Prospect Info: Blues 2021 draft

[stl76]

I've been reading about/watching shifts of Kirill Kirsanov lately and he's an interesting prospect. Big LHD with good offensive instincts who played significant minutes in the KHL last year for an 18 year old. He is older for this draft (Sept 2002 birthday) and I wasn't overly impressed with his skating in the shifts I saw...still it's impressive he was able to hold his own in the KHL at his age. Projected to go in the second round, he might not be the best "value" pick at 16, but I have a feeling the traditional rankings may have less of a correlation with actual draft order this year. I do wonder if we see Russian and other Euro players like Kirsanov go higher than expected on account of they actually played more games so there's more film to go on.

Taige Harding is another interesting LHD prospect I've mentioned before as an potential mid round sleeper pick. Tough to find good reports on him, but he's got plenty of size and his scoring totals took a huge leap forward in the AJHL last season. Heading to Providence College next year, so you know he will have good coaching and develop in a top notch NCAA program.

 

[ezcreepin]

I think given the Blues situation currently, I can't see a reason why the Blues wouldn't be prioritizing high skill offense like pure shooters and very stable defense, but not necessarily concerned about point getting ability. I wish I knew more about the prospects because it is probably my favorite aspect to sports, but I just don't have time to watch all of that hockey at the moment.

I'm just going to make an educated guess based on what I believe the club needs:
Goal scoring, steady defense, draft picks
- If a defenseman is available that is head and shoulders above the rest that plays STEADY defense, then the Blues will draft him
- If there isn't a clear "elite" d-prospect available, they will either draft an available pure goal scorer or trade down for a late 1st + a 2nd
- If they trade down, I believe they will draft a solid two-way forward with upside in the 1st round and a steady d-prospect in the 2nd
- If none of this happens then it doesn't matter cause it's all for fun

 

[sfvega]

I've been reading about/watching shifts of Kirill Kirsanov lately and he's an interesting prospect. Big LHD with good offensive instincts who played significant minutes in the KHL last year for an 18 year old. He is older for this draft (Sept 2002 birthday) and I wasn't overly impressed with his skating in the shifts I saw...still it's impressive he was able to hold his own in the KHL at his age. Projected to go in the second round, he might not be the best "value" pick at 16, but I have a feeling the traditional rankings may have less of a correlation with actual draft order this year. I do wonder if we see Russian and other Euro players like Kirsanov go higher than expected on account of they actually played more games so there's more film to go on.

As much as I want the defense to be a priority, especially LHD, I think reaching for defesemen is the wrong idea. I'd much rather get a very good forward prospect than a high risk defenseman.

 

[The Note]

Reaching for “need” is always a bad call. It’s also not as if the Blues are so flush with forward talent that they couldn’t use a high-ceiling forward. I know the defense needs work certainly, but the forward situation is pretty dire as well.

 

[TK 421]

Reaching for “need” is always a bad call. It’s also not as if the Blues are so flush with forward talent that they couldn’t use a high-ceiling forward. I know the defense needs work certainly, but the forward situation is pretty dire as well.

I wouldn't say its dire necessarily but our two top forward prospects (Kostin and Neighbours) look more like complimentary scoring line players than they do play drivers so I agree we could use a high end wing or center.

I'd say our D pipeline is a dire situation but like you I'm not willing to reach to fix that at this 16th pick this draft.

 

[The Note]

I wouldn't say its dire necessarily but our two top forward prospects (Kostin and Neighbours) look more like complimentary scoring line players than they do play drivers so I agree we could use a high end wing or center.

I'd say our D pipeline is a dire situation but like you I'm not willing to reach to fix that at this 16th pick this draft.

Perhaps dire was too strong a word, but uninspiring then. And that goes beyond just the prospect pool. The best forwards on this team are 30 and 33. The two wingers who have carried the mail for the past decade are huge unknowns at this point, one of whom may leave as a UFA. There's not much in the way of young talent coming up outside of Thomas (coming off a rough season) and Kyrou who has one solid season under their belt. Totally understand the want and desire to bolster the defense but it seems more people are concerned about the defense, when I think the forward group is in bad shape as well. As I said earlier, I don't really have a preference one way or another as it pertains to F vs. D, but I sure hope they draft for ceiling rather than floor.

 

[sfvega]

Perhaps dire was too strong a word, but uninspiring then. And that goes beyond just the prospect pool. The best forwards on this team are 30 and 33. The two wingers who have carried the mail for the past decade are huge unknowns at this point, one of whom may leave as a UFA. There's not much in the way of young talent coming up outside of Thomas (coming off a rough season) and Kyrou who has one solid season under their belt. Totally understand the want and desire to bolster the defense but it seems more people are concerned about the defense, when I think the forward group is in bad shape as well. As I said earlier, I don't really have a preference one way or another as it pertains to F vs. D, but I sure hope they draft for ceiling rather than floor.

Our best D prospect is repetitive with guys who are guaranteed to be on our squad going forward. And while I like Mikkola, no one besides Perunovich is anywhere neara lock to be here 3-4 years from now. At forward, Thomas and Kyrou have already proven themselves as NHLers and and even at different times as capable top 6-ers. I think everyone is pretty excited about Kostin and his downside is still a solid forward. I'm not exactly high on Neighbors, but I could easily see him as a bottom 6-er.

Forward is not stacked by any means, and needs to be addressed as well. All of our traded draft picks are catching up with the on-ice team now. But on D, our cupboard is basically a jar of pickles and a lot of dust. I'm still 100% on board with passing on any defenseman other than Lambos, barring a top 10 projected D-man falls. It's not at all a good situation on either end. But under-25 forward is bad and D is atrocious.

 

[The Note]

Our best D prospect is repetitive with guys who are guaranteed to be on our squad going forward. And while I like Mikkola, no one besides Perunovich is anywhere neara lock to be here 3-4 years from now. At forward, Thomas and Kyrou have already proven themselves as NHLers and and even at different times as capable top 6-ers. I think everyone is pretty excited about Kostin and his downside is still a solid forward. I'm not exactly high on Neighbors, but I could easily see him as a bottom 6-er.

Forward is not stacked by any means, and needs to be addressed as well. All of our traded draft picks are catching up with the on-ice team now. But on D, our cupboard is basically a jar of pickles and a lot of dust. I'm still 100% on board with passing on any defenseman other than Lambos, barring a top 10 projected D-man falls. It's not at all a good situation on either end. But under-25 forward is bad and D is atrocious.

I agree. They just need talent, for sure. What started this tangent was off a comment about reaching because of a need - which exists - but I think reaching for a defenseman because there isn't much there positionally is a horrible strategy. I still agree with the fact that the defense group needs help too, totally.

 

[sfvega]

I agree. They just need talent, for sure. What started this tangent was off a comment about reaching because of a need - which exists - but I think reaching for a defenseman because there isn't much there positionally is a horrible strategy. I still agree with the fact that the defense group needs help too, totally.

I agree. I don't want to draft a Ceulemans or Chayka when the forwards projected to be available are seemingly head and shoulders better. If we can get a Svechkov, a Sillinger, a Coronato, we should take them and address D next year when there's plenty of 1st round guys. Svech is even our "type" of player.

 

[jbron]

Would be very happy with Fydor Svechkov for sure. Looks like a forward for sure if we stay at #16.

 

[Ibleedlou]

Francesco Pinelli is our type of player. Not only is he skilled, he hits, works hard, plays D, and has decent size with the ability to skate. Went to Europe last year (Covid) didn't play many games, so he's fallen some, but after watching video on all the potential picks in the 10-20 range, this guy stands out at forward as one of the most complete players and should be available when the Blues pick at 16.

 

[Damian Frerker]

First Post, Love the Blues and the draft. What do guys think of Zach Lhuereux? Only 17 and seems to have what blues need. Hands and guts. Would love to see him with Neighbors in the future.

 

[TK 421]

First Post, Love the Blues and the draft. What do guys think of Zach Lhuereux? Only 17 and seems to have what blues need. Hands and guts. Would love to see him with Neighbors in the future.

I think we already have two forward prospects who play a very similar game to him in Kostin and Neighbours so I'd pass on him with so many other ways to strengthen our prospect pool. He is an interesting player for sure though and I see him consistently ranked right around our pick.

 

[Beauterham]

First Post, Love the Blues and the draft. What do guys think of Zach Lhuereux? Only 17 and seems to have what blues need. Hands and guts. Would love to see him with Neighbors in the future.

If we somehow magically got another pick around the 25th spot he would be a decent choice. At 16 there are better players available.

 

[sfvega]

I think we already have two forward prospects who play a very similar game to him in Kostin and Neighbours so I'd pass on him with so many other ways to strengthen our prospect pool. He is an interesting player for sure though and I see him consistently ranked right around our pick.

Agreed. Neighbors is a very similar type of player and I doubt LHeureux is the BPA. I wouldn't hate the pick, but same as last year I would question the value and be a little disappointed.

 

[BleedBlueForever]

Does anyone have any thought on William Strömgren? From the rankings/mock drafts I've seen he's anywhere between a late first and a 3rd rounder. 6' 3" LW. From the videos I've seen and the things I've read he seems like he could be a great pick.

Strömgren is a winger with fast and powerful skating. Along with his great puck handling skills he can find creative solutions carrying the puck down the ice maneuvering through the defense. He is more of a shooter rather than a playmaker with a quick and accurate release but he also sees the ice very well to set up his teammates. (Erik Ohlsson, EP 2020)

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Does anyone have any thought on William Strömgren? From the rankings/mock drafts I've seen he's anywhere between a late first and a 3rd rounder. 6' 3" LW. From the videos I've seen and the things I've read he seems like he could be a great pick.

Strömgren is a winger with fast and powerful skating. Along with his great puck handling skills he can find creative solutions carrying the puck down the ice maneuvering through the defense. He is more of a shooter rather than a playmaker with a quick and accurate release but he also sees the ice very well to set up his teammates. (Erik Ohlsson, EP 2020)

He is definitely intriguing, but 16 seems a bit high. Maybe we could select him with pick we get for Dunn.

 

[shpongle falls]

Francesco Pinelli is our type of player. Not only is he skilled, he hits, works hard, plays D, and has decent size with the ability to skate. Went to Europe last year (Covid) didn't play many games, so he's fallen some, but after watching video on all the potential picks in the 10-20 range, this guy stands out at forward as one of the most complete players and should be available when the Blues pick at 16.

Never heard of this kid but I do like what I've just read about him. 6'1, fast excellent skater, good in all three zones, good all round offensive ability, solid 2nd line upside, stylistic comparisons to ROR. Would love if the Blues could somehow get him.

2021 NHL Draft #24: Francesco Pinelli Scouting Report

 

[kimzey59]

I agree. I don't want to draft a Ceulemans or Chayka when the forwards projected to be available are seemingly head and shoulders better. If we can get a Svechkov, a Sillinger, a Coronato, we should take them and address D next year when there's plenty of 1st round guys. Svech is even our "type" of player.

I agree on Chayka.
I disagree on Ceulemans.
Ceulemans upside is a first pairing D man. Maybe not an "Elite #1", but certainly a solid #2/3 type. People seem to be really under-selling his defensive ability for some reason and I honestly don't know where it's coming from(it seems like people see "offensive ability" in a scouting report and automatically assume that means he's a defensive liability; that is not even remotely the case here). He's not strictly a Puck Mover or Offensive D man; he is a 2-way D man in the mold of Ivan Provorov or Nate Schmidt. Ceulemans has the best gap coverage in this years draft and has plenty of size and isn't afraid to use it(doesn't always take the best angle to use it effectively, which is something that he can learn; but there's no reluctance when he gets a good chance). Personally, I won't be even remotely surprised if Ceulemans turns out to be the best Defenseman to come out of this draft(Power and Evidsson have hockey sense concerns; Lambos has injury issues; Clarke and Hughes have more offensive potential but aren't as advanced defensively).

Short of Eklund or Johnson miraculously falling to us(which I don't see happening); none of the forwards in our range project as sure fire 1st liners. None of them even project as sure fire top 6 forwards. They all have some warts on them that could seriously hurt their ability at the NHL level(Sillinger- skating; Coronato- size; Svechkov- offensive ability).

For me; if Ceulemans is there you take him and don't think twice about it. IF he isn't there; that's when you start debating the forwards.

 

[sfvega]

I agree on Chayka.
I disagree on Ceulemans.
Ceulemans upside is a first pairing D man. Maybe not an "Elite #1", but certainly a solid #2/3 type. People seem to be really under-selling his defensive ability for some reason and I honestly don't know where it's coming from(it seems like people see "offensive ability" in a scouting report and automatically assume that means he's a defensive liability; that is not even remotely the case here). He's not strictly a Puck Mover or Offensive D man; he is a 2-way D man in the mold of Ivan Provorov or Nate Schmidt. Ceulemans has the best gap coverage in this years draft and has plenty of size and isn't afraid to use it(doesn't always take the best angle to use it effectively, which is something that he can learn; but there's no reluctance when he gets a good chance). Personally, I won't be even remotely surprised if Ceulemans turns out to be the best Defenseman to come out of this draft(Power and Evidsson have hockey sense concerns; Lambos has injury issues; Clarke and Hughes have more offensive potential but aren't as advanced defensively).

Short of Eklund or Johnson miraculously falling to us(which I don't see happening); none of the forwards in our range project as sure fire 1st liners. None of them even project as sure fire top 6 forwards. They all have some warts on them that could seriously hurt their ability at the NHL level(Sillinger- skating; Coronato- size; Svechkov- offensive ability).

For me; if Ceulemans is there you take him and don't think twice about it. IF he isn't there; that's when you start debating the forwards.

If he was in the mold of Provorov, he wouldn't be getting mocked in the 20s in this class. And I would love to believe that there's more than 2 guys past 10 that are really good defensive prospects. I just don't see it. You point to other prospects' warts as if Ceulemans doesn't have his own. If he were safer defensively, he'd be a slam dunk at our pick. But a great deal of people don't think he is.

 

[TK 421]

Does anyone have any thought on William Strömgren? From the rankings/mock drafts I've seen he's anywhere between a late first and a 3rd rounder. 6' 3" LW. From the videos I've seen and the things I've read he seems like he could be a great pick.

Strömgren is a winger with fast and powerful skating. Along with his great puck handling skills he can find creative solutions carrying the puck down the ice maneuvering through the defense. He is more of a shooter rather than a playmaker with a quick and accurate release but he also sees the ice very well to set up his teammates. (Erik Ohlsson, EP 2020)

Stromgren is my favorite player in this draft and my pick at 16th. He's flying way under the radar at the moment but I expect that will change.

He's an absolute wizard the way he utilizes deception, outstanding skating ability and stick handling to smash opposing defensive structure and open up ice for his linemates. He's a puck possesion monster already. When he has the puck you aren't getting it till he's done playing with it, might as well find yourself a different puck. Some teams scouting staff is going to achieve legend status taking this kid and I would just assume it was the Blues.

 

[Blueswin]

If he was in the mold of Provorov, he wouldn't be getting mocked in the 20s in this class. And I would love to believe that there's more than 2 guys past 10 that are really good defensive prospects. I just don't see it. You point to other prospects' warts as if Ceulemans doesn't have his own. If he were safer defensively, he'd be a slam dunk at our pick. But a great deal of people don't think he is.

I agree on Chayka.
I disagree on Ceulemans.
Ceulemans upside is a first pairing D man. Maybe not an "Elite #1", but certainly a solid #2/3 type. People seem to be really under-selling his defensive ability for some reason and I honestly don't know where it's coming from(it seems like people see "offensive ability" in a scouting report and automatically assume that means he's a defensive liability; that is not even remotely the case here). He's not strictly a Puck Mover or Offensive D man; he is a 2-way D man in the mold of Ivan Provorov or Nate Schmidt. Ceulemans has the best gap coverage in this years draft and has plenty of size and isn't afraid to use it(doesn't always take the best angle to use it effectively, which is something that he can learn; but there's no reluctance when he gets a good chance). Personally, I won't be even remotely surprised if Ceulemans turns out to be the best Defenseman to come out of this draft(Power and Evidsson have hockey sense concerns; Lambos has injury issues; Clarke and Hughes have more offensive potential but aren't as advanced defensively).

Short of Eklund or Johnson miraculously falling to us(which I don't see happening); none of the forwards in our range project as sure fire 1st liners. None of them even project as sure fire top 6 forwards. They all have some warts on them that could seriously hurt their ability at the NHL level(Sillinger- skating; Coronato- size; Svechkov- offensive ability).

For me; if Ceulemans is there you take him and don't think twice about it. IF he isn't there; that's when you start debating the forwards.

I am with you I want Lambos or Ceulemans!

 

[Beauterham]

Bit offtopic, but was watching some prospects stats and noticed the Michigan Wolverines.

I knew they had Owen Power, Matt Beniers and Kent Johnson last season, didn't realise they also had Cam York (#14 - 2019), Brendan Brisson (#29 - 2020), John Beecher (#30 - 2019), Thomas Bordeleau (#38 - 2020) and Erik Portillo (#67 - 2019). Eric Ciccolini, Jack Becker and Jacob Truscott were also late draft picks.

That's insane...

Next season it's rumored Power might want to stay with the Wolverines for another year, imagine Beniers does the same. In that case they will only lose Cam York and Jack Becker (who isn't that good anyway) and gain Luke Hughes (projected to go top 10), Matt Samoskevich (projected to go late in the 1st) and Ethan Edwards (#120 - 2020).

 

[Frenzy31]

Bit offtopic, but was watching some prospects stats and noticed the Michigan Wolverines.

I knew they had Owen Power, Matt Beniers and Kent Johnson last season, didn't realise they also had Cam York (#14 - 2019), Brendan Brisson (#29 - 2020), John Beecher (#30 - 2019), Thomas Bordeleau (#38 - 2020) and Erik Portillo (#67 - 2019). Eric Ciccolini, Jack Becker and Jacob Truscott were also late draft picks.

That's insane...

Next season it's rumored Power might want to stay with the Wolverines for another year, imagine Beniers does the same. In that case they will only lose Cam York and Jack Becker (who isn't that good anyway) and gain Luke Hughes (projected to go top 10), Matt Samoskevich (projected to go late in the 1st) and Ethan Edwards (#120 - 2020).

And they still didn’t make the frozen 4. You know what is crazy the Blues have had a key defensemen in each of the last three finals. I think they have won all three.

 

[MissouriMook]

Bit offtopic, but was watching some prospects stats and noticed the Michigan Wolverines.

I knew they had Owen Power, Matt Beniers and Kent Johnson last season, didn't realise they also had Cam York (#14 - 2019), Brendan Brisson (#29 - 2020), John Beecher (#30 - 2019), Thomas Bordeleau (#38 - 2020) and Erik Portillo (#67 - 2019). Eric Ciccolini, Jack Becker and Jacob Truscott were also late draft picks.

That's insane...

Next season it's rumored Power might want to stay with the Wolverines for another year, imagine Beniers does the same. In that case they will only lose Cam York and Jack Becker (who isn't that good anyway) and gain Luke Hughes (projected to go top 10), Matt Samoskevich (projected to go late in the 1st) and Ethan Edwards (#120 - 2020).

It was our own Red Berenson that has built that program into a powerhouse. They have been very good for a long, long time and will continue to build on what he created.