2021 Entry Draft

[glen a richter]

With the expansion draft turning into a pretty anti-climactic event and all the picks being leaked, I guess now's as good a time as any to turn to the entry draft.

As it stands, the Blues have 5 picks which I guess could change at some point. I'll mock it based on what they have now, Theo alluded to the fact that it's a weak draft, but unless Army is planning on trading every pick in a package for someone which I highly doubt, they'll have to try to make lemonade out of what's out there.

Organizational needs are, again, RHD and top 6 wingers.
LHD, C, bottom 6 guys and goalie shouldn't be priorities but who the hell knows?

Here's my mock for this year:

Rd 1 (Pick 17) - Corson Ceulemans (RHD) I've seen a couple of people suggesting Sasha Pastujov, a RW'er with offensive upside, but I'm sticking to RHD as the primary organizational need. Ceulemans, however, is a suspect defender. I guess that can be worked on, and in a weak draft you just throw shit at the wall and hope something sticks. Scott Morrow is also a possibility here.

Rd 3 - William Stromgren (LW), tall but lanky, shoot first strong on the power play. If he can work on his weaknesses and fill in with muscle he could be a strong pick here.

Rd 5 - Raymond Fust (LW) Good forechecker, tallish with room to add muscle and evidently very creative with the puck, could make things happen.

Rd 6 - Brayden Peters (G) because what would a Blues draft be without drafting someone the organization doesn't need? Big goalie with good reflexes and rebound control.

Rd 7 - Bryce Montgomery (RHD) Big, tall defensive oriented RHD who could develop some offensive upside over time. With his size and physicality, he could eventually be a great fit as a 3rd pairing RHD. Draws comparisons to Brandon Carlo.

[theohall]

And none of those players, to me, even warrant a draft pick. If the organization cannot guarantee it has a place to develop players beyond juniors, draft picks turn into a beyond ridiculous odds crap shoot. I understand the Blues are supposed to be affiliated with Springfield, MA in the AHL now, but until it's a reality combined with the ridiculously weak talent level - this draft will be a bust. Add in the weak draft...

Trade picks for other teams picks - or for next year's draft... anything but drafting"BPA"s this year considering BPAs in this draft are the worst BPAs in 15+ years.

With as little discussion as there has been about the weakness of this draft, there have to be GMs not in on the weakness of it. Take advantage of those orgs who aren't paying attention.

[theohall]

Watching NHL Network - Dave Reid just brought up something Adam Foote texted him. While he isn't 100% right, because Dmitri Orlov is 5' 11 - but there are very few defenseman under 6'0 on Stanley Cup Winners. Foote said there weren't any in the past 6-7 years (Orlov with the Caps is the ony exception I could find) and the Avs won their Cup specifically because they got bigger on defense. This came up while they were discussing the Seth Jones to Chicago trade and Chicago needed to get bigger on D and replace key defenseman.

[glen a richter]

I have a very strong suspicion that Tarasenko is gone tonight and depending on the trade partner, the 1st round pick might also be gone.

[glen a richter]

Owen Power 1st to Buffalo. Have fun with that dumpster fire of an organization. Stay at Michigan as long as you can.

[theohall]

If Owen Power stays in college until he's 21, he reaches UFA status. Unless Buffalo magically turns around, I could see that happening.

It's not like this hasn't happened with multiple players over the past 10 years.

[glen a richter]

I can't believe those two goalies, Wallstedt and Cossa are still available. Trade the pick to a team that needs a goalie.

[theohall]

Someone has to be willing to make the deal. I'm shocked how many teams are still holding on to their picks in this draft.

[theohall]

Given the lower level of quality this draft - totally get Detroit making that trade. Give up weak draft picks to get the player you want.

[glen a richter]

I don't get Detroit taking a goalie given the trade they just made with Carolina, but ok.

[glen a richter]

If they pick Wallstedt I'm throwing my computer out the damn window.

[glen a richter]

Zachary Bolduc. Center. Whatever.

[theohall]

Blues are notorious for drafting centers - them moving them to whichever wing they want them to play.

There aren't any "quality" defenseman left. Everything after #15 is a crap shoot in this draft.

[theohall]

I'd rather they took Svechkov....

[glen a richter]

Very boring draft. I stuck around this long because I thought the 29 might be in play in a Tarasenko trade. Probably not happening tonight though.

[glen a richter]

That pick by Montreal made zero goddam sense. The kid publicly announced he didn’t want to be drafted this year. They could have gotten him in the 7th round if they really wanted.

[theohall]

Yep - absolutely ridiculous pick by Bergevin. Given Bergevin's history in ties to the Blackhawks video coach scandal, it looks even worse. Yes, the kid has 1st round talent, but let the kid figure his crap out like he asked.

[theohall]

JR's Athletic article completely missed the boat on Bolduc, IMO. He starts off letting us know Bolduc prefers "playing wing" then says he is potentially comparable to the centers Reinhart and Monahan. Reinhart? On what planet? The man had darn near double the points in juniors when drafted. Monahan? Points wise, fine. But Monahan was recognized as potentially being a strong defensive center. That's nowhere in a scouting report for Bolduc. If you are going to start an article talking about a draftee preferring to play wing, at least compare him to wingers. Geez, that seems lazy from JR. More like him trying to publish a "deadline" piece due to the draft than quality writing.

[theohall]

Holy crap! Late night twitter notes seem to indicate Rags news about Zibanejad is a trade and not a contract extension. Seems short-sighted from the Rags at this point, unless Chris Drury has decided a full-on rebuild is necessary, instead of building on the talent already acquired. IMO, the Rags would be better off keeping their quality players and adding than getting rid of them and essentially starting over again.

Defensively, they seem to be on the right track. On the forward front, if Zibanejad is gone, they have 2 top 6 forwards, until Lafreniere and Kakko get their acts together. Being 20 and 19, don't expect that to be next season. They aren't McDavid/Matthews level in talent. So maybe I'm wrong and that's Drury's plan. No point in keeping guys now when he can build for when those two are ready. How that impacts Kreider and Panarin is a different question since they are signed long term. Can't imagine it makes either of them happy.

If Armstrong pulled off a Zibanejad for Tarasenko trade - with whatever permutations - I'd be for it.

[theohall]

If any of you listen to podcasts, these two guys generally get it right.



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