The Biggest Draft Mistake The St. Louis Blues Ever Made

[seattleblue]

I don't really think the fact we kind of remember Jay McKee has any bearing on whether Jiricek will be ok, and Brantford will be probably worse since they are losing a bunch of talent.

The thing with Jiricek is it was always an awkward pick. There's a person who knows it, and due to mental illness has decided it's important for us to be beseiged by his negativity in every possible instance. There's nothing to stop him. The only fix is his own choice. He thinks what he's doing is good. He's a failure right now and may never choose not to be. Is what it is.

[HighStick]

Do any of you know or recall if the Blues made the decision of those bust picks by going with the BPA theory or a team need pick?

[skeezix]

1983, everything else pales in comparison. Worst (most wasted) pick might have been Scott Campbell in 1977.

Agree with both evaluations. Campbell had chronic headaches and never played. Scary how close that the Blues went to Saskatoon. Ornest was a vulture, but he saved the franchise when NO ONE wanted to take the risk.

[Old_Goat]

EJ was not a mistake. We were aching for a big cornerstone defenseman in the mold of Chris Pronger. The knee injury on the golf outing was his downfall from greatness.

For me, passing on Logan Couture in the 2007 draft was a terrible move, but I know the Blues were hoping to get Ryan McDonagh.

The drafting of David Runblad was a head scratcher at the time, but worked out okay for us in the end

The drafting on Dominik Bokk was terrible at the time.

For you and SeattleBlue and others, I will grant that I am probably being too harsh about the drafting EJ decision. At the time I was frustrated by two things: 1st we had been so in need of a great Center for SO long. Sure, we had Gretzky for short time during the long period, but it hardly mattered unfortunately. And we had Turgeon, but it wasn't enough and we needed more for future. So, I was most disappointed on the pass on a big, still even now a fairly good Center with a strong pedigree in Jordan Stahl. And then when I heard that EJ was big, strong, essentially fully developed and extremely mobile I was enthused to hear that. He could practically "be ready for the NHL right now." In someone else's words, "the best D prospect in 15 years." It's when he said that he wanted to play for the U, the Golden Gophers, is when I immediately questioned his forethought, maturity, possibly even his desire to be a committed pro. History kind of played out unfortunately.
Again maybe I'm being harsh, perhaps I should give credit to a lifelong dream to win for the U and committed loyalty. I don't know. But I just felt that with all of the accolades about how well he was already developed, that he would be better, quicker to help us by playing against men. The college ranks weren't as highly developed then relative to the AHL as today.
So yes, as I read the a lot of the other posts, there were some real headscratchers that deserve the worst title.

[a smell of green grass]

For those still thinking Jiricek is likely to make it to the NHL, I recommend that you watch Armstrong. He just traded away a young proven 200-ft winger (which he loves) for a project that plays the same position as Jiricek. Armstrong never makes that trade if Jiricek was trending positive.

[DawgDad]

For those still thinking Jiricek is likely to make it to the NHL, I recommend that you watch Armstrong. He just traded away a young proven 200-ft winger (which he loves) for a project that plays the same position as Jiricek. Armstrong never makes that trade if Jiricek was trending positive.

Jiricek does not appear to have a quick timeline to the NHL and he may be a bigger risk than previously thought. I would stop way short of saying he's not going to make it, none of us know. Check where he's at at age 25.

[Red7]

Marek Schwarz anyone?

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Some of our worst first round honkers have been on D- Marty Ruff, Jason Marshall, Riker Wilson, Scott Campbell. Just a stringbawful first round picks if you also include Forard Keith Osborne. Just horrible drafting. Alternatively, In goal yes Schwarz was a first round whiff but what about FA Cujo or Bishop and Liut? The biggest (relative) goalie hit was 1987 and Guy Herbert from Hamilton College ( taken in the eight round a couple picks before Theo Fleury).

[somni]

Marek Schwarz anyone?

Ahh yes, the Blues ever long quest to find a goaltender.
At least they didn't sign him to a 15-year, $67.5 million like Rick DiPietro.

[a smell of green grass]

I don't really think the fact we kind of remember Jay McKee has any bearing on whether Jiricek will be ok, and Brantford will be probably worse since they are losing a bunch of talent.

The thing with Jiricek is it was always an awkward pick. There's a person who knows it, and due to mental illness has decided it's important for us to be beseiged by his negativity in every possible instance. There's nothing to stop him. The only fix is his own choice. He thinks what he's doing is good. He's a failure right now and may never choose not to be. Is what it is.

There are things that only ASOGG will inform you about Notice that no one can correct him about these things because he is dead correct.

Listen to Seattle if you want a pschology thriller.

Fact: when picking at 20ish, it is impossible to make a mistake!!!! 1) how mamy players will be outstanding that are selected after 20? Very very very few! 2) of these few, the excuse will be nobody expected it. The GM is completely blameless!!!!

[a smell of green grass]

More facts:

When picking at 20, you are picking depth players. 3rd liners. Penalty killers.

Is any fan going to care much that 5 years from now Team X’s 3rd liner gets 5 more goals per year?

Face it. At 20, you are bobbing for apples, and few will care what team they play for.

St Louis is credited with having a great scouting team but rhey never habe to mske a decision that can go wrong. Ever.

[a smell of green grass]

For those still thinking Jiricek is likely to make it to the NHL, I recommend that you watch Armstrong. He just traded away a young proven 200-ft winger (which he loves) for a project that plays the same position as Jiricek. Armstrong never makes that trade if Jiricek was trending positive.

Jiricek does not appear to have a quick timeline to the NHL and he may be a bigger risk than previously thought. I would stop way short of saying he's not going to make it, none of us know. Check where he's at at age 25.

I can clear up the question aboit Jiriceks timeline

If Army cut him now, it woukd appear to be an Army mistake to have picked him

If Army gives it a coiple more years, it will go down as Jiricek couldnt cut it.

Solution. Jiricek is going to fly the Perunivich path.

[sdaltons]

I don't really think the fact we kind of remember Jay McKee has any bearing on whether Jiricek will be ok, and Brantford will be probably worse since they are losing a bunch of talent.

The thing with Jiricek is it was always an awkward pick. There's a person who knows it, and due to mental illness has decided it's important for us to be beseiged by his negativity in every possible instance. There's nothing to stop him. The only fix is his own choice. He thinks what he's doing is good. He's a failure right now and may never choose not to be. Is what it is.

Nice

[BobbyOrr]

Eric Johnson

Nothing puts a franchise behind like Wiffing on a # 1 pick in the draft, Nothing.

The only whiff involved was telling the team to get hammered and play golf...

Johnson was literally the consensus #1 by just about every low-level, mid-level and top hockey "expert" who covered the draft at the time. It's fine to judge how everything played out, post-golf outing. But the pick at the time was the right pick.

True,
BUT, there were many that saw the flaws in his game including some on this forum and cringed at the pick.
I hated it at the time.

[Natl20]

More facts:

When picking at 20, you are picking depth players. 3rd liners. Penalty killers.

Is any fan going to care much that 5 years from now Team X’s 3rd liner gets 5 more goals per year?

Face it. At 20, you are bobbing for apples, and few will care what team they play for.

St Louis is credited with having a great scouting team but rhey never habe to mske a decision that can go wrong. Ever.

Dumb dumbs back!

Just a quick review of the 2010 NHL draft

Tarasenko #16
Kuznetsov #26
Charlie Coyle #28
Brock Nelson #30
Justin Faulk #37
Tyler Toffoli #47

Im sure someone here with more knowledge than me can turn that list into 100 guys, I just dont have the time.

You're not very smart are you?

[britishblue]

In the modern, post 2005 era, we really dont have many bad drafts.

Id argue we have been one of the better drafting teams over that period.

The worst 1st round pick was probably Schmaltz (he wasnt very good and we really didnt need another RHD at that point) but tbh at #25 its not a shock he didnt turn into much.

Rundblad put up some very impressive numbers in Sweden the year after we dealt him and ultimately turned into Tank.

Bokk turned into Faulk.

For me the biggest "mistake" was the 2007 draft and even that was that bad.

We obviously got Perron but the draft day trades we made really didnt work.

Logan Couture and Mikael Backlund would have looked pretty good on the Blues through the 2010's.

I guess Cole did net us Bortz though.