Hello everyone,
Sorry been gone so long, I have been getting settled and had absolutely no idea what to write about after that debacle the Blues pulled against the Wild. I did not want to write a pissed off blog.
First off it was an awful series and myself and every other fan expected a bit more. After thinking long and hard about what happened, I picked out three reasons why we got knocked out.
1. Devan Dubnyk: kid got hot at the right time and it helped the Wild immensely.
2. Goaltending: Jake Allen is still young and will be a great goalie, but its so hard for a young goalie to start in the playoffs for a team who had cup expectations.
3. Scorers didn't score: Can't rely on Tarasenko and Shattenkirk to carry the team in the Playoffs.
So that is all I will write about the Playoffs because honestly I would like to forget about it like all of you guys.
If anyone was paying attention today the Blues made the first big move of the offseason by Resigning my boy Ken Hitchcock, That is big a quick one year extension i find it short but as I have said in many of my Blogs I trust Doug Armstrong and he knows what he is doing.
Up next for the Blues would be the Scouting Combine, Who should we draft? That is a god question.
We picked up Mr. Robby Fabbri last draft who absolutely killed it this year. Kid almost posted a goal a game in the OHL for the Guelph Storm( 30gp-25G-51pts) expect him to get his feet wet in a Blues uniform this season. If not he should be a force in the World Juniors next year and OHL. NOTE- Posted 4 pts in 3 games for Chicago Wolves ( Blues Farm AHL).
One more prospect I would like to talk about is Colton Parayko, Blues fans if you havent heard of him look him up. Kids a monster, 6'5 214ibs, junior Captain of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Signed with Blues and finished the Chicago Wolves season with them. Over his 3 seasons in Alaska kid posted 66 pitties in 104 games as a D man and then posts 7 pitties in 14 games with the Wolves. and got into 5 playoff games this kid is a Natural in a Blue Note, might take another season or 2 in the AHL but he will slot into the big lineup and wont look back just needs his shot.
Kids worn Blue and Gold his whole life from St.Albert to Fort Mcmurray and Alaska. Destined for the Note.
Now Who should we Draft?
No first round and a first round knock out. Dammit.
well Blues fans we have to wait for number 56 till we know who we got so for the hell of it I am going to guess who we might get. 3 chances obviously because chances are I will be dead wrong.
With the 56th overall selection the St.Louis Blues select......
Graham Knott, Niagara Ice Dogs, LW, 6'3, 190. Big kid just getting bigger to, watched this kid play this year a couple times. Fun to watch could potentially be a power forward. He was stuck behind Josh Ho Sang and Brendan Perlini but still managed to doubled his point total in 5 less games. I watched him 4 times this year and he was better every time. Could be a good pick but I could seeing him getting snagged a bit early he has a silky set of mitts and big.
Travis Dermott, Erie, Defense, 5'11, 197, Kid QB'd the deadly Otter power play unit with the deadly snipers you all know. ( Mcdavid, Strome, Debrincat) He has gotten better all year and that is a huge plus to a team who is deep right now. If he keeps growing at the rate he is this would make him deadly when his time would come to wear the note.- Mcdavid says he is amazing.
Jeremy Bracco, U-18 NTDP, RW, 5'9, 176 Small size has plummeted as of late in the draft rankings.
Could be his size but he has an incredible skill set on him. He can put up points (94 this season), he also has 4 years to develop and put on weight at Boston College. Blues will let him develop, we have a lot of size up front and the ability to get a smaller stature kid who would be very good. Play making specialist would love to see him setting up the boys in the future.
All these players are ver talented and chances are none of them will be available when pick 56 comes around. Who ever we grab at 56 could turn into something special. Grab a strong player to develop for the future.
Free Agency Blog will come soon going to do some research here and hopefully find some diamonds in the rough.
