Dave's a mess wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 8:08 pm From Corey Pronman

Pick grade: B+

Thoughts on the pick: The Blues had a clear need for more blue-line talent in their system, and Jiricek was a clear fit here on talent and need. He’s a big right-shot who can skate, move the puck, and make stops. He projects as a top four defenseman for them one day and becomes the clear best young defenseman in their system.

If you read the thoughts before you look at the grade, you’re thinking A+ pick. But he gives it a B+. How’s that? BPA, fills a clear need. B+?

Draft nerds are weird.

Dave's a mess wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 7:45 am So I think I saw that Jiricek is expected to play in Europe next year. Anybody hear differently or know if that's set in stone? Just hope he gets plenty of games/ice time after missing so much time wherever he plays.

I think players need to get away from this development path. If I was a GM I simply would not draft a kid who plans to develop in European pro leagues. You have 18 year olds playing against 27 year old grown ass men and they are completely physically outmatched, playing on teams that only care about winning and give two shits how a player develops or if the role they use him in his beneficial to the player.

We saw it with Dvorsky last year. Jiricek had the same experience has a 17 year old last year before his injury.

My day two wish list would come from this group.

Igor Chernyshov, LW
Charlie Elick, RHD
Nikita Artamonov, RW
Henry Mews, RHD
Andrew Basha, LW
Julius Miettinen, C
Adam Kleber, RHD
Adam Jecho, RW (Torpo 2.0)
Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD
Teddy Stiga, C
Mikhail Yegorov, G

Basha goes a few picks in front of the Blues, sorry Tim.

Holy trade.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:47 am Holy trade.

Utah is in such a good position. Assloads of cap space and now an owner that actually has money.

Blues draft big ass left shot D Colin Ralph with pick 48

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:33 am My day two wish list would come from this group.

Igor Chernyshov, LW
Charlie Elick, RHD
Nikita Artamonov, RW
Henry Mews, RHD
Andrew Basha, LW
Julius Miettinen, C
Adam Kleber, RHD
Adam Jecho, RW (Torpo 2.0)
Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD
Teddy Stiga, C
Mikhail Yegorov, G

Since Tim is high on Basha, give me Basha. I believe in Tim and I want to see him happy - ha

Don't know anything about Colin Ralph other than he's big. Most had him ranked 60-80 but whatever, he's big.

Ralph is a 6-foot-4 defenseman who skates well for a guy his size and played well in prep hockey this season for Shattuck. Ralph has enough puck-moving to be intriguing for the NHL. At the prep level, he showed flashes of good playmaking and instincts from the point. There are questions among evaluators about how well his offense will translate. He's not overly skilled and may struggle to move pucks versus men. The toolkit is intriguing and could hit, but we'll see how Ralph fares versus better players.

That's Pronman's scouting report. Sounds like a risk/reward guy that was possibly a reach.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:45 am Basha goes a few picks in front of the Blues, sorry Tim.

Shit, just saw this. Tough draft so far……

Maybe Texier turns out to be William Karlsson the 2nd? Wouldn’t that be a break.

LHD even though it says Right.

Dave's a mess wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:59 am Blues draft big ass left shot D Colin Ralph with pick 48

You’re kidding? Man I hope these guys end up being the right picks.

Sounds like the Scouts are sort of split on his skating. Headed to St. Cloud state next year I think I saw.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:03 am LHD even though it says Right.

Is he good? You know anything about him?

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:01 am Don't know anything about Colin Ralph other than he's big. Most had him ranked 60-80 but whatever, he's big.

Is Steen running this draft? Don’t seem like it.

He is Jiri's kid so you know where he gets his size from.

Dave's a mess wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:13 am

Yeah they aren't getting good value on any of these picks, seem to just be going for the biggest guy on the board at the time. I don't hate it because they desperately need these type of guys, but when you start reaching for needs, that doesn't seem to be a specifically smart strategy.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:16 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:13 am

Yeah they aren't getting good value on any of these picks, seem to just be going for the biggest guy on the board at the time. I don't hate it because they desperately need these type of guys, but when you start reaching for needs, that doesn't seem to be a specifically smart strategy.

Well at least 1 of the 3 should hit I guess.

Fischer played big minutes for Sarnia this season. The son of former NHL player Jiri Fischer is a very athletic defenseman. He's got a smooth, powerful skating stride. Fischer can transport pucks up the ice effectively and closes on checks well. Offensively, he's just OK. With time he shows decent skill and vision. Under pressure he can fight the puck a bit and I wouldn't call him a natural puck-mover. You hope with his size and mobility and enough grit that he can carve out a career as a third-pair defenseman. He is one of the youngest players eligible for this year's draft so there is some hope for more growth in his game as well.

Maybe what the Blues are doing is the right thing. Let’s hope these hit.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:16 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:13 am

Yeah they aren't getting good value on any of these picks, seem to just be going for the biggest guy on the board at the time. I don't hate it because they desperately need these type of guys, but when you start reaching for needs, that doesn't seem to be a specifically smart strategy.

Well you wanted D, you got it baby!!