If the scouts tell me he's the best player, sure. Also that's a totally different argument than the point I was making. Let's make the assumption (likely incorrectly) that all the top pick teams have him rated as the second best player and there being a clear quality drop off after 4. Having one team pass on him at 2 is one thing. Having 3 do it is another. Having those 3, then another 4 pass in favor of inarguably inferior players that will almost assuredly need a year or two to develop anyway is incredibly unlikely if the player rankings are even remotely true.Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:55 amSo if you're the Blues and you're holding the second pick, are you taking him?Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:53 amThe GM job security thing is usually a good point, but I think all of the GMs in the bottom 5 range are all rock solid in that regard. Jarmo is the only one that isn't almost brand new to the job, and he's not going anywhere (and also will likely end up with top pick). The other element of picking a guy that won't come over for a few seasons is that you could argue that actually buys the GM even more time. "How can you fire me before the savior arrives!" He might slip a pick or two, but I'd be shocked if he made it all the way to 8-9.Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:39 am I do think there is a chance Michkov is still on the board when the Blues pick. He's clearly the 2nd best prospect in this draft and the best Russian prospect since Ovie and all things equal if you hold the second pick in the draft, you run up there to call his name. BUT, all things aren't equal. It's a daunting ask of a team picking in the top 5-10 to know when he puts your jersey on on draft stage, it's the last time he'll put your jersey on until the 2026-27 season. How many GMs have the job security to sit around and wait THREE full seasons on a guy to arrive? You want your top 5/10 pick to be in your lineup either next season or the following. You may just be drafting him for the next GM at that point.
I'm very conflicted on what I'd want the Blues to do if he's on the board when they pick. I guess it depends on who is left on the board.
As for their later picks, I guess there's a chance Daniil But could fall. 6'5 Russian forward with top 15 pick skill but is signed til April 2025.
Re: 2023 NHL Draft Thread
26...but whatever, the Blues won the Cup!!!!!