2014 NHL Draft Discussion

[EastonBlues22]

Did each moderator have a team they were picking for? At worst, the Blues will pick 24th, at best 21st (I believe).

Fabbri is a great pick, though. If he's somehow still there when the Blues pick, that would be great. I'm hoping for him, Scherbak, Larkin, or Schmaltz with our 1st rounder.

A few teams have collaborative picks between several mods, but most teams have just one mod picking for them. Not sure how they pegged the Blues at #20. Think they just based it off who was currently eliminated, as obviously that would likely change after the 2nd round is over.

All four of those players were on the board at #20. Only one is left now, and he was my target all along at pick #33.

 

[EastonBlues22]

Schmaltz went at #31. Too bad. Getting both Fabbri and Schmaltz would have been a great mock draft.

I'm up. Debating between Pollock, DeAngelo, and Dougherty.

Pollock is a late riser. Plays pretty well in all 3 zones. Seems like a fairly safe bet for an NHL career as a #2/3 center type. Would be nice to have someone like that in the pipeline, even after snagging Fabbri.

DeAngelo is the classic home-run swing. Probably the best offensive/puck possession package in the draft among defensemen, and best PPQB as well. Upside is legitimately someone like Dan Boyle. Some very high end skating and puck possession skills should ensure a legitimate NHL career, but still lots of risk/concerns. Temper/maturity issues. Will need years of development to maximize defensive play (even assuming that he is willing to, and puts in the effort). Small. Blues pipeline lacks high-end skill, and he has a ton of it.

Dougherty is a more traditional two-way defenseman whose offensive game and instincts have blossomed as the year has progressed. Much less risk than DeAngelo, but lower ceiling as well.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Pollock for me. Give us more chances of getting a center to develop. I'm also very high on Schmaltz and Parayko, and then I like some of the mid tier guys like Edumundson and Hakanpaa to develop into solid players, so unless a defenseman is hands down the best player at that pick, I think we should re-stock the forward prospect pool.

 

[EastonBlues22]

Pollock ended up being my choice as well. Forgot to mention that the next winger on my list was Brendan Lemieux. It was very tough to pass on him. I'm sure he'll be off the board in the next handful of picks.

 

[OSA]

Guelph Storm win the OHL Championship and Robby Fabbri is named Playoff MVP. The kid is electrifying!! Man he would be terrific in the Blues' system.

 

[simon IC]

Guelph Storm win the OHL Championship and Robby Fabbri is named Playoff MVP. The kid is electrifying!! Man he would be terrific in the Blues' system.

Nobody else here concerned about Fabbri's size? 5'10" 165 lbs is small . It wouldn't be as much of a concern for me if we didn't already have Jaden Scwartz as a core member of the roster.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Nobody else here concerned about Fabbri's size? 5'10" 165 lbs is small . It wouldn't be as much of a concern for me if we didn't already have Jaden Scwartz as a core member of the roster.

Height isn't that small and most NHL prospects don't have much weight on them at draft time. Once they get on a NHL level workout routine, in most cases, they will start to put a lot of muscle on.

 

[simon IC]

Height isn't that small and most NHL prospects don't have much weight on them at draft time. Once they get on a NHL level workout routine, in most cases, they will start to put a lot of muscle on.

Good point. In retrospect, I believe I made almost identical posts when both Oshie and Schwartz were drafted. I realize we're discussing a mock draft right now, but if we do actually draft Fabbri, i genuinely hope my fears are, (once again), unfounded.

 

[EastonBlues22]

His skating, hockey IQ, tenacity, and puck skills mitigate whatever concerns I have about his current weight. Kid is going to be a hell of a player in the NHL, even if he struggles to break 190 lbs. Not a doubt in my mind.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him go in the top 15 in the draft.

 

[Natey]

Added Dylan Sadowy with my 3rd round pick.

Added links to each player with a little write-up, if you're interested in learning a little about the prospects.

1st (26th): Nikita Scherbak
2nd (33rd): Brett Pollock
2nd (57th): Brycen Martin
3rd (87th): Dylan Sadowy

 

[542365]

I think Fabbri is going top 15 in June. He screams Jaden Schwartz to me.

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

Honestly the first time I watched Fabbri I thought of Schwartz as well.

 

[izzy]

I feel like there could even be a chance of Fiala dropping to the Blues.

 

[tfriede2]

The Blues now have the 23rd pick in the draft with the NYR win last night. We should be hoping for a MTL and LAK series win, which would put us at 21st (best we can do) - all assuming we keep the pick, of course.

 

[tfriede2]

The Blues now have the 23rd pick in the draft with the NYR win last night. We should be hoping for a MTL and LAK series win, which would put us at 21st (best we can do) - all assuming we keep the pick, of course.

So with the MTL win, Blues now have the 22nd pick. Everything is going right so far this playoffs as far as draft placement is concerned. Just need LAK to win so that we can get the 21st pick (of course, watch this all be a moot point when we either re-sign Miller before the draft or trade this pick).

 

[JustOneB4IDie]

I think Fabbri is going top 15 in June. He screams Jaden Schwartz to me.

Yeah, I don't see him being there when the Blues pick.

In order (I'm hoping anyway) Blues pick : Schmaltz, Larkin, or Bleackley.

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

I just hope we don't take MacInnis.

 

[542365]

Yeah, I don't see him being there when the Blues pick.

In order (I'm hoping anyway) Blues pick : Schmaltz, Larkin, or Bleackley.

My order for centers(realistically) would be: Fabbri, Schmaltz, Larkin, Quenneville, Bleackley.

If I had to guess(check last year's draft thread for my reliability with guesses ) I would guess that we'll draft Ivan Barbashev with our first. He's a left winger, but his numbers in junior are quite impressive, though his numbers in the World Juniors (2 points in 7 games) leave quite a bit to be desired. Teammate(and I think even linemate) of Jaskin last year in Montcon. He's falling on draft boards because of his showing at the World Juniors and the Ivan Hlinka tournament. That's a bit concerning that he's not producing against the best players at his age, but there's also a lot to like. Just my guess. Not the player I'm hoping for, but it's just my hunch.

 

[Hooliganx3]

We are drafting a RH puck moving defenseman. I wish I was jokeing.

 

[542365]

We are drafting a RH puck moving defenseman. I wish I was jokeing.

Certainly possible. It's a very valuable position in the NHL, but we don't need to use our first pick on one three drafts in a row. I really want a forward with both of our first two picks. Even if they're wingers I'm fine with it. We have plenty of Dman that have a good chance of being NHLers in some capacity(Schmaltz, Parayko, Edmundson, Vanelli, Hakanpaa etc.) when there are only 7 roster spots for these guys. We need twice as many forwards on the roster and I'd say we have two guys(Jaskin and Rattie) that will almost certainly be NHLers, then a whole bunch of question marks(Andronov, Tesink, Shattock etc.). Our defense is also the strongest point of our NHL team. We need forwards. I understand the BPA philosophy in most situations, but in this case forwards, specifically centers, should be the priority.

EDIT: I should add that I understand that you're not advocating for a Dman. I'm just voicing some frustration and quoted your post because you seem to be thinking the same thing.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

So with the Kings winning against Anaheim, we're locked into the 21st pick unless we stupidly re-sign Miller before the draft ya?

 

[tfriede2]

So with the Kings winning against Anaheim, we're locked into the 21st pick unless we stupidly re-sign Miller before the draft ya?

Indeed, amazingly, every team that we needed to win, did...LAK, MON, NYR. Wouldn't be surprised to see this 1st be shipped off at the draft in a Spezza trade though. We still have Edmonton's 32nd, but I would really like to get two forwards with top 6 potential in this draft. We also have a decent shot now of getting Scherbak, a Russian LW who may go top 15 or fall due to the Russian factor (even though he is playing in NA). Scherbak and Schmaltz would be a dream outcome (or Fabbri and Schmaltz).

 

[Vladys Gumption]

We shouldn't be trading this year's first. We need to get a center. At 21, there's a good chance we could land Schmaltz. We shouldn't be passing on that.

 

[tfriede2]

We shouldn't be trading this year's first. We need to get a center. At 21, there's a good chance we could land Schmaltz. We shouldn't be passing on that.

Schmaltz might last until the Edmonton 2nd rounder based on some recent mocks.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Schmaltz might last until the Edmonton 2nd rounder based on some recent mocks.

Might is the key word. I'd prefer not to take the risk to be honest. If he's there at 21, I say bite bullet and take him.