We're currently #14 spot, but I can't see how we can reach higher then #12 spot. Its sad to be Blues fan. My biggest goal is at off-season and then draft weekend.
Here's what I'm looking forward to at the draft.
1. Trading Sobotka for a pick. He doesn't have any kind of movement clause, is relatively cheap and several teams would like him. Perhaps MTL with their 3-4 2nd rd picks would cough one up and if not them then someone will.
2. Trading for a top 6 forward. This is the move I'm most looking forward to and I'm sure many here share that sentiment. I know we'll be after Tavares but DA would be have to be an idiot to not have a backup plan at center if that doesn't happen. I think he's probably looking for a center to trade for as opposed to a winger with Fabbri and bunch of young wingers coming up as options. This will be similar to when he signed Stastny yet was reportedly still after Spezza that same off season. Apparently he offered the WPG 1st and another pick for a center but it didn't pan obviously. I think he'll be lots more aggressive at the draft and will be willing to move a prospect that perhaps he wasn't willing to move this year at the trade deadline.
Much like last draft I see us making the biggest splash via trade.
I like the first idea. The second one is a good backup plan but if you sign a center or trade for one at the draft, I'm pretty sure that will take DA out of the running for Tavares. My reasoning is, you already have Schenn and more than likely Thomas next season, so that's 2/3 of your starting top 9 centers. Where does that leave room for Tavares if you also trade for a top 6 C?
I think the week for talking to FAs is started at the draft or something like that, so maybe DA has a bead on that before the draft.
So a year after giving Schenn his shot at center which he did pretty well at, you're going to take him out of it? Seems odd. I don't personally mind, but I like Schenn at center so far.My thought process here is that Schenn could easily be moved to RW if we were to trade for a center and sign Tavares. It never hurts to move a center to wing but the reverse is much tougher to pull.
You could also start Thomas at RW. He shouldn’t be stopping us from acquiring other centers.
So a year after giving Schenn his shot at center which he did pretty well at, you're going to take him out of it? Seems odd. I don't personally mind, but I like Schenn at center so far.
From what little I’ve seen of Dellandrea, I’m not impressed. Couple that with him being the type of player we don’t need (likely a physical bottom-6er), and I prefer to completely avoid drafting him.
It’s moreso a playstyle thing, and I think we would be better off drafting a defender. If he falls to the 2nd then that’s a slightly different story, but I think a defenseman is still a better pick. We don’t really need to draft two-way forwards, IMO.
I'm curious, what do you see in Ty Dellandrea or his playing style that makes you want to avoid drafting him? He checks a lot of boxes for me on paper: RHS center with good size, good player on a bad team (so stats may be less impressive/not indicative of the player's quality), youngish for the draft (still 17 with a July birthday), etc.
Haven't seen him play live, so it's very possible I am missing something/not seeing certain parts of his game. But from highlights he seems to be a very good passer, skating is certainly not a negative, good shot, good hands, dangerous off the rush and on the PP, not afraid to crash the net (scores a lot of goals from in close). Also, over 50% on the dot this season with over 1400 FO's taken. Seems like a real solid young player.
Sounds like Dellandrea may be available around the late first/early second, and you may totally be right that it would be best for the Blues to take a defenseman in that range. But I think there's still a lot to like about Dellandrea...
Some Highlights (#53):
If we did decide to keep the Winnipeg pick, and Bill and the Boys draft a forward with it, I would be totally fine with Dellandrea. The more I read about him, the more I like him. Brock and a group of OHL scouts ranked Ty 9th in draft eligible OHL prospects. Check out these scouting reports:I agree. Dellandrea isn’t my favorite guy in the draft by any means, but he’s a good player for sure. He is really really good at deflecting pucks, which is an element we don’t have anywhere in our system since Backes left. He reminds me of Stevens in a way, because he’s good in front of the net and can protect the puck well along the boards, but his wrister is strong enough that he can beat you from above the dots too. Right-handed shot, 200-foot player, good speed, good size.
I’m alright with taking a forward with the WPG pick, especially if it’s McBain or Dellandrea. Pietrangelo is the only dman we’ve drafted in the first round that has really worked out here, but Dunn, Eddy, Parayko, etc have all been found in the 2nd or 3rd. I don’t have any worries about finding a few good dmen this draft, and I tend to like some of the guys further down the draft rankings better anyways. I would be completely ok with turning our “big four” into a “big five” this draft, and worry about defense in the second and third rounds.
Mark Scheig said:Dellandrea is by far my fastest riser not only in the OHL, but in the entire NHL Draft. He in my book is a top-20 overall pick. His Central Scouting ranking most likely reflects on him playing on a poor Flint team. He's the star of the show in Flint and has played outstanding since the trades of Kole Sherwood, Ryan Moore and Nick Caamano. His best performances came in games against Sault Ste. Marie and Sarnia which includes a five-point game. What gives him a huge bump for me is his world-class attitude. He's handling a difficult situation well while improving his play. He projects as a future number-one center at the next level. Teams value character and skill. Dellandrea has both. He's a solid first-round pick for me.
Anonymous said:My live viewings of Dellandrea early in the year left me a tad unimpressed, but he has been a lot better of late. He drives the net incredibly aggressively and does everything right on a team that struggles to do a lot of things. If he were playing on a more competitive team, he’d be a monster.
Mark Seidel said:"Has very little to play with in Flint but keeps producing..Has put up 48 points on a depleted forward group...Plays away from the puck...Reminds me of Josh Bailey...Great leadership and compete levels and has become the future of the Firebirds.
Dylan Galloway said:Scouts already know that Dellandrea is a smart two-way centre with good size. But in recent viewings not only has Dellandrea continued to be a consistent performer for the Firebirds in the defensive zone, he has also stepped up his game in the offensive zone as well. Dellandrea’s smarts and impressive skating allow him to get into position to either open himself up for a pass or create a passing or shooting lanes and get the puck on net with high effectiveness.
Question said:Jeff G: One prospect I have seen play a few times this year is Ty Dellandrea. I know he is projecting as a second-round guy, but curious what you thought of him? Also, does Flint being in the OHL basement hurt his overall stock?
Corey Pronman said:Dellandrea’s a first-round guy for me. There were 20 teams at one of his games the other week. Good skater, skills, makes plays, can finish and a two-way forward. He’s not dynamic, but what’s not to like?