Picks Three and Four

[Younghopp1991]

I think it depends on whether thy make any moves at the TDL, acquire any more 1st round picks, or acquire other players. For example, if they acquired Shane Wright, they might be less inclined to stretch for a center like Lawrence or Malhotra at 3 or 4.

With that said, my guess is one of the two Dmen you mentioned or Lawrence/Malhotra. My personal order, which will differ from others is:

Reid
Malhotra
Belchetz
Lawrence
Verhoeff
Carels

TBF what's your take on any of those players getting on the big ice their first year?

Probably a better question for Kimzey or Pierre. Personally, I don't see any of them making the NHL in their draft year. Outside of the top 2 picks that everyone think have that chance.

Likely not other than maybe a couple of 9 game tryouts. There will be somebody though that breaks through that you don’t expect like Ben Kindel did this year.
I wouldn’t count Carels out…really depends on the team but his poise, skating and confidence level is NHL ready for sure.
Verhoeff is physically ready but his hockey IQ is behind Carels and Reid. Reid is good..doubt his defense is ready for the NHL. All three of these guys are for sure on opening night rosters in 2027. I think Carels is quite a bit ahead of them as an overall package right now.

What options does verheoff have if ge gets a trial and doesnt stick? Not sure how it eorks since he played ncaa this year. Is he not too young fir the AHL?

If signs a nhl contract he can’t go back to college so he would have to get sent to the ahl. There isn’t a special deal between the ncaa and the nhl like there is between the nhl and the chl. At least as far as I know.

I thought there was a age restriction which was one reason carbo couldnt go to the ahl. I could be completely off base.

[The Average Gatsby]

I think it depends on whether thy make any moves at the TDL, acquire any more 1st round picks, or acquire other players. For example, if they acquired Shane Wright, they might be less inclined to stretch for a center like Lawrence or Malhotra at 3 or 4.

With that said, my guess is one of the two Dmen you mentioned or Lawrence/Malhotra. My personal order, which will differ from others is:

Reid
Malhotra
Belchetz
Lawrence
Verhoeff
Carels

TBF what's your take on any of those players getting on the big ice their first year?

Probably a better question for Kimzey or Pierre. Personally, I don't see any of them making the NHL in their draft year. Outside of the top 2 picks that everyone think have that chance.

Likely not other than maybe a couple of 9 game tryouts. There will be somebody though that breaks through that you don’t expect like Ben Kindel did this year.
I wouldn’t count Carels out…really depends on the team but his poise, skating and confidence level is NHL ready for sure.
Verhoeff is physically ready but his hockey IQ is behind Carels and Reid. Reid is good..doubt his defense is ready for the NHL. All three of these guys are for sure on opening night rosters in 2027. I think Carels is quite a bit ahead of them as an overall package right now.

What options does verheoff have if ge gets a trial and doesnt stick? Not sure how it eorks since he played ncaa this year. Is he not too young fir the AHL?

If signs a nhl contract he can’t go back to college so he would have to get sent to the ahl. There isn’t a special deal between the ncaa and the nhl like there is between the nhl and the chl. At least as far as I know.

I thought there was a age restriction which was one reason carbo couldnt go to the ahl. I could be completely off base.

Thats the agreement between the nhl and the chl. I believe any chl player under 20 goes back to juniors instead of the ahl if they don’t make the nhl. The ncaa doesn’t have such an agreement. And signing a nhl contract voids ncaa eligibility.

[Younghopp1991]

I think it depends on whether thy make any moves at the TDL, acquire any more 1st round picks, or acquire other players. For example, if they acquired Shane Wright, they might be less inclined to stretch for a center like Lawrence or Malhotra at 3 or 4.

With that said, my guess is one of the two Dmen you mentioned or Lawrence/Malhotra. My personal order, which will differ from others is:

Reid
Malhotra
Belchetz
Lawrence
Verhoeff
Carels

TBF what's your take on any of those players getting on the big ice their first year?

Probably a better question for Kimzey or Pierre. Personally, I don't see any of them making the NHL in their draft year. Outside of the top 2 picks that everyone think have that chance.

Likely not other than maybe a couple of 9 game tryouts. There will be somebody though that breaks through that you don’t expect like Ben Kindel did this year.
I wouldn’t count Carels out…really depends on the team but his poise, skating and confidence level is NHL ready for sure.
Verhoeff is physically ready but his hockey IQ is behind Carels and Reid. Reid is good..doubt his defense is ready for the NHL. All three of these guys are for sure on opening night rosters in 2027. I think Carels is quite a bit ahead of them as an overall package right now.

What options does verheoff have if ge gets a trial and doesnt stick? Not sure how it eorks since he played ncaa this year. Is he not too young fir the AHL?

If signs a nhl contract he can’t go back to college so he would have to get sent to the ahl. There isn’t a special deal between the ncaa and the nhl like there is between the nhl and the chl. At least as far as I know.

I thought there was a age restriction which was one reason carbo couldnt go to the ahl. I could be completely off base.

Thats the agreement between the nhl and the chl. I believe any chl player under 20 goes back to juniors instead of the ahl if they don’t make the nhl. The ncaa doesn’t have such an agreement. And signing a nhl contract voids ncaa eligibility.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Pierre McGuire]

I think it depends on whether thy make any moves at the TDL, acquire any more 1st round picks, or acquire other players. For example, if they acquired Shane Wright, they might be less inclined to stretch for a center like Lawrence or Malhotra at 3 or 4.

With that said, my guess is one of the two Dmen you mentioned or Lawrence/Malhotra. My personal order, which will differ from others is:

Reid
Malhotra
Belchetz
Lawrence
Verhoeff
Carels

TBF what's your take on any of those players getting on the big ice their first year?

Probably a better question for Kimzey or Pierre. Personally, I don't see any of them making the NHL in their draft year. Outside of the top 2 picks that everyone think have that chance.

Likely not other than maybe a couple of 9 game tryouts. There will be somebody though that breaks through that you don’t expect like Ben Kindel did this year.
I wouldn’t count Carels out…really depends on the team but his poise, skating and confidence level is NHL ready for sure.
Verhoeff is physically ready but his hockey IQ is behind Carels and Reid. Reid is good..doubt his defense is ready for the NHL. All three of these guys are for sure on opening night rosters in 2027. I think Carels is quite a bit ahead of them as an overall package right now.

What options does verheoff have if ge gets a trial and doesnt stick? Not sure how it eorks since he played ncaa this year. Is he not too young fir the AHL?

If signs a nhl contract he can’t go back to college so he would have to get sent to the ahl. There isn’t a special deal between the ncaa and the nhl like there is between the nhl and the chl. At least as far as I know.

I thought there was a age restriction which was one reason carbo couldnt go to the ahl. I could be completely off base.

Thats the agreement between the nhl and the chl. I believe any chl player under 20 goes back to juniors instead of the ahl if they don’t make the nhl. The ncaa doesn’t have such an agreement. And signing a nhl contract voids ncaa eligibility.

Or that CHL player can choose to play NCAA instead of going back to the CHL….provided they haven’t signed a pro contract

[BleedingBleu]

If they fall out of the Top 2, should they make a move to swap picks and move up? Should they put their chips on Ivar/McKennan?

[Pierre McGuire]

If they fall out of the Top 2, should they make a move to swap picks and move up? Should they put their chips on Ivar/McKennan?

No..as long as they are top 5 we will be good. The cost to move up to get McKenna will be high.

[BleedingBleu]

If they fall out of the Top 2, should they make a move to swap picks and move up? Should they put their chips on Ivar/McKennan?

No..as long as they are top 5 we will be good. The cost to move up to get McKenna will be high.

+1

I’m just curious how this front office would operate if they thought one of these guys was “their” guy. Would they go after it?

You’re right, McKenna should be high. Assuming the NHL doesn’t pull off some mystical Big Market ascension that has a way of manifesting with the Draft Lottery, the current expectation is Vancouver would Draft First. I assume they’d take Gavin given his heritage, legacy, & proximity (2-1/2 Hr flight).

However, given their connection to the past w/the Sedins, and many experts believing Stenberg could be the consensus #1 Overall Pick, that might not be such a given.

I just wonder if the Blues would bite at the potential of landing a Generational Talent if they were on the doorstep. Probably not… but what if it was Stenberg w/a Stenberg already in house?

[LGB73]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

[SameOldBlues]

1. Lawrence
2. Carels
3. Belchetz
4.Verhoeff

[SameOldBlues]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

[SameOldBlues]

Also, it’d be very Bluesy for them to go on their typical second half heater and makin it impossible to even entertain the idea of movin back since they would have already dropped their draft position themselves without getting extra draft capital to do so.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

is there a superstar in this draft?

[SameOldBlues]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

is there a superstar in this draft?

Neither of us will know for at least 2 or 3 years, but the point is Id rather keep the high pick and increase my chances of getting him if there is.

[Pierre McGuire]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

is there a superstar in this draft?

McKenna is very Patrick Kane like and will likely be considered a superstar in the NHL.

[LGB73]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

Yeah it's hard to judge whether I'd want to move back until I understood the "haul" to get there. Is swapping 3 spots in the 1st round going to net us an early 2nd round pick? An extra 1st next year? In the NFL they have their chart for determining value, but like I said I don't recall a swap of picks that high up and what it netted for the team moving down.

Also, not sure the #3 prospect is that much more of a guarantee than the guy you pick at 6 in this draft. Seems it's Mckenna/Stenberg and then a group of about 5-6 guys jockeying around in the same range as to who is the better prospect. That's why I wonder if the "haul" is worth just dropping back and getting a guy equally likely to be real difference maker for us.

[seattleblue]

Curious what people think of trading back if we're at 3 to somewhere around 6-7. 1) What could we get for moving back? Can't recall a trade where someone moved up 3-4 spots at the top of the draft and what they paid for it. 2)And is that payment worth sliding back and still picking up a player like Malhorta or one of D men that slide to that spot?

Normally id be fine trading back, assuming we got a nice little haul to, and if the draft sucked at the top, but the Blues have shown us unequivocally that they’re in desperate need for difference makers, so Im keeping the pick and drafting hopefully our first superstar in ages.

is there a superstar in this draft?

McKenna is very Patrick Kane like and will likely be considered a superstar in the NHL.

Last Memorial Cup I think they were showing a little capsule of Mckenna like they did with a few players where they included a 1-on-1 practice ice interview. You probably saw it. He was replicating Kane's "stickhandle one puck through a complicated sea of scattered pucks" and they asked him about it and he talked about trying to match Kane. They showed his stick handling. It's obscenely good.