With 10 games left, I think the Blues finish ahead of OTT and WSH as the 21st place team in the NHL. This gives the Blues the 12th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, barring any lottery moves to the 2nd or 3rd picks. If the lottery were to hit, I think the Blues should draft Michkov, but since that is unlikely, here is what I think the Blues should do.
12th overall - RD, David Reinbacher
Blues take the 2-way defenseman in David Reinbacher. At this point he’s probably the best option in the draft for St. Louis, unless one of the forwards slips down and is available with this pick.
26th overall - C, Nate Danielson
Who knows what will happen in the middle of the pack in this draft. If the Blues can grab a 2-way center like Nate Danielson, I think that would be a huge addition to the prospect pool.
44th overall - G, Carson Bjarnason
Blues take a chance following the Krug trade for a goaltender here. Selecting goalies either work out really well or terribly, so hopefully Bjarnason works out.
After the Krug trade during the draft and giving Alexandrov a full-time 4C role, the Blues will have 11 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies under contract at the NHL level, with $10,935,000 in cap space remaining. I think the Blues need 2 forwards and 2 defensemen with the remaining 4 roster spots. Brown and Toropchenko easily round out the forwards. The Blues sign both Perunovich and Tucker, but start Perunovich in the NHL and Tucker in the AHL at the start of the season. Finally, the Blues look into grabbing Orlov or Graves to round out the defense.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Blues Top 3 prospects (with no NHL or AHL experience) looks like this.
1. RW, Jimmy Snuggerud (Proj. 2024-25)
Stays at Minnesota for his sophomore season. Ultimately, Buch and Snuggs would be a lethal duo starting in 2024-25, when he replaces Kapanen.
2. LW/C, Zachary Bolduc (Proj. 2024-25)
Is assigned to the AHL, maybe plays a few games in the NHL. Ultimately, want to see him join Thomas and Kyrou on the top line in 2024-25 and replaces Blais.
3. C, Zach Dean (Proj. 2025-26)
Start Dean in the AHL as the 1st or 2nd line center. Give Dean 2 full AHL seasons and then re-evaluate his status to see if he can break into the NHL.
Buchelnikov is an absolute stud and won’t be traded. Excellent draft pick by Yzerman. Has the best high end skill of any forward in our system. Hoping he turns into our version of Kucherov, he’s that talented.
Agree that Blues finish ahead of WSH OTT. The Sens would probably make it but the injuries got to them. Norris, Talbot, Forsberg, Joseph and Chychrun all got injured which blew there playoff hopes.
Buchelnikov is an absolute stud and won’t be traded. Excellent draft pick by Yzerman. Has the best high end skill of any forward in our system. Hoping he turns into our version of Kucherov, he’s that talented.
That’s good to know. That trade would absolutely not work then.
Detroit still have too many ld, so idk how Detroit does it really. Someone I'm sure takes that deal though. I'd be shocked if reinbacker is there at 12 and Danielson is there at 26 but anything can happen In the draft.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
aedoran a aimé ceci.
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