shpongle falls
Ass Möde
Had to go with Dunn obviously. Can't wait to add that offensive element and moxie to our left side of defense, it really needs it.
I'm the lone wolf taking Thomas. Just a guess he will have the best NHL career of any current Blues' prospect.
Voted for Barbashev, but Dunn is a close second. Barbashev was probably just as impressive this past season in the AHL as Dunn, then handled himself quite nicely in NHL call-up duty. I expect him to take another big step in training camp and make the NHL team when camp breaks, especially with Bergy sidelined.
I think Dunn probably impresses in camp in that regard as well, but Gunnarsson may still be blocking him at that point, though I hope we trade Gunnar to make room for Dunn and clear cap space before American Thanksgiving. In fact, I wouldn't be opposed to rotating Dunn and Walman back and forth from the AHL #1 LD spot and the #3 LD NHL spot throughout the year to get them both some NHL experience. If they're both improving enough to earn full-time NHL duty in 2018-19, that gives us the opportunity to move Bouwmeester next offseason and clear some more space for guys like Fabbri, Edmundson, and some additional help up front if needed.
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.
Its fun to look at the results of previous polls. Parayko was seventh in the 2014 poll, with both Rattie and Jaskin rated ahead of him.