You are the GM for the St. Louis Blues and are on the clock. Who do you pick?

I believe that Erik Johnson is the best play in this draft. However, as with most Defensemen, he will need some time to progress and think that with the top pick they are going to want a difference maker right out of the box (a la Crosby or Ovechkin). Phil Kessel has been hyped for the past couple years and though he is no Sydney Crosby, he will help generate some much needed buzz and desperately needed points for the Blues.

Obviously the Blues have more problems than one player can fix, but you don't get a top 3 pick that often (unless you are the Pens), so I don't see how you could trade it away.

Bottom Line, management type people usually thinks in terms of butts in the seats before wins 3-4 years down the road and Phil Kessel can give that to them.

My pick: Phil Kessel

It's looking like Erik Johnson goes first, but Jordan Staal is supposed to be better than his brother Eric. As we learned this year, Eric is great. I'd hate to watch a boatload of points disappear like that in the new NHL.

Kessel has problems with work ethic apparently. He may slip in this group.

Phil kessel, big up side, his game reminds me of forberg.the NHL has changed so the skilled players can excel and prosper kessel will be a top 15 player with in 3 years.only a fool of a gm would pass him by

You want to know what I pick? First, a new owner, a new GM, a new city to play in, a new 4 LW, 4 RW, 4 C, 6 D, 2 G, and 4 new coaches.