E150: Did the Blues play the NHL Draft right or did they waste their picks?

Um, Let's go ahead and get right into it, Alec.

Starting with this 11th overall pick, Tynan Lawrence, a center, probably the number three center in this draft.

I would say pretty consensus number three center in the draft behind Malhotra and Bjork.

Some people had him a little bit higher, which we can talk about.

But the more I sit with this one, Alec, the more excited I get about it.

He's 6'1", he's 185 pounds, coming from Boston University and the USHL before that.

So with Boston, or let me move back to his USHL time this season.

He was with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, played only 13 games, but had 17 points in those games, went to the NCAA, And had a little bit of a rougher go.

18 games, 7 points.

Did play in the U18 World Juniors for Team Canada.

Had 6 points in 5 games.

So, you know, I think his move... to be you mid season this year hurt his draft stock going into the winter this year.

There were people that had him at like fifth overall, like certainly top 10.

And he sort of fell a bit from there.

But I think there's a lot more to be excited about than there is to be worried about after that shift.

I mean, I think you can expect for plenty of players and for obvious reasons for someone to struggle a bit when they level up.

It takes time to figure some things out.

But like I said, I think there's a whole lot more to like about this pick than to be worried about.

So what are your thoughts on Lawrence at 11?

Yeah, I'm really, really excited about the Lawrence pick.

I think that it's absolutely a huge get for the Blues for so many reasons.

One, like you said, this was not a player that was supposed to be available.

I think there were some pretty big surprises on draft night.

You know, I feel like I saw the joke going out being drafted who have never been drafted before.

which is, of course, an oxymoron.