With the two-week warning period for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft approaching, the St. Louis Blues face some big decisions that will shape the present and the future.
For the second time in four years, the Blues own three first-round picks in the upcoming draft- their own 11th pick, the 15th from the Red Wings and the 29th from the Avalanche. Whereas the Blues used their three picks in 2023, reports suggest that the team will be more aggressive this go-around.
After Doug Armstrong took over as GM after the 2009-10 season, he immediately traded for Jaroslav Halak and turned 2009 first-round pick David Rundblad into Vladimir Tarasenko. With Alex Steen ready to emerge from the shadows and take the reins this summer, it would be a surprise to few if he went bold this offseason, and that starts at the Draft.
Top Prospects Are Out of the Blues’ Reach… for Now
At pick No. 11, there will still be high-end talent available for the Blues, but it’ll be a tier below some of their potential top targets. Confidently, forwards Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra, along with defensemen Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff, will be off the board in the top-10 selections.
Were the Blues to move up, the target would almost certainly be Stenberg. The younger brother of 2023 first-round pick Otto Stenberg, Ivar was a fixture as the No. 1 overall pick in mock drafts until recent weeks. The left wing’s style of play screams St. Louis Blues hockey- a strong 200-foot game, with high-end playmaking abilities and an ability to play stronger than his 6-foot-0, 180-pound frame would suggest.
However, Blues fans may need to pump the brakes on the team making a move like that. In a recent Athletic article, Armstrong downplayed much of the recent speculation, saying most draft deals don’t materialize until days before teams start making picks.
Is There a Potential Trade-up Target?
As of now, Tony Feltrin and co. are preparing as if they will remain where they are. There’s no telling who they have at the top of their wish list, but Viggo Björck seems like a strong candidate. Björck, a Swedish center, is one of the smartest, most well-rounded players in this class.
The biggest question with him is size, as he’s listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but his style of play leaves little to be desired. Some early mock drafts had Björck going 11th, however he’s recently graduated into the sixth-tenth range, meaning the Blues may have to make a move to ensure they get their guy.
Who Is Likely Available at Pick No. 11?
The Blues desperately need center depth behind Robert Thomas and Dalibor Dvorsky. Assuming Björck is off the board, Tynan Lawrence could be who they pivot toward. The Boston University product took a while to get going in his transition to the NCAA, but posted an impressive six points in five World Junior games.
One of the youngest players in this draft, Lawrence projects as a reliable, two-way, second-line center. That’s something the Blues have lacked and something that no team can have enough of.
Unlike the NFL, where positional need comes first when picking in the Draft, many NHL teams choose to take the best player available to them. From the Blues’ perspective, it’s hard to imagine the team not being interested in Ethan Belchetz. This left wing for the Windsor Spitfires is a power forward in every sense of the term.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, with a strong shot, good skating for his size, and the ability to win puck battles. With rumors surrounding several top Blues forwards, they could view him as part of the future core.
The clock is ticking for teams to make their final decisions. There is a chance the Blues will select one of Björck, Lawrence or Belchetz with the 11th pick. There’s also a chance they’ll surprise everyone once again.
Leave a comment