LA doesn't do that.

At least swap the EDM with DET 2nd for Dunn.

Honestly as a blues fan id love if he went there as he would be amazing

Really like bertuzzui. Just like Buchnevich but I’m not trading a C in Vilardi for him

Dunn is going to cost Washington's 1st and its still a good deal.

I think if Namestnikov is unprotected thats who Seattle takes.

Honestly Washington's 1st for Dunn is more than fair.

I've always thought that was pretty wishful, but I'll gladly take it if they offer.

The more I see Dunn requires Washington first the more I don’t want him. He’s a lesser player than Toews when traded last offseason which got 2 extremely late second rounders. Some will say they don’t need to move Dunn and will expose Krug/Faulk but we won’t know until the lists come out & other team’s will make moves like Nashville and if I’d much rather have that 22 OVR pick than 2 in that 55-60 range. Someone will point to analytics but let’s not kid ourselves he isn’t going to post that on Detroit. There’s a difference between STL & Detroit especially when looking at numbers without QoC in context. Some will say weak draft but that label is for the top 3ish picks. Another factor is I don’t see him moving the needle & we can harness that cap for futures (eg dumps) & still acquire a FA next offseason which would maximize assets.

At first I was thinking there is no way LA does this then I looked at LA's roster and reserve list. With Byfield (18) and Turcotte (19) that puts Vilardi (21) at #3C. So I think LA could accept this trade but you can make a compelling argument either way. So I have no idea if they will. Personally I'd rather keep Bertuzzi.

Why I think the first is fine. Dunn comes in and is Detroit's best LHD and we no longer have to give DDK 18min a game and playing less minutes I think he will be much more effective. Detroit LHD prospects You have Cholowski and after 104 games he still hasn't figured it out. Then there is McIsaac who missed most of the last 2 seasons having both of his shoulders surgically repaired and he has only played 6 games in the AHL since his 2nd surgery. Then there is Wallinder has all the tools to be really good but when do we see him in the NHL maybe 2-3 seasons from now. So Detroit would benefit greatly having Dunn.

If you look at some of the 2021 mock drafts do by people who get paid to do them most don't even have the same top 3 players. So by the time we get to about half way through the 1st round it going to be a mess. So why not trade the #23OA for Dunn a 24yr old NHL proven two way NHL defenseman. From What I understand STL won't be able protect Dunn so if not traded they will most likely lose him to Seattle and get no return. So getting a 1st is better than loosing him to Seattle even if the draft is somewhat uncertain.

That’s kinda why I don’t expect as much as the #23 pick, because our hands ARE kind of tied with the expansion. Glad to accept it or even the Islanders pick from NJ that’s been thrown around, but I’m mostly just expecting two decent 2nds or a good RHD prospect and a 2nd. I would definitely like to see him go to DET where I believe he will show he is capable of being a top pairing puck-moving defenseman.

Statistically speaking, two picks in the 50-60 range have a higher chance of turning into a NHL player than one pick at #22 have.

I like the idea of Bertuzzi for Vilardi but I don't think LA will trade him. Detroit would have to overpay by adding a high 2nd or a mid tier prospect.

That’s my point, STL can’t protect him so why is going for more than a superior player in Toews? My asset management approach involves calculated moves to maximize those values. The draft is always a crap shot but that goes both ways and is why guys like Pastrnak make it towards the end of the first. Exposure is going to be critical but these kids have had a book on them for a bit now so if anything a well prepared team has a significant advantage this year over others. I’d much rather go after cap dumps or UFAs as stop gaps than the supposed ask by armchair GMs versus what Toews received last year.


I guess it depends on how you define NHL player. I’m assuming you’re referring to Dover’s NHL draft pick probabilities? If so, I’d much rather a prospect ranked around ~20 like Svechkov or Lambos than 2 guys in that 55-60 range. Good drafting teams can routinely hit in the 20s, look at Washington recently.

The Dunn value has been argued to death, I really just peg it at a pick anywhere between 20-50, and I fully expect it to be an 'L' of a trade for the Blues in 5 yrs. I also expect it to be an underwhelming return, probably a mid-2nd if they can't find a hockey trade.

I def see your point about Toews and his trade precedent. It sounds like you don't buy it, but I fully believe that the pick values are depressed for this year's draft. I disagree with you that it's only the top-5 that is weak, I think the whole class is pretty low on potential. Obviously there are some boom or bust types and post-draft development/improvement is very real, but I can nearly guarantee that the player drafted with the pick the Blues get for him won't have a better career than Dunn - and I've seen the Blues pull plenty of talent out of the 20-40s overall (Perron, Oshie, Fabbri, Thomas, Kyrou, Cole, etc). I.e. anyone that trades for Dunn isn't going to look back and say "darn, I really wish we would've kept that 2021 pick".

I think it ultimately depends on a few factors. Like where that pick lands in that range 20-50 and who’s available during the selection. I have favorites based on some “expert analysts” boards but how the draft shakes out is always a crap shoot. I won’t get too in detail in who I like in the range but I’ve already mentioned a few names like Svechkov, Lambos, and Coronato is a few ACGMs lately.

NYI got 2 2nd rd picks Toews who is 27 and Dunn is only 24.

Ok say the Dunn trade doesn't happen who is there at #23 and who does Detroit take?

Toews was 26 when traded and it’s hard to get ice time when playing for Trotz which he excelled in. We can speculate that the addition of Krug & Faulk stole ice time from Dunn but they also lost AP. He hasn’t established himself like Toews did pre-trade and usually a good indicator for potential in defensemen is around that 200 games played mark.

If you give me a ranking to go by, I can tell you who id go for in that particular situation. McKenzie hasn’t updated his post WJC but in that scenario at 6, I’d do Clarke or Eklund and at 22 Svechkov or Coronato.

Fantastic comments by all...probably the best I've seen. Logical back and forth with no insults...wow.