2007-2008 Blues Draft and Off-Season thread

[stlmark]

Blues drafting is over. Here's the Blues selections.

R1/13 Lars Eller (C)
R1/18 Ian Cole (D)
R1/26 David Perron (LW)
R2/39 Simon Hjalmarsson (RW)
R2/44 Aaron Palushaj (RW)
R3/85 Brett Sonne (C)
R4/96 Cade Fairchild (D)
R4/100 Travis Erstad (C)
R6/160 Anthony Peluso (D)
R7/190 Trevor Nill (C)


Round 1/13 Lars Eller, C Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
6-0 198 Frolunda (Swe Jr.) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
39 18 37 55 58 -



Scouting Report: A product of Denmark’s Rodovre IK program, he’s the best Danish prospect available for selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft… was among the scoring leaders in Sweden’s Superelitserien under-20 junior league in 2006-07, and also performed well with the Danish WJC squad at the 2007 Division 1 championships… has a projectable frame, playmaking acumen and the versatility to line up either at center or wing… must prove he can produce in the Elitserien, since he has yet to play at the senior level… could be a draft-day sleeper, since Danes usually fall a little under the radar…



Round 1/18 Ian Cole, D Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
6-1 211 USDP (U18) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
49 4 16 20 57 -



Scouting Report: His draft stock is on the rise, following a very strong performance for Team U.S.A. at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championships--where he led all tournament blueliners with four goals in seven games. He also tied for second among defenders with five points… despite his scoring exploits in Finland, he’s considered more of a defensive defenseman with the ability to punish forwards with physicality due to his 6-1, 211-pound frame… owns a big point shot, which could lead to solid offensive totals at the highest level… has committed to the University of Notre Dame for the 2007-08 campaign…



Round 1/26 David Perron, LW Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
5-11.5 180 Lewiston (QMJHL) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
70 39 44 83 75 37



Scouting Report: After a solid rookie campaign in the ‘Q’, where he placed second in the league in rookie scoring behind only Jakub Voracek and led the way with 39 goals, he rose to the occasion in the postseason and led the way on offense for the MAINEiacs… is a natural goal-scorer with both the instincts and the shot release to light the lamp regularly at higher levels… plays his best hockey on the off-wing (left) and is usually in prime scoring position… at 6-0, 180 pounds, he will need to add strength to better handle high-traffic areas as a pro…



Round 2/39 Simon Hjalmarsson, RW Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
5-11 169 V. Frolunda (Swe Jr.) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
41 31 23 54 91 -



Scouting Report: His stock is on the rise, following a stellar performance (6 GP, 4-5-9, +8, 4 PIM) for Sweden at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Finland… has natural goal-scoring instincts and a nose for the net… led the Vastra Frolunda Indians’ under-20 junior club in both goals (19) and points (38) in 2006-07; his goals led the league, while he placed second in points… at 5-11, 161 pounds, he must prove he can handle the tighter spaces in North American rinks in order to blossom into a top-six scoring winger…



Round 2/44 Aaron Palushaj, RW Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
5-11 187 Des Moines (USHL) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
56 22 45 67 62 5



Scouting Report: In his second season in the USHL, he placed second on the Buccaneers in both assists (45) and points (67). He also finished third on the club with a plus-5 rating… will attend the University of Michigan in 2007-08… plays a complete game, but it’s his ability to dangle and create in the offensive zone that stands out… needs to get stronger in order to eventually survive the rigors of the pro game…



Round 3/85 Brett Sonne, C Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
5-11.25 200 Calgary (WHL) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
71 21 9 30 65 3



Scouting Report: In Central Scouting's final rankings, he placed 94th among North American skaters... a versatile forward, he produced 21 goals with just nine assists in 71 games for the Hitmen in 2006-07... at 5-11, 200 pounds, he has a low center of gravity that enables him to protect the puck in the corners... displays sound work ethic...



Round 4/96 Cade Fairchild, D Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
5-10 186 USDP (U18) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
40 3 16 19 40 -







Round 4/100 Travis Erstad, C Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
6-3.5 182 Stevens Point (HS) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
20 22 27 49 38 -



Scouting Report: At 6-4, 182 pounds, he owns the projectable frame scouts love. He can also play both center and wing, which adds to his overall draft stock… has committed to playing at the University of Wisconsin in either 2008-09 or 2009-10, but will first continue his apprenticeship in the USHL… has both playmaking and finishing skills, but is extremely raw… was considered the best high-school hockey prospect in the state of Wisconsin last year…



Round 6/160 Anthony Peluso, D Complete Bio Page
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
6-3 222 Erie (OHL) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
52 7 3 10 176 -33



Scouting Report: A very tough customer, he’s considered one of the top fighters eligible for selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft… led the Otters with 176 penalty minutes in 52 games in 2006-07… lacks mobility and defensive acumen, so he’s destined to become a winger in the pro game… his only shot to play in the NHL is as an enforcer…



Round 7/190 Trevor Nill, C
HT WT Team 2006-07 Stats
6-1 180 Compuware (MWEHL) GP G A Pts PIM +/-
n/a

[Secret Weapon]

they really should have taken C Skokan in the 7th round instead of Nill, what a terrible draft!

[thrill]

Thus concludes yet another satisfyingly sweet Jarmo-lead draft.

Is anyone watching the beginning of the coverage of the draft on Versus? It's awesome! It's about the Blues, their future and Jarmo/his staff. There's more after the commercial.

I taped it. It was seriously awesome. JD is like Michael Corleone, sitting back and calling the shots, Jarmo is Tom Hagen the consiglieri and Pleau was like Fredo just sitting there and not talking.

Bobby Plager was just walking around and talking to people, basking in the fact that he's awesome.

That is awesome.

[stlmark]

Thus concludes yet another satisfyingly sweet Jarmo-lead draft.

Is anyone watching the beginning of the coverage of the draft on Versus? It's awesome! It's about the Blues, their future and Jarmo/his staff. There's more after the commercial.

I taped it. It was seriously awesome. JD is like Michael Corleone, sitting back and calling the shots, Jarmo is Tom Hagen the consiglieri and Pleau was like Fredo just sitting there and not talking.

I was like a schoolkid watching that first half hour. It was all Blues. Just awesome.

[JohnnyJay]

[jdk82]

I thought I did the draft threads? Oh wait wrong sport. I dont know a thing about hockey

[stlmark]

I thought I did the draft threads? Oh wait wrong sport. I dont know a thing about hockey

You should get into it. It's a great sport with other guys getting their arses kicked or smashed into the boards.

[G. Keenan]

I haven't followed the Blues for a while now. Who is this Jarmo guy and why is he good?

[stlmark]

I haven't followed the Blues for a while now. Who is this Jarmo guy and why is he good?

All you have to do is look at the Ottawa Senators. Jarmo drafted alot of those players that got them to the cup finals this past year.

He also has had some damn good drafts for the Blues going back 3 or 4 years. He drafted stud prospects TJ Oshie,Patrick Berglund,Carl Soderberg,David Backes,Lee Stempniak,the goalie Shwartz(sp),Erik Johnson(no brainer),Tomas Kana. Also he's has received rave reviews of his draft this year with the Eller,Cole,Perron and the 2nd round pick dude(starts with an H and is linemates with Eller).

Basically, he's a major cog in the rebuilding of the St.Louis Blues. In Jarmo we trust!

[G. Keenan]

I haven't followed the Blues for a while now. Who is this Jarmo guy and why is he good?

All you have to do is look at the Ottawa Senators. Jarmo drafted alot of those players that got them to the cup finals this past year.

He also has had some damn good drafts for the Blues going back 3 or 4 years. He drafted stud prospects TJ Oshie,Patrick Berglund,Carl Soderberg,David Backes,Lee Stempniak,the goalie Shwartz(sp),Erik Johnson(no brainer),Tomas Kana. Also he's has received rave reviews of his draft this year with the Eller,Cole,Perron and the 2nd round pick dude(starts with an H and is linemates with Eller).

Basically, he's a major cog in the rebuilding of the St.Louis Blues. In Jarmo we trust!

Cool. Looks like there will be some exciting years ahead then.