St. Louis' pick?

[Oling_Roachinen]

With the condition that St. Louis keeps their pick this year if they miss the playoffs and instead the Flames get a 4th (2013) and their 2014 first, which would you prefer?

If the Blues make the playoffs at the very best the Flames get the 15th pick this year, could be worse if they go on a run. 2013 might have some nice centers, especially if the Flames move up with that pick using the Penguins or another asset. So I can understand wanting to play it safe and hoping the Blues don't do any better than one and done after making the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Blues have ~40M already committed to the team next year. For most teams that's not an issue. But the Blues need to sign, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Stewart, Berglund, Russel and Cole as RFAs and a couple roster spot positions. For a team that's spent between 45M-55M the last couple years, that's not a ton of wiggle room. Bouwmeester should make them better, as with just the young core getting a year older, but the same could have been said about them last year after winning the central division. Although I suppose realignment placing them in a 7 team division helps their playoff odds.

[Machiavelli]

Prefer they miss the playoffs.

Plus with #4 with them full-time next season, the 2014 pick will likely be a high one.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Prefer they miss the playoffs.

Plus with #4 with them full-time next season, the 2014 pick will likely be a high one.

The smart part of me knows I should agree with you. However, I'm all about instant gratification and I want to have 3+ 1st round picks this year.

[neo45]

This pick is worth much more than the Penguins one right now. That could obviously change but this one has a chance to be 15th overall

[Canada 02]

The Blue will make the playoffs then get curb stomped by the Hawks. The Flames will be picking 15th

Also, a player picked now is obviously one year closer to playing than a 2014 pick

[Table 5]

Even if the pick is higher next year, that's one year longer we wait for a (hopefully) good young player. I'd rather we start the rebuilding process sooner rather than later... we've already wasted 2-3 years.

[Badger Bob]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

With the condition that St. Louis keeps their pick this year if they miss the playoffs and instead the Flames get a 4th (2013) and their 2014 first, which would you prefer?

A thinking poster in the other thread noted that you don't want to have all of those prospects coming up for big raises at the same time. That's the reason why it'd be better to get the Blues 1st rounder for '14 instead.

[Da_Chief]

Now. Load up on young talent right away.

[Yoho]

We should do a similar structured deal with Columbus and cover our bets for the 8th and 9th spot this year and next

[3thirty]

Hoping they make it in and get bounced by the ducks or hawks in the first round, nice to have a pick a year earlier to speed up the rebuild.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Badger Bob

A thinking poster in the other thread noted that you don't want to have all of those prospects coming up for big raises at the same time. That's the reason why it'd be better to get the Blues 1st rounder for '14 instead.

But even if the Flames do get the 2013 first, that doesn't mean they draft 3 times. They could package it with the Penguins and move up. Might be worth it if they can squeeze into another top 8 pick position this year.

And the Blues are a year removed from fighting for the President Trophy. A bonce back from them next year and that could be a very late 2014th pick. But they could continue free falling. Not really sure which one I'm hoping for, probably leaning a bit towards the 2013th.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Badger Bob

A thinking poster in the other thread noted that you don't want to have all of those prospects coming up for big raises at the same time. That's the reason why it'd be better to get the Blues 1st rounder for '14 instead.

nah, Mackinnon, for instance, is in the NHL next season, starting his 3 year ELC. The 15th pick likely isn't playing until 2014 or 15. The 30th pick may not be playing until 2015 or 16. Their contracts won't overlap

[GGG]

I am hoping for a pick in the high teens this year.

With experts saying this years draft is strong this years pick might be worth 4 spots higher than next years. Plus 1 year of time is an extra year before a player makes an impact and likely 2 years before they even hit the roster.

The only benefit is to spread out the years that ELCs expire so we dont get a 20 million dollar cap hit increase in one season.

[kyuss275]

Want the Blues to make the playoffs as an 8th seed this year and get booted.

Don't want to take a chance on next year. They have a young team and will only improve. They might have to trade an RFA but they got quality players in the lower league that can fill in on the cheap. Could see them making a better run next year.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

With the condition that St. Louis keeps their pick this year if they miss the playoffs and instead the Flames get a 4th (2013) and their 2014 first, which would you prefer?

If the Blues make the playoffs at the very best the Flames get the 15th pick this year, could be worse if they go on a run. 2013 might have some nice centers, especially if the Flames move up with that pick using the Penguins or another asset. So I can understand wanting to play it safe and hoping the Blues don't do any better than one and done after making the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Blues have ~40M already committed to the team next year. For most teams that's not an issue. But the Blues need to sign, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Stewart, Berglund, Russel and Cole as RFAs and a couple roster spot positions. For a team that's spent between 45M-55M the last couple years, that's not a ton of wiggle room. Bouwmeester should make them better, as with just the young core getting a year older, but the same could have been said about them last year after winning the central division. Although I suppose realignment placing them in a 7 team division helps their playoff odds.

One thing you aren't mentioning.... if it slides to a 2014 pick, then they get an EXTRA pick in this year's draft. Not only would the 1st rounder be potentially higher (lottery), but you get an extra pick out of the deal.

I think it's clear that the Blues missing would be the preferable route. That being said, I don't for one instant believe the Blues will miss the playoffs. They currently have a 1-point lead, with two games in hand, and unlike Calgary, they are actually capable of winning them.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Badger Bob

A thinking poster in the other thread noted that you don't want to have all of those prospects coming up for big raises at the same time. That's the reason why it'd be better to get the Blues 1st rounder for '14 instead.

They might not sign all 3 players to ELC's in the same year. It will depend on age and were they are playing.

[Nuje]

I'd say 2013th, mostly because it's supposed to be a very good draft this year. Whether they draft all 3, or use St Louis + Pittsburgh to trade up, I think we can add some very good pieces to this team, that are more certain than usual to be successful. I just hope they don't go off the board this draft. At least that way if they're wrong, you could say or think "well, at least they were smart about it." I don't want to be looking back in a few years at this year's draft and say "WHY THE HELL DOES THIS TEAM INSIST ON DOING RANDOM CRAP JUST BECAUSE IT'S THEIR OWN IDEA???!?!"

[edn88]

I think you want this pick this year - deep draft, and Blues likely go out in first round. Better to have bird in hand this year and increase chances of picking up a few high end talents.

[dammage79]

Say St.Louis get punted out of the first round, that pick could potentially be Nichushkin territory. This should have fans drooling at the thought of a top three pick like McKinnon/Jone/Barkov going along with Nichushkin. /Droooool

[Anduril]

Ideal situation, Blues barely miss the playoffs, and next year just bottom out for whatever reason to the bottom of the standings.


Win.