Draft: 20-Something Area Picks

[Army's Mom]

This might be a year to trade down, especially if nobody they really like happens to fall. I am curious who they're targeting in that likely range.

1- I absolutely do not agree with trading down. This run has been fun, but we're still a far cry from being a legit Cup Contender. I'd rather we "reach" for somebody we really like(like we did with Neighbours) than accumulate more picks. Our contracts slots are already full, and we still have prospects coming. We don't need more prospects(quantity), we need "better" prospects(quality). It's just not worth the risk of losing the guy you really want.

2- We won't know who they're "targeting" until a week after the Draft. Our Draft rankings are the equivalent of nuclear codes with this Front Office.
Top Secret doesn't even begin to cover it.

I trust your judgment as far as the quality of players available in the mid to late 20s of this year's draft. I was merely responding to Iowa's comment that this is a shallower draft - something I've heard others state as well. If they see someone worth reaching for, they've earned the benefit of the doubt IMHO.

[seattleblue]

It's pretty shallow in the first this year. They will be getting a skilled player with knocks most likely. A couple examples. Potter Cullen or Ben Kindel should be there in the middle first. Cam Reid too. These are small skilled players. Cullen is like the Hawks' Nazar. Reid is a smallish PPQB. Cam Schmidt is quite small. It's a weak year for US draftees, Jack Murtaugh is the best US player and he is a late first. It's a situation lining up for the Blues to pick a player who's rising with a late season surge, maybe a young birthday.

[kimzey59]

This might be a year to trade down, especially if nobody they really like happens to fall. I am curious who they're targeting in that likely range.

1- I absolutely do not agree with trading down. This run has been fun, but we're still a far cry from being a legit Cup Contender. I'd rather we "reach" for somebody we really like(like we did with Neighbours) than accumulate more picks. Our contracts slots are already full, and we still have prospects coming. We don't need more prospects(quantity), we need "better" prospects(quality). It's just not worth the risk of losing the guy you really want.

2- We won't know who they're "targeting" until a week after the Draft. Our Draft rankings are the equivalent of nuclear codes with this Front Office.
Top Secret doesn't even begin to cover it.

I trust your judgment as far as the quality of players available in the mid to late 20s of this year's draft. I was merely responding to Iowa's comment that this is a shallower draft - something I've heard others state as well. If they see someone worth reaching for, they've earned the benefit of the doubt IMHO.

It is a shallower draft.
And the tiers shift in the early 20's.
This years draft appears to be more "tiered" than a lot of Drafts lately(the tiers look to be top 3; picks 6-9; picks 10-20; picks 20-50) and the gaps between those tiers are more significant than a lot of Drafts have been lately.

With where we're projected to pick(currently we're #20 and I doubt we go lower than #22); if we move back more than 2-3 spots the talent drop would be a major concern. At 20'ish, I'm fairly confident that somebody like Spence, Bear, Hensler or Lakovich will fall to that spot. At 22+; you're talking guys like Murtagh, Fiddler and Ryabkin. I'm not willing to drop into that lower tier. The difference in prospect quality is pretty significant.

[kimzey59]

It's pretty shallow in the first this year. They will be getting a skilled player with knocks most likely. A couple examples. Potter Cullen or Ben Kindel should be there in the middle first. Cam Reid too. These are small skilled players. Cullen is like the Hawks' Nazar. Reid is a smallish PPQB. Cam Schmidt is quite small. It's a weak year for US draftees, Jack Murtaugh is the best US player and he is a late first. It's a situation lining up for the Blues to pick a player who's rising with a late season surge, maybe a young birthday.

Jimmy Hagens says hi.

[seattleblue]

meant to write US NDTP but yes Hagens is US

[smilinjoefission]

Blues went from picking 6th overall about 20 games ago to now 20th. I like Kindel, high scoring smallish winger.

[Pierre McGuire]

We are gonna have to trade up to get Lakovic now…maybe only a few spots. I still think Fiddler is someone to keep an eye on..I can seen the Blues being very interested in him.
Lakovic or bust for me

[Army's Mom]

This might be a year to trade down, especially if nobody they really like happens to fall. I am curious who they're targeting in that likely range.

1- I absolutely do not agree with trading down. This run has been fun, but we're still a far cry from being a legit Cup Contender. I'd rather we "reach" for somebody we really like(like we did with Neighbours) than accumulate more picks. Our contracts slots are already full, and we still have prospects coming. We don't need more prospects(quantity), we need "better" prospects(quality). It's just not worth the risk of losing the guy you really want.

2- We won't know who they're "targeting" until a week after the Draft. Our Draft rankings are the equivalent of nuclear codes with this Front Office.
Top Secret doesn't even begin to cover it.

I trust your judgment as far as the quality of players available in the mid to late 20s of this year's draft. I was merely responding to Iowa's comment that this is a shallower draft - something I've heard others state as well. If they see someone worth reaching for, they've earned the benefit of the doubt IMHO.

It is a shallower draft.
And the tiers shift in the early 20's.
This years draft appears to be more "tiered" than a lot of Drafts lately(the tiers look to be top 3; picks 6-9; picks 10-20; picks 20-50) and the gaps between those tiers are more significant than a lot of Drafts have been lately.

With where we're projected to pick(currently we're #20 and I doubt we go lower than #22); if we move back more than 2-3 spots the talent drop would be a major concern. At 20'ish, I'm fairly confident that somebody like Spence, Bear, Hensler or Lakovich will fall to that spot. At 22+; you're talking guys like Murtagh, Fiddler and Ryabkin. I'm not willing to drop into that lower tier. The difference in prospect quality is pretty significant.

Thanks for explaining it - makes sense!

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues resurgence has killed my viewing of draft eligibles. I was watching quite a bit of the guys projected to go in the 5-10 range but now I’m back watching Blues games and haven’t seen a ton of the guys projected to go later in the 1st. But a couple guys I’ve seen that could go around 20th are Bill Zonnon and Malcom Spence. Zonnon’s skating is a little choppy but I think he’ll be a quality middle-6 winger in time.

[John Cocktoastin]

Throwing this out there again, knowing our scouting department already has a top 6 guy already identified

I was looking at some of the picks in that range and like the following. Potter is a skating dynamo who has a decent shot. Really young, but you can see the elite skill already. Just a little small.

Hensler is a big, solid, RD lurking at the 20-ish spot. Great skater. Like him a lot.

Spence is flashy and has a great shot. Maybe too flashy. Probably over thinking that part of his game. Just wondering if he's a team first guy.

These are my picks right now in this range. Again, our scouting department is on it, I'm sure. Excited to find out who they have their sights on.

Cullen Potter
Logan Hensler
Malcolm Spence

[Bluesfan1978]

I like Cootes if they pick a forward. For a D I like Brzustewicz

[John Cocktoastin]

Cootes is another good one. Had him identified before - nice call out. Good all around game. And a great leader.

[seattleblue]

I would definitely advocate, selfishly, for the Blues to draft someone in the first round who plays 20 min away

But man I would be bummed if that's who we pick at 19 this year because I like other players more.

[seattleblue]

Justin Carbonneau. I think the second ish clip in this package of him scoring every goal he scored this year was against Moncton when I was watching a Pekarcik game and it caught my attention and I deep dived him. Take a look at this player's method of offensive attack and tell me this player wouldn't look good on the Blues ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uck97UXkPxM

The final Central Scouting has him #16 NA skater

[BlueGhost]

Justin Carbonneau. I think the second ish clip in this package of him scoring every goal he scored this year was against Moncton when I was watching a Pekarcik game and it caught my attention and I deep dived him. Take a look at this player's method of offensive attack and tell me this player wouldn't look good on the Blues ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uck97UXkPxM

The final Central Scouting has him #16 NA skater

Would love this pick...

[Pierre McGuire]

Lakovic highlights

https://youtu.be/Sx57Z_3DV3E?si=tY4qKRN7VUoE4cw7