St. Louis' pick?

[FAN]

All else being equal, you take the pick this year because it's always worth more than future picks. With three first round picks, you have the option of trading up in the first round, using the picks (and have the prospects be further along in development) or trading one of the picks for another team's 1st round pick in the next draft. It's much easier to trade this year's draft pick at the draft for next year's draft than the other way around. And I wouldn't worry about such nonsense as "staggering" the rebuild and not having their contracts come up at the same time. If that ever becomes the case then that's a good problem to have.

Besides, the Blues are a playoff-calibre team and their GM thinks it's time to take the next step so trying to gamble that the Blues' pick would be higher than next season's pick would be akin to going for fool's gold.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by FAN

Besides, the Blues are a playoff-calibre team and their GM thinks it's time to take the next step so trying to gamble that the Blues' pick would be higher than next season's pick would be akin to going for fool's gold.

Agreed. They're a young team and should only get better, notwithstanding the possibility that they may not be able to afford to re-up all their assets.

I have a hard time believing that will be the case, however, based on the acquisition of Bouwmeester. I can't imagine they've picked him up to "go for it" this year, because they're not anywhere near good enough to knock off this year's elites. Plus he's signed for next year.

Their acquisition was with a view to being even better this year, not worse. Of course, anything could happen, but I think we should be hoping they just squeak in this year and get demolished by the Hawks or Ducks.

[moon]

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.

Unlikely the 3 guys make the league at the same time espacially with our pick looking good now.

Best case Blues make it as 8th lose to the Hawks.

This is a good young team that is likely not getting the same awful goalteanding next year.

15th/16th is a fine pick to have this year.

[Vulcan]

I wouldn't combine our Pittsburgh pick with anything. Make the pick or trade it for a young guy. That pick has a history going back to Kent Nilsson and it has some magic happening.

As for ST, Louis, I'd like their pick this year but if not maybe the Blues players are sick of Hitchcock by next year and have a terrible year.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I wouldn't combine our Pittsburgh pick with anything. Make the pick or trade it for a young guy. That pick has a history going back to Kent Nilsson and it has some magic happening.

I hope Feaster doesn't make important moves based on sentiments. You can only make so many of those before they seriously cost the franchise. If there's a guy the team rated say in the top 3 and sees as a franchise player and he can be had by combining the Blues and Pens pick, that would be quite a coup. If there's a player the team really likes and you're sure he won't be available by the time the team picks, you try to trade up to get him. Of course it doesn't work all the time (just take a look at San Jose 1st round picks), but sometimes you strike gold (Logan Couture).

I have to say that teams with 3+ picks in the first round generally try to move up in the draft and often fail to do so, so the chances are the team just make their picks.

[MisterJoji]

Maybe we should get a poll going to see what the consensus is. Would you rather STL makes the playoffs so we get an additional 1st rounder this year, or would you rather they miss the playoffs, and we get an additional 4th rounder this year but run the risk of STL being much better next year, resulting in a lower pick? For me the risk is too high that they will be better next year with healthy goaltending, so I want to take this pick and run with it.