Payne Head Coach
Blues Pick 14th

The 2009-10 season has only just ended and we already are getting some answers for 2010-11. Davis Payne will be the man behind the bench next season as the interim label is removed and Payne becomes the team’s 23rd head coach. In other news, the Blues will have the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft.

Neither story really comes as a surprise.

Davis Payne was touted as being able to work well with the youngsters on this squad and help them develop at the professional level, and he will get a chance to continue his work next year. The 2009-10 season contained mixed results across the board for Payne, but honestly, it’s not like we could expect grand things from someone taking over during the season. Andy Murray had his style and Davis Payne has his – it’s tough to transition styles while the season is progressing, let alone start something brand new.

All things considered, I think Payne did very well considering the environment he was tossed into. He has a lot of work still to do and next year will be a much better scenario to evaluate him in. Training camp should have a very different feel when compared to this past season’s, and here is to hoping Payne finds more success in his first full season at the helm.

In regards to the 2010 NHL Draft, the Blues will hold the 14th pick. While it doesn’t hold the glamor as a number one or number two selection, there is still plenty of talent to be had at that stage in the draft. Jeremy Rutherford takes a look at some players that were selected from the 14th spot over the years, and the list is full of names that most people would be thrilled to have on their roster, such as Brent Seabrook, selected by Chicago 14th overall in 2003. It’s nearly impossible to prognosticate what the Blues might do with their selection, and it’s nearly impossible to guess how the draft will unfold outside of the first two selections.

The 2010 NHL Draft will take place on June 25-26 in Los Angeles.

Cross two questions off your list for the summer. More answers should continue to surface as we move deeper into the summer.