Prospect Info: 17-18 Blues Top Prospect #1

[Mike Liut]

Dunn. I hope he makes the team this year.

Hope we trade Gunnar and Dunn makes it

 

[tfriede2]

Another for Dunn. Walman and Barbashev are close behind. Barbashev is very valuable, even if he "only" ends up as a 35 point 3rd line C. Dunn gets the edge due to the top pairing potential, whereas I think Barbashev's ceiling is a 50 point 2 C.

 

[542365]

Checking back at this I'm a little surprised by the results. I thought Dunn, Walman, and Barbie would be neck and neck. I really like our prospect pool despite not having a true blue chip prospect in the mix.

 

[Mike Liut]

I think the listed players above would beat the post lockout Blues

 

[rumrokh]

Checking back at this I'm a little surprised by the results. I thought Dunn, Walman, and Barbie would be neck and neck. I really like our prospect pool despite not having a true blue chip prospect in the mix.

Polls don't work that way. Every person who voted for Dunn could think the same thing, but just give a tiny edge to Dunn.

 

[KirkOut]

Same person who I had a thing number 1 last year. Walman

 

[Alklha]

I think Dunn is easily our best prospect at this point. He just produced 45 points in his first pro season as a 20 year old. His skating and offensive ability give him the potential to be a special player in the NHL.

Barbashev is a solid prospect, but he doesn't have the same kind of upside. Walman is more difficult to read with so little pro experience.

 

[Ranksu]

I already love Dunn's mad edge on his game. Smallish defenseman who can play tough game and doesn't afraid 1on1 battle or even dropp the gloves.

 

[Ranksu]

I think Dunn is easily our best prospect at this point. He just produced 45 points in his first pro season as a 20 year old. His skating and offensive ability give him the potential to be a special player in the NHL.

Barbashev is a solid prospect, but he doesn't have the same kind of upside. Walman is more difficult to read with so little pro experience.

Bolded: He was by far best 20-years old dmen at AHL last season. Best dmen on that age group.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I've gone back and forth a few times over the last couple of years on Walman and Dunn but as of today, I have Dunn ahead by just a bit. He's proven a little more but Walman has the ability to catch back up this season. I see both as projecting to be 2nd pairing d-men. Dunn with more offensive pop and Walman with a bit safer D game.

After those two, I'd probably go with Barbs.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Dunn easily. Do we still consider Barbie as a prospect? I thought he graduated from that.

If we stick to the traditional HF definition, Barbashev is still a prospect.

 

[Stealth JD]

I have Walman as 1A and Dunn as 1B...picked Walman as I think he's going to be a hair better than Dunn...but you can't go wrong with either.

 

[MissouriMook]

I think Dunn is easily our best prospect at this point. He just produced 45 points in his first pro season as a 20 year old. His skating and offensive ability give him the potential to be a special player in the NHL.

Barbashev is a solid prospect, but he doesn't have the same kind of upside. Walman is more difficult to read with so little pro experience.

I'm not going to argue the upside of Dunn versus Barbashev because they are apples to oranges to an extent. What I think people who see this as a slam dunk for Dunn are forgetting is that Barbashev was pacing for over 60 points as a 20 year old in the AHL last year, which I feel is on par with what Dunn did, and that he posted 12 points in 30 games in the NHL as a 20/21 year old. Compare and contrast that with Schwartz, who put up 13 points in 45 games in his first full NHL season (lockout year) as a 20 year old.

Again, I'm not arguing the upside of Barbashev versus Dunn and especially not Barbashev versus Schwartz, I just feel like may of the people weighing in on this poll may have lost sight of just how impressive Barbashev's season was last year.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Are we considering Sanford a prospect? I think we should. He's still only 22 (younger than Schmaltz and Lindbohm) and hasn't established himself as an NHLer yet (only 39 games played).

The old HF criteria was 65 games played or until someone reaches age 24.

 

[phxblue]

Are we looking for closest to being NHL ready or highest potential?

 

[Dbrownss]

Are we looking for closest to being NHL ready or highest potential?

Generally highest potential.

 

[rumrokh]

Are we looking for closest to being NHL ready or highest potential?

That's always the debate and there is no consensus, so everyone just weighs all the variables (including perceived likelihood of hitting that potential) and takes a stab.

 

[Blanick]

I have got to go with Dunn here. The season he had in the AHL last year as a 20 year old has to catapult him into top spot for me.

 

[simon IC]

I went with Walman. I think his game is slightly more well rounded than Dunn's. It was a tough decision, though.

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

Another vote for Dunn. His AHL season was impressive and I like his mean streak.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Are we considering Sanford a prospect? I think we should. He's still only 22 (younger than Schmaltz and Lindbohm) and hasn't established himself as an NHLer yet (only 39 games played).

The old HF criteria was 65 games played or until someone reaches age 24.

My preference is that we use this definition strictly, so its not a grey area. Otherwise we spend half the list debating about who is even eligible. This is as close to a neutral arbitrator as there is.

 

[nicholas89alex]

went with Dunn because i think he has the highest reasonably attainable potential.

I think pure potential goes to Kostin but Dunn has a better chance of reaching his ceiling if that makes sense.

 

[bluesfan3109]

yes please

 

[phxblue]

Generally highest potential.

In that case Im going to go with Kostin, the wildcard.

 

[David Dennison]

I voted Dunn, but surprised it is such a rout. I dont know if the Blues have that cant-miss guy, but have 8 or 9 guys who are intriguing.

One thing with Dunn is that there is an immediate opportunity for ice time on the left side of our defense, whereas ice time is going to be tough to come by in our top 6-9 for the next couple of years.