Laffing Back to the Lou.

" Well I will say it right now before pick 2 through 155 are even made.  We won this draft, we got the best player unfrotunately it was under these circumstances"  Stephens could be heard telling his scouts as soon as the 1st overall pick was annouced over the virtual loud speaker.  Usually Alexis Lafreniere would walk down a flight of steps, through a room full of GM's, up a small set of stairs, shake Commish Kevin Lacy's hands and then pose for pictures with a St. Louis Blues Jersey and hat on.  This year all he could do is give a nbunch of tearful hugs to his parents and take a deep sigh of relief knowing his professional journey has officially begun.  There was no doubt who St. Louis was going to take with the 1st overall pick, they even had to fend some GM's off trying to nab their pick.  With all that has gone wrong in St. Louis recently lets hope this is what will set the tracks straight.  With that being said lets see who else will be joining the Blues organization and talk about some others already in the system.

1st Overall Pick: Alexis Lafreniere - LW - 6'1" - 195LBS

WIll be a top 9 guy from day one.  Scores goals, great set of hands, great set of wheels, hockey sense is insane, plays hard, hits hard.  He is a complete player, potential gamebreaker on a nightly basis all over the ice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhwwDyapoo0

43rd Overall Pick: Roby Jarventie - LW - 6'2" - 185lbs

Superthrilled Jarventie fell here.  I tried moving up 3 or 4 times to get Bourque but was unsuccesful so decided to sit tight and hope Bourque or Jarventie would fall to 43.  Thankfully my wish came true and 1 of the 2 did fall.  Jarventie is very raw and is going to need to improve in many areas in order to make the jump mainly his skating.  What he has a chance to do at the next level is scores goals. Started out on fire in LIIGA and currently sits 3rd  in scoring on Ilves all while being the youngest on the team.  Had a very disappointing Hlinka but fully expect him to be in the mix for the Finns come WJC time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tDLZ_4DQOI

85th Overall Pick: Calle Clang - G - 6'2" - 175lbs

Got this pick by trading pick 120 and ANA 4th rounder in 2021.  Tried to move up here with 3 players in mind, Jean Luc Foudy, Nico Daws and Calle Clang. Luckily just like pick 43 1 of my options were still on the board. Calle Clang uses his long legs very well and takes away the lower part of the net when in the butterfly.  He is underrated athletically and is quick side to side and up and down.  ery good at making the first save but will need to work on his rebound control in order to make it to the next level.  He is currently playing in the Allsvenskan on loan from Rogle. He rivaled Askarov statistically at the Hlinka and should get a very serious look at being brought to the WJC with his now other Blues Swedish goalie prospect Erik Portillo. even as the Swedish 3rd goalie to get his toes wet. 

All in all we are very pleased with what we came away with in this years draft, we feel as if we have added 3 NHL players down the road to go along with a full deep cupboard of solid prospects who are making their way. 

Top 5 Forward Prospects:

1. Alexis Lafreniere

2. Dominik Bokk

3. Taro Hirose

4. Joachim Blichfeld

5. Jamiesen Rees

Graduated: Andrew Mangiapane, Jack Roslovic, Nic Aube Kubel, Luke Kunin

Top 5 Defence Prospects:

1. Moritz Seider

2. Caleb Jones

3. Lassi Thomson

4. Andrew Peeke

5. Jared McIsaac

Graduated: Caleb Jones, Jacob Larsson

Top Goalie Prospects:

1. Erik Portillo

2. Calle Clang

3. Dylan Wells

Graduated: Carter Hart