh, you could go for the tried and true methods: A) Pick someone you declare the "best player available," or B) Pick a player who "fills a need for us at the position," or C) Pick a player you believe will sign for near the league minimum (I'm looking at you Cozma).

However, the Blues will have the opportunity to go off the board when the NHL Entry Draft rolls around. The Blues could attempt to corner the market...the Danish hockey player market that is. I'm suggesting the Blues take this guy:

It didn't take Mikkel Boedker long to adjust to the North American game.

Boedker, an 18-year-old from Denmark, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in the fall to suit up for the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League.

The trip was a huge success for both Boedker and the Rangers.

Boedker has developed into one of the top prospects for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and his coach thinks he is one of the players most ready to step into the NHL next season.

"He's been outstanding," said Peter DeBoer, the Rangers' coach and general manager. "He's proven that he's a top-10 NHL pick. He might be as ready to step right into the NHL as any other forward in the world other than (Steven) Stamkos."

DeBoer admitted he wasn't sure what to expect when Boedker arrived. DeBoer was building a team that would challenge for the Memorial Cup and didn't have time for projects. But Boedker put those fears to rest by becoming an impact player for his team almost immediately.

"You never know how players are going to adjust when they come from different countries and different systems, but this kid is pretty special," said DeBoer, whose Rangers are playing host for May's Memorial Cup. "He's a big, strong kid. He doesn't play a typical European game."

The Blues already have a Dane in place with the signing of Lars Eller. Why not give the kid a playmate from the home country? We don't really need another top 5 defensive prospect (not really). We do have trouble finding the back of the net, and Boedker does look like one of the better non-Stamkos options available this time around.

So, I'm making it official. GASL requests...no goddam it...GASL demands the Blues select Mikkel Boedker.

Or not...we could totally go another way.

Balls Just Like Pucks For Blues...

...they still can't buy a lucky bounce. Here is what the Live Blog of the NHL Draft Lottery (no really...they had a live blog for that) looked like over at St. Louis Game Time:

And here we go.

Picking fifth: Islanders. That means Blues still alive for the top.

Picking fourth: ….the Blues. Fuck.

Well that was anti-climatic.

Tell me about it. So it is no teen phenom like Stamkos for the Blues....again. Of course I don't know why this should surprise me. After all, this is a team that most notable talent of the last 30 years was acquired as an overweight underachiever. Don't get me wrong. I love Hullie (although he is STILL in the goddam crease), but I'm ready for him to be eclipsed in the Blues pantheon.

So, what does the number four pick in this years draft mean for St. Louis? If they are picking purely on talent, and they stick to their aversion for everything Russian, it should mean a blue chip prospect...a blue chip defensive prospect. For a team that had heaps of trouble scoring this season it isn't an ideal situation, and there will be plenty of gripes from the fans whatever the Blues do. If they play it safe fans will scream about the lack of help at forward. If they take a flyer on a not-so-highly-rated forward fans will bitch about the Blues "reaching." It's a classic lose-lose situation.

If you are a Blues fan you are already familiar with those.

Second Thoughts

O.K., with a night to sleep on the Blues picks I've modified my reaction. I'll concede that we have done alright. I was a little worried that we were limiting ourselves on "upside" potential, but maybe Jarmo has gotten the balance right.

The picks:

#13 LARS ELLER, C/W, ranked #3 among Europeans (ESS).
#18 IAN COLE, D, ranked #81 in NA (CSS).
#26 DAVID PERRON, LW, ranked #10 in NA (CSS).
#39 SIMON HJALMARSSON, RW, ranked #6 in Europe (ESS).
#44 AARON PALUSHAJ, RW, ranked #101 in NA (CSS).
#85 BRETT SONNE, C/LW, ranked #94 in NA (CSS).
#96 CADE FAIRCHILD, D, ranked #189 in NA (CSS).
#100 TRAVIS ERSTAD, C/RW, ranked #97 in NA (CSS).
#160 ANTHONY PELUSO, D, ranked #183 in NA (CSS).
#190 TREVOR NILL, C, unranked by CSS.

So it looks like the Blues got some value, particularly with our European picks though it seems most NHL teams were not high on the European players this draft. I'll forgive the bit of a reach on Cole as there had been a run on those U.S. defensemen, and the Blues obviously wanted to go that direction all along.

One thing that is surprising is that with the 10 picks the Blues wound up with in this draft half of them went to select US born players! We picked three Canadians, one Swede and one Dane as well.

The 2010-11 season can't come quick enough!

Underwhelmed

The Blues are doing a lot of gymnastics at this years draft, but I'm uncertain as to how much they are accomplishing.

First we trade down from the 9th to the 13th (picking up another 2nd rounder), which is fine. We then use the 13th for a Dane called Lars. While I'm tempted to say WTF, I'll hold off. Still, I would have thought Eller would have still been around at the 24th or 26th pick.

Second, we trade up from 24th to 18th (giving up a third rounder) to take a kid that obviously would have been there at #24.

So I'll say it: WTF!!!!!!

We are running around like a team with its head cut off.