Pre-Game Talk: 2024 Draft Thread

[TK 421]

I’m not sure what happened, but if you look the last 10 games or so, he is really picked it up defensively. He is the kind of player if he can just play average defense with the other tools he has then he is well worth it. He has cut the number of goals scored while he was on the ice in half in the last 10 games. That’s pretty impressive for me anyway, that puts him in mid first round status there are other guys I still like better. I don’t see him as a number one, but I do see him in your top four running your PowerPlay. Maybe a Cale makar high ceiling to a Torey Krug in need of a solid partner.

Yeah he can play well defensively at times but he leaves you wanting more there for sure. One big positive I've noticed is that he's inverted his freewheeling stat line from last year to more of a pro style distributor role and it hasn't hurt his goal production. Last year he put up 21 goals, 16 assists and now he's at 10 goals, 26 assists in 25 games. He's distributing much better now instead of always thinking shoot. That was his biggest ? coming into this season imo and I'm satisfied he's changed his game in the way he needed to if he was going to be more than a PP specialist. Becoming that guy that can fuel his team offensively 5v5 was contingent upon him learning how to naturally fall into that distributor role.

Agree he's not a No1, he's a 2/3 guy at best but Lindstein needs friends. Yakemchuk has 12 goals in 26 games, really nice production for him and I've seen one fan say he's the Corey Perry of defensemen pissing everyone off. He sounds entertaining at the very least.

Parekh, Yakemchuk and Adam Jiricek who I'm really liking a lot. I have them Jiricek, Parekh, Yakemchuk atm. Dickinson is out of reach for us which is brutal cause that's the guy right there.....

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Yeah he can play well defensively at times but he leaves you wanting more there for sure. One big positive I've noticed is that he's inverted his freewheeling stat line from last year to more of a pro style distributor role and it hasn't hurt his goal production. Last year he put up 21 goals, 16 assists and now he's at 10 goals, 26 assists in 25 games. He's distributing much better now instead of always thinking shoot. That was his biggest ? coming into this season imo and I'm satisfied he's changed his game in the way he needed to if he was going to be more than a PP specialist. Becoming that guy that can fuel his team offensively 5v5 was contingent upon him learning how to naturally fall into that distributor role.

Agree he's not a No1, he's a 2/3 guy at best but Lindstein needs friends. Yakemchuk has 12 goals in 26 games, really nice production for him and I've seen one fan say he's the Corey Perry of defensemen pissing everyone off. He sounds entertaining at the very least.

Parekh, Yakemchuk and Adam Jiricek who I'm really liking a lot. I have them Jiricek, Parekh, Yakemchuk atm. Dickinson is out of reach for us which is brutal cause that's the guy right there.....

I would add Buium in that conversation.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I would add Buium in that conversation.

And LSW

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

i'm coming around that silayev has top upside of any d in this class. relatively high floor because of his size and skating, but still extremely raw. raw but playing quite well in khl at 17. i don't now that he has a ceiling.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

i'm coming around that silayev has top upside of any d in this class. relatively high floor because of his size and skating, but still extremely raw. raw but playing quite well in khl at 17. i don't now that he has a ceiling.

If you liked Simashev, then I don’t know how you can’t really like Silayev. Scouts say he skates and defends just as well and has shown more offense than even this year…along with being 6’7”. Depends on what you are looking for….Offensively, Parekh is THE guy though smallish and a defensive project. What is a powerplay 60-70 point guy worth? Silayev does look to have a higher ceiling than Dickinson and Levshunov as I see a 3 horse race. Dickinson is the safest pick. Hard to pass him up though I don’t see an issue. I wonder if Eiserman falls to 8 or 10….like Wahlstrom fell.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

If you liked Simashev, then I don’t know how you can’t really like Silayev. Scouts say he skates and defends just as well and has shown more offense than even this year…along with being 6’7”. Depends on what you are looking for….Offensively, Parekh is THE guy though smallish and a defensive project. What is a powerplay 60-70 point guy worth? Silayev does look to have a higher ceiling than Dickinson and Levshunov as I see a 3 horse race. Dickinson is the safest pick. Hard to pass him up though I don’t see an issue. I wonder if Eiserman falls to 8 or 10….like Wahlstrom fell.

First, always great to talk draft prospects with you. im still developing my assessments of these guys, but what I am ideally looking for is 24 minutes all situations stud guy. Not a lot of those around who can be hedman or heiskanen or the like.

that said, while I think Dickinson falls on low end of that (closer to Hanifan than Hedman if he hits), he looks to be excellent player and I have him near top of tier right after celebrini. Dickinson is great prospect with no major questions and would love to have him.

and agree that eiserman looks to be at bottom of that tier (after demidov and helenius and Lindsrom). Still trying to place remaining d around them.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Continuing from above, parekh I am eager to watch again. I wasn’t impressed by him at hlinka from what I saw but he looks to have taken big step. I’ve heard him compared to shattenkirk but I think he skates much better than Shatty. So perhaps higher upside. I see a bit of ek65 in him? I still don’t know whether he can or will defend, so want to better understand that before I feel comfortable placing him. Is he closer to Barrie or Makar?

but silayev is whole different beast. Squint and you see Hedman. And a bit of Pronger. Maybe Russian Owen power. But he is SO raw, both offensively and in transition And even in d zone. So I could see him if he doesn’t really develop as a more skilled Mikkola. Which isn’t what you want in top 10, so he isn’t without risk. but if he hits…

 

[Mike Liut]

We moved up to #10. Bannister, don’t f*** this up for us.

 

[ezcreepin]

Continuing from above, parekh I am eager to watch again. I wasn’t impressed by him at hlinka from what I saw but he looks to have taken big step. I’ve heard him compared to shattenkirk but I think he skates much better than Shatty. So perhaps higher upside. I see a bit of ek65 in him? I still don’t know whether he can or will defend, so want to better understand that before I feel comfortable placing him. Is he closer to Barrie or Makar?

but silayev is whole different beast. Squint and you see Hedman. And a bit of Pronger. Maybe Russian Owen power. But he is SO raw, both offensively and in transition And even in d zone. So I could see him if he doesn’t really develop as a more skilled Mikkola. Which isn’t what you want in top 10, so he isn’t without risk. but if he hits…

I think I'm now of the opinion that you need one true #1 defenseman who can score and defend, one pp qb type for offensive potential, and the rest quality defenders. I'm not even sure it's necessary to have multiple defensemen who are scoring 45-55 points so long as their ability to defend is above average. At this point, I'm turned off by most defenders who are scoring at insane rates in the junior leagues, not because I don't like the production, but because I don't think that's what the Blues need. If they happen to also defend well, then that's a candidate for your 1st pairing d. I'd like to see us pursuing more Lindstein's whether in trades or the draft.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

First, always great to talk draft prospects with you. im still developing my assessments of these guys, but what I am ideally looking for is 24 minutes all situations stud guy. Not a lot of those around who can be hedman or heiskanen or the like.

that said, while I think Dickinson falls on low end of that (closer to Hanifan than Hedman if he hits), he looks to be excellent player and I have him near top of tier right after celebrini. Dickinson is great prospect with no major questions and would love to have him.

and agree that eiserman looks to be at bottom of that tier (after demidov and helenius and Lindsrom). Still trying to place remaining d around them.

I’m going to throw the name Alfons Freij at you. Very similar to Willander last year. He is on LSW’s team so there is a bit of a shadow. He’s bigger, 6’1”, one of the better skaters in the draft and better defensively than LSW. I think he may be your guy.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I’m going to throw the name Alfons Freij at you. Very similar to Willander last year. He is on LSW’s team so there is a bit of a shadow. He’s bigger, 6’1”, one of the better skaters in the draft and better defensively than LSW. I think he may be your guy.

thanks. i liked lsw much better than freij from what i saw at hlinka, but they are both intriguing (and teammates on club team too) and curious to see how they develop this year. sweden u18 games look like they may again be must-watch tv.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think I'm now of the opinion that you need one true #1 defenseman who can score and defend, one pp qb type for offensive potential, and the rest quality defenders. I'm not even sure it's necessary to have multiple defensemen who are scoring 45-55 points so long as their ability to defend is above average. At this point, I'm turned off by most defenders who are scoring at insane rates in the junior leagues, not because I don't like the production, but because I don't think that's what the Blues need. If they happen to also defend well, then that's a candidate for your 1st pairing d. I'd like to see us pursuing more Lindstein's whether in trades or the draft.

I generally agree. I don’t focus too much on junior production, but history has shown that if you don’t produce at all (at least .5ppg) during draft year in (Canadian) juniors, you aren’t likely to be top 4 nhl d unless you bring something else extraordinary to table. Not bc of points but you need puck skills to survive and thrive in nhl today as d, even if you aren’t on pp.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I truly believe Dickinson can become a cornerstone defensemen. But outside of winning a lottery spot, i just don't see us getting in range. However, there is a ton of D talent in this draft and i would love nothing more than to obtain an additional late 1st and use two, if not all three of our top 40 picks on defensemen. This class is absolutely loaded, great year to add D talent and balance out the farm.

 

[ezcreepin]

I generally agree. I don’t focus too much on junior production, but history has shown that if you don’t produce at all (at least .5ppg) during draft year in (Canadian) juniors, you aren’t likely to be top 4 nhl d unless you bring something else extraordinary to table. Not bc of points but you need puck skills to survive and thrive in nhl today as d, even if you aren’t on pp.

That's a totally fair point

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I generally agree. I don’t focus too much on junior production, but history has shown that if you don’t produce at all (at least .5ppg) during draft year in (Canadian) juniors, you aren’t likely to be top 4 nhl d unless you bring something else extraordinary to table. Not bc of points but you need puck skills to survive and thrive in nhl today as d, even if you aren’t on pp.

Did you see Ferrari’s new list? Wow! He’s shaking the fence. He noticed some guys that aren’t getting the press others are.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Did you see Ferrari’s new list? Wow! He’s shaking the fence. He noticed some guys that aren’t getting the press others are.

Glanced at it. Spicy! I agree that some of consensensus top guys (eiserman, levshunov, for examaple) still have lots of questions that could have them fall. Will try to dive in more over next day or so.

 

[PJJJP]

I just want to get lucky in the lottery if we are in the top 10 picks.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Guy to watch in WJCs. Stian Solberg with Norway. Smashmouth defenseman with skill. Some scouts have above Brandsegg-Nygard as best Norwegian prospect. 6’2” good skater and hell to play against.

 

[Mike Liut]

Guy to watch in WJCs. Stian Solberg with Norway. Smashmouth defenseman with skill. Some scouts have above Brandsegg-Nygard as best Norwegian prospect. 6’2” good skater and hell to play against.

My kind of a player.

 

[LGB]

Really like Adam Jiricek. It seems like he isn't ready to play against men yet, but when I see him against his own age group everything is there. Will be interesting to watch him in the WJC.

 

[Mike Liut]

1) Levshunov
2) Silayev
3) Dickinson

I’ll be happy with either

 

[PJJJP]

For his first game I thought Kessel was fine. I can't recall him making any big mistakes. He played a fairly simple game

 

[PJJJP]

Right now we are 10th by P%. Maybe we get lucky and Kraken/Sabres/Senators can pass us but looking like a pick around the same as last year

 

[Quaz]

Right now we are 10th by P%. Maybe we get lucky and Kraken/Sabres/Senators can pass us but looking like a pick around the same as last year

The Blues dropped 2/3 spots in the draft on the last day of the season last year. Hopefully this year they gain a couple spots at the end of the season.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

The Blues dropped 2/3 spots in the draft on the last day of the season last year. Hopefully this year they gain a couple spots at the end of the season.

we have been remarkably healthy. our team isn't as good as it's record. i think we got real shot at 6-7 range,