2011 NHL Draft

[dmiles2186]

I figured I'd start the discussion now. We've got a week and a day until the first day of the draft.

Blues picks:

Round 1: None
Round 2: 32, 41, 46
Round 3: 72, 88
Round 4: 102
Round 5: 132
Round 6: 162
Round 7: 192

If I missed any or got any of these wrong, let me know. Just a quick check on Wikipedia was where I got these.

I'm wondering if a few of those 5 picks in Rounds 2 and 3 will be packaged to move up or packaged with someone to get a player. Could be interesting to see what we do there.

[DaDitka]

I'm wondering if a few of those 5 picks in Rounds 2 and 3 will be packaged to move up or packaged with someone to get a player. Could be interesting to see what we do there.

I don't think there is any question in the world that is their intent. Armstrong was very upfront about that possibility as far back as the press conferences and interviews that accompanied the trades that netted us those picks. Sure we need to keep replenishing the pipe line of youth, but their biggest concern at this moment is helping this team not only make, but advance in the playoffs in the 11-12 season.

[kodos]

This might be the first draft in a while I skip.

[cprice12]

This might be the first draft in a while I skip.

Not me. I'll be watching, seeing if the Blues trade up. They have a lot of picks they can move in the 2nd and 3rd round.
No way they keep them all...at least you wouldn't think so.

[DaDitka]

This might be the first draft in a while I skip.

Not me. I'll be watching, seeing if the Blues trade up. They have a lot of picks they can move in the 2nd and 3rd round.
No way they keep them all...at least you wouldn't think so.

I think they will move the picks, just for an established play or at least a prospect in someone else's system they think is ready to make the jump. Armstong said he wouldn't rule out trading up into the first, but "It would have to be someone we felt could contribute right away" and you don't often find those guys in the second half of the first round and it would probably take too much to get to the top of the first, besides, all I keep hearing is how week this draft is .

None the less, I will be tuning in to see what we do spin these picks into.

[cprice12]

It will probably go something like this.

Someone the Blues are pretty high on slips down in the draft a bit to later in the 1st round. The Blues move one 2nd and one 3rd round pick to move up and get him.

I'll be shocked if they don't move up and pick in the 1st round somewhere.

[kodos]

I think a first round pick is worth way more then a 2nd and 3rd.

We'll see. I think they are more likely to trade the picks for an established player.

i'd be fine if they just used them though. As last year proved, this team really needs some more organizational depth.

[WaukeeBlues]

[kodos]

The Blues didn't have the option to keep the pick. It had to go to Colorado since it wasn't in the top 10.

[cprice12]

The Blues didn't have the option to keep the pick. It had to go to Colorado since it wasn't in the top 10.

Yeah Waukee...what the hell? Where you been?

[WaukeeBlues]

I got my conditional's messed up

Don't know where my brain was at... Forgot it was conditional if we GOT a top 10 and not the other way around.

Feel free to disregard

And I was one of the first ones on here to be preaching about how Colorado must be singing hallelujahs cause this was basically the best case scenario for them

[CanadianBlue]

Going to be weird watching that first day and not seeing us pick.

Can't see us trading up, not a deep draft. Unless the perfect trade comes up for Army, or he if sees high potential in a player, we're staying put.

[philco_3]

I hope the Blues will trade some of these draft picks for a player....maybe New Jersey will take some of these off our hands for Praise.

[glen a richter]

I don't think the Blues are getting Parise, but it's nice to dream.

Wasn't the pick NJ used for Z.P. originally the Blues pick? Getting him would just be righting a wrong.

[Jack T Adams]

MEG and I are attending the draft in st. Paul. Leaving Thursday. Anyone else interested?

[SteveO]

MEG and I are attending the draft in st. Paul. Leaving Thursday. Anyone else interested?

I am. Don't think the wife is interested in me going though.

[dmiles2186]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... 2ed37.html

Blues Weigh All Options As Draft Approaches

Just in time for this week's NHL draft, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has received his budget from club chairman Dave Checketts for the 2011-12 season.

Though not wishing to disclose the Blues' payroll ceiling, which could say a lot about the commitment level of an ownership group selling the team, Armstrong did say, "They've been good with me."

One of the bottom-level spending clubs in the NHL the past few seasons, however, isn't expected to veer from that course this offseason, as Checketts continues to search for a new buyer.

The Blues, who had a payroll of $44.5 million in 2010-11, have $39 million committed to next season's payroll. They will need to spend at least $8-9 million more to reach the salary-cap floor, which has been projected at $48 million. But some of that difference will be made up when the club re-signs its remaining restricted free agents, who include T.J. Oshie, Matt D'Agostini, B.J. Crombeen, Ben Bishop and Ryan Reaves.

Therefore, with a couple of holes still to fill on the roster, Armstrong will need to be creative when he arrives at the draft Friday. The selection weekend is typically a time for trading around the league, and Armstrong has said that he's warm to the idea of improving the team's roster by trading draft picks.

For the first time since 2002, the Blues don't own a first-round pick — this year's pick went to Colorado in the trade for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk — but they do have nine picks in all, including three in Round 2 and two in Round 3.

"Our focus now entering the draft, we're not against using draft picks to improve our team for next season," Armstrong said. "The success of next year's team is going to come from the players on our roster now. The (David) Backes's, (Chris) Stewarts, (Andy) McDonalds — that's the core group that's going to be asked to do the yeomen's work.

"Our work now is to add to that group and give them stability and support. I know for a fact that we're not going to be moving a roster player for a draft pick or to move up in the draft. Our future is now. We have to start producing for our fans that have been so loyal to us. We've been given a budget that's going to allow us flexibility to add some of those players who can accent our group."

The Blues have prioritized the team's top two needs as an experienced forward — probably a third line-caliber player — and an experienced defenseman. They might look into adding a backup goaltender as well but so far haven't abandoned the idea of using Bishop as the backup.

It isn't known yet whether there will be teams looking to deal those types of players for draft picks.

"That's what we're working on now," Armstrong said. "That clarifies itself as you get closer to the draft because teams are now trying to sign their own restricted and unrestricted free agents. If they have restricted free agents, or unrestricted, and they want 'X' amount, only so many players can fit in (their budget), so as these players start to sign, it does open up the possibility that teams have to make trades. That's what we're waiting on to find out."

If teams aren't willing to deal established NHL players for picks, Armstrong said, he would have no problem keeping the picks.

In the second round, the Blues have the pick from Colorado (No. 32), their own pick (No. 41), and the pick they received from Buffalo in the trade for Brad Boyes (No. 46). In the third round, they have their own pick (No. 71) and the pick they got from Tampa Bay (No. 88) in the trade for Eric Brewer.

"It will be a successful draft if we walk away with three seconds and two thirds," Armstrong said.

He added the possibility that the Blues might package their second-round picks to move into the first round.

"We've compiled our list and we know there's a player or two that we would move up into the mid-20s to try and acquire," Armstrong said. "We have (three second-round picks) and I think you can package two of those three assets to get into the (Nos.) 24-25-26 range. If the player is there that we like, and that team wants the extra picks, that's how I see us doing it.

"I'm not trying to build up any false hope. So many things have to go right to make a trade — our vision, their vision, your need, their need. I know that we have the assets to be involved in some of these things. Whether it happens or not, you just have to be fluid at the time."

[strocklen083]

Not to get too far fetched here but w/five picks total between the 2nd and 3rd rounds and a couple of high level arb-eligible players supposedly on the block what do you think it would take to pull in a guy like Parise or even Stamkos? Cearly I would be willing to pay a higher ransom for Stamkos seeing that he's younger and has a fully intact knee. But here's what I was thinking...

Oshie, next yr's 1st, one of this year's 2nd, and a prospect for Stamoks? Would that get it done?

I realize our budget situation is questionable at best and we probably aren't in the market for a high priced scorer. But offseting the potential increase of incoming salary (Stamkos) by sending some the potentially increasing salary the other way would help maintain the budget until a new owner is found.

[cprice12]

Armstrong was on "Sports on a Sunday Morning" yesterday...

He said they won't be acquiring any huge names when discussing free agency. They are just going to supplement to their current roster. I assume this would also apply to the draft and that we won't be trading picks/players for a big name.

With the addition of Stewart, he's happy with the offense, especially if Perron can come back.

Perron is still having post-concussion syndrome symptoms... still occasionally suffering from headaches.

He talked about the fairly weak draft and after the first few picks, there are pretty much 40-50 players in this draft that are all very similar and haven't separated themselves from the pack. So in other words...it's a crap shoot.

Is anyone still upset we lost our 11th overall pick this year instead of next year? There isn't much difference between the 11th pick and the 40th pick this year...at least not right now. In a few years, we may find out that the best players in this draft came from the 2nd/3rd round.

[DaDitka]

Oshie, next yr's 1st, one of this year's 2nd, and a prospect for Stamoks? Would that get it done?

#1 - That is no where near enough compensation

#2 - You're moving Oshie who figures to make at or below 2 mill a year for the next two years and taking on Stamoks who's probably looking at 7 mill a year (or more...a lot more if it's a long term deal.). 5 mill may not sound like much to you, but we only have 16 players under contract and need to round out the entire roster for about 9 mill. more. You can't do that if you commit 7 mill (or more) to just one piece.