NHL Entry Draft: David Rundblad profile (St. Louis Blues, 17th overall)

Special K said he needed to improve on his skating intensity to make it in the North American game. There was also mention that his shot wasn’t very strong but accurate and something he vowed he will be working on.

I personally like this pick. My favorite was Jordan Schroeder because I think he’s a winner and did not believe he would have been available.

But just before the draft I realized the Blues would most likely pick a defensemen unless a couple of the forwards were available that were of the more power forward ilk namely what’s his name—Kassin I think? The big 6’3" kid with potential.

I figure the Blues passed on Jordan b/c he is very similiar in size and play to so many of their forward prospects.

I realize that this kid dropped into the Blues hands; they thought he’d be gone by their pick. I also like the idea of a franchise offensive defenseman – you just need a stay-at-home to be his partner. I just hope he’s not another Ozolinsh, the extreme defensive liability you wish could only play on the PP. Of course, having Al MacInnis as a coach for defensemen may affect their decisions.

I think they needed another big forward… say a center… with great wheels… like Kreider.

But that’s why I just buy season tickets and don’t run the team. They know a hell of a lot more about hockey than I do, and that they’ve been pretty good at finding talent lately.

If he can be HALF as good as, say, Paul Coffey in his heyday . . . I’ll take it.

It’s funny, someone posted on the Thrashers boards a thread that was titled “Hildy? You ok?” and 2 or 3 people posted on there, since I hadn’t gotten home yet from the draft party that I was probably drinking my troubles away.

I’m always game for a puck moving d-man (that is ALL I’ve heard down here for the last probably 5 months, since we have Enstrom, Bogosian, Salmela, and that’s who we’d like to trade for), but one thing that I have learned is that while these guys are young, they make defensive mistakes – as this profile mentions. If you’re a d-man who can score, well, awesome. But you better have some sort of defensive responsibilities or be paired with someone who does, or else goals get scored.

I’m generally meh about the Blues’ picks this year. It makes my stomach turn to say this, but I think I like the Thrashers’ picks better. I’m kind of high on Klingberg right now.

and bam.

But seriously look at the development of Wideman. I heard some of the tsn analysist actually compare him to Wideman. Anyway, Widemen was pretty money on a shit team’s power play but during five on five you’d cringe and curse him and beg for him to be traded. Then he was. Then you said who do we have on d on the point now?…FUCK. But you think damn we stole Boyes. Then Wideman gets his chance to learn the position in Boston and develops his game so well he was playing PK, PP and tough five on five situations.

So with these guys patience. It’s a tougher position especially when you consider how quick and what forwards can do with the puck now a days and compare to just say five six years ago…it’s a huge difference in the game. Angles. Knowing your goaltender. Not over commiting against the shiftiest players in the world that dominated wherever they came from before the NHL and a number who dominate the NHL anyway.

Then also recall Lindstrom. He actually was considered below average because he wasn’t a very fast skater and seemed awkward. But he read the play and thought the game so well he went on to dominate.

So my advice patience. It’s an addition of depth. It’s protection from the cap, injury or trade bait. It’s also the possibility of something special depending on what the player decides to do.

Hey, I put together an overview of Rundblad based on what other scouting reports had that you may be interested in checking out. Truth be told, I would have really liked to see him in New Jersey; I think the Blues made a very smart decision based on what I read.

But what you should be interested in most is the second comment, it comes from a Skelleftea fan who has seen Rundblad play firsthand.

They know what they’re getting. They also think he’s very coachable and he has hockey smarts. I don’t think this is a bad pick… I just think they passed on another player who also fills a need.

But it’s not my team, and they’ve done quite well in the talent evaluation arena without me, no?