Keaton Verhoeff Or Ivar Stenberg…

[SameOldBlues]

Who do you pick if the Blues have the 2nd pick? Who has more potential? Who’s the better player in the long run?

[Frank Underwood]

I don’t think there’s a wrong answer here. We definitely need an elite talent at forward, but a big stud RHD sounds awfully good, obviously. We can’t be this bad all season (can we?) so I doubt we pick in the top 5, but I would take either and be thrilled. Guessing Verhoeff would be rated higher and be the pick, but still a lot of time left to see how ratings shake out.

[Zizzle1297]

I was literally about to post the same thing I think we need a top RD prospect.

[MrPostman01]

Last time we went Big D at the top... Yuck!

Ethan Belchetz is a veritable mountain of a young man. 6'5" 225
Already has more goals than the top 4 prospects combined ahead of him! and subsequently .

[smilinjoefission]

We almost have to go D given the garbage we have now and for the next 3+ seasons...but I'm still on the Stenberg bandwagon. Think big, McKenna, we can do it

[STL fan in MN]

I’ll preface this by saying I don’t expect the Blues to stay this bad all season and actually finish 31st. Their underlying numbers are much better than that. I believe they’ll turn it around.

That said, between those two, I’d go with Stenberg. I think Verhoeff is a little overrated. I don’t see a future absolute stud. I see more of an Aaron Ekblad sort of player. Has all the tools but not an elite toolbox. Very good but just doesn’t have that elite hockey sense which is needed to truly be great.

But I’ll also note, if the Blues are legitimately this bad and finish 31st, they’d have the 2nd best odds of winning the lottery to get McKenna. Go big or go home.

[Pierre McGuire]

If the Blues get the 2nd overall, no way are they taking a dman. It will be Stenberg all day long. Personally for me it would be Stenberg or Belchetz. By the time the draft rolls around Belchetz might be right behind McKenna.

[Younghopp1991]

I also dont believe we are actually this bad, but you can put yourself in pretty good position early on to give some vets a long thought about waiving trade clauses.
But if we had a top 3 pick we HAVE to get a game changer. If KV is not that unquestionably then you dont take him.
Im ready to hear some breakdowns on belchetz. Seen some comps that say brady. But others say if he is going out there and laying hits its looks strained. As if someone told him he needs to lay a hit. All the comps i see say his shot is deadly and he needs to work on skating like all 6ft 5 kids probably do. I guess my question is he more brady, rantanan, or tage? Thanks in advance.

[seattleblue]

I'll play along and say Stenberg for now, but I also agree they aren't this bad. They very well may be screwing themselves out of a playoff spot though. Very well could be drafting 15th. Long way before I'm ready to come up with a list, but when I do it will be carefully considered

[kimzey59]

Last time we went Big D at the top... Yuck!

Ethan Belchetz is a veritable mountain of a young man. 6'5" 225
Already has more goals than the top 4 prospects combined ahead of him! and subsequently .

Alex Pietrangelo(#4 overall) worked out perfectly well (sans the ugly divorce that we're still not over), thanks.


In regards to the question; I really like Stenberg, but I'm leaning towards Tynan Lawrence at #2 if I'm the Blues.
I think Broberg, Jiricek, Lindstein and Mailloux will figure it out on the blueline eventually.
We're already loaded on the wing.
If I had to chose, I'd point at center being our "weakest" area right now.
Snag Lawrence and that changes VERY quickly.
You're suddenly talking about potentially the deepest group of centers in the League within a few years.

I also ascribe to the "we're not really this bad" theory; but drafting Lawrence is a scenario that would almost make it worthwhile IMO.

[Ace07]

Gavin McKenna rounds out the lines very nicely next season; please let it happen. No reason to re-sign Sunny, Toropchenko, Texier or Joseph.

McKenna-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Dvorsky-Kyrou
Neighbours-Suter-Buchnevich
Schenn-Bjugstad-Walker

[Cahokanut]

We might not be that bad. But in reality we are very close.

You take elite offense, over elite defense every time. Now if there was a can't miss hof, best in the league defender after two. Sure.

I can't get past the fact that I know these guys, Each at their very best, doesn't make it past the second rd. and only make the playoffs if they get elite goaltending.

So I don't get it.

If we would teach some kids. Get rid of the veteran junk.

We could pick up a elite 1c.

Which immediately answers our problem at 2c, with the best 2c in the league.
Making us a instant contender.

[TheJackBurton]

11 games into the season and we are talking draft position and possible draft picks?

Jesus Christ.

[Harry S Deals]

11 games into the season and we are talking draft position and possible draft picks?

Jesus Christ.

At this point the Blues are going to have to become a 60-70% win pct team to make the playoffs, is that likely?

[BalotelliMassive]

If the Blues get the 2nd overall, no way are they taking a dman.

He would instantly be your best defenseman.

[TheJackBurton]

11 games into the season and we are talking draft position and possible draft picks?

Jesus Christ.

At this point the Blues are going to have to become a 60-70% win pct team to make the playoffs, is that likely?

Was it likely last year?