Blues Select Defenseman Jordan Schmaltz in the First Round

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JzqvjJGSDTU?rel=0

The Blues had to wait until late Friday night to name their pick in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, selecting defenseman Jordan Schmaltz 25th overall. Schmaltz, a defenseman that loves to join in on the attack, was the team’s first of seven total picks in the 2012 Draft, barring a trade.

Schmaltz, featured in the video above, was ranked 38th in TSN’s draft rankings. There they mention that Schmaltz can both beat opposing defenseman with his skills and has an excellent shot. He can man the power play and is able to move the puck quickly and efficiently. The line here is that Schmaltz is becoming a well-rounded player.

Shortly after being selected, Schmaltz was asked which NHL defensemen he models his game after. He replied with Drew Doughty and Keith Yandle – both very good answers.

Unlike other players that jumped off the board in the first round, Schmaltz still has a lot to learn, especially when it comes to the defensive side of the game. Don’t expect him to make an impact at the NHL level in 2012-13 – it won’t happen. Typically, defensive prospects take a bit longer to pan out as opposed to offensive prospects.

This leaves the Blues with six picks heading into Day 2. While other teams made noise with some big trades, the Blues were mostly quiet. This could easily change, in a hurry, in the coming days.