St. Louis Blues Top 30 Draft Picks Of All Time (Part 3)

5. Vladimir Tarasenko

While it seems too early to put Vladimir Tarasenko this high, it’s hard not to. There’s a certain combination of talent and the feeling that the Blues got a bit of a steal that just warrants him getting a lot of attention.

He’s had over 70 points in his last two seasons. He’s got 209 points with the Blues (as of writing this) in 259 games. He could have more as well.

Coming from Russia and not speaking English, it took him awhile to acclimatize to new surroundings and a new league with a new style. He warmed up quickly though.

He scored 21 goals in his first true season in America. He joined the 40 goal club in 2016-17 and could have had more if he was not looking to set up teammates just as much as he looks to score.

Tarasenko has been recognized nationally now as well. He has been named the coverboy of NHL 17 by EA Sports. He’s a two-time All-Star.

He’s also young. At 24 years old, he’s just hitting his stride. The Blues scored him by a bit of luck as well.

Taken with the 16th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, the Blues hadn’t really planned on drafting him. They had selected Jaden Schwartz with the 14th overall pick.

While Schwartz has proven to be a good player, who knew that the guy they got two picks later would become the face of the franchise? Considering the Blues got the pick from Ottawa for David Runblad, I’d say this may end up being the Blues’ version of the Lou Brock trade.

Fans expect even more from Tarasenko now that he’s cost the 40 goal threshold in a season and it looks like they’ll get it. However, even if he stays as a 40 goal/70 point guy, he’ll belong at this spot or maybe even higher as his career progresses.

4. Brian Sutter

Who knew that a simple farming family from Viking, Alberta would become one of the best hockey families in the NHL. One of the best of the bunch was Brian Sutter and the Blues got his best.

Sutter was drafted by St. Louis in the second round of the 1976 draft and taken with the 20th selection overall. He played immediately, but it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a wasted pick.

Sutter only had 14 points in 38 games his first year. He faltered even more with only 22 points in 78 games the next. Sensing things were slipping away, he exploded in year three.

80 points and 41 goals in 77 games to solidify his spot with the team. He never looked back.

He never materialized into a consistent 80 point scorer, but he became even more. Beyond just the points, he became a leader.

He became one of the best captains of all time in Blues’ history. He led the Blues to a Western Conference Final, which hadn’t happened since the early days of the franchise.

He also played every game of his career with the Blues. He scored 636 points in 779 games. He was a three-time All-Star. If not for a bad back, he likely would have crossed the 1000 game marker.

He went on to become a popular coach in the league as well. As the man in charge for the Blues and three other teams, he had a record of 451‑417‑160 for 1062 points.

He was one of the best captains the team had, but only the fourth best pick the team ever made.

3. Rod Brind’Amour

Rod Brind’Amour had a very brief career with the Blues, but he was quite involved. After being drafted ninth overall in the 1988 draft, he made an impact almost immediately.

After one season with Michigan State, Brind’Amour came in and scored 61 points in his rookie season. After having a sophomore slump at 49 points, the team seemed to sour on him.

He then became embroiled in some politics behind the scenes. He was offered up to the New Jersey Devils as part of a compensation package for the signing of Brendan Shanahan. After that didn’t work and the team lost Scott Stevens, the Blues traded him anyway to Philadelphia for Ron Sutter and Murray Baron.

His career went a bit up and down from there on out. However, his best was among the best in the league at the time and his worst was still way above average.

In the end, although his time was very brief in St. Louis (seems to be a theme here), he proved his worth over the course of his career. He ended his career with 1184 points in 1484 games. He also had 110 points in 157 games with St. Louis alone.

He scored double digits in the playoffs five times, including 18 points during Carolina’s championship season. He was an All-Star and won the Selke Trophy twice.

The Blues could have used a player like Brind’Amour. Still, he was a wise choice in the draft.

2. Doug Gilmour

Doug Gilmour was taken by the Blues in the seventh round of the 1982 draft. He was taken 134 overall, so not a whole lot was expected of him if people are honest.

After scoring 177 points in the OHL though, the Blues didn’t have much choice but to bring him in. He didn’t light the world on fire, but he made sure they didn’t see it as a mistake either.

He averaged 54 points over his first three seasons in St. Louis. He went off in the playoffs as well, scoring 21 points in the Blues run to the conference finals in 1985-86.

The following season, he exploded for 106 points in the regular season. It was the only time he would have that many with the Blues and one of only three 100+ point seasons.

The Blues were forced to trade Gilmour after he became involved in a legal issue, but he didn’t let that derail his career. He averaged 87 points in three full seasons with Calgary and also won a Stanley Cup where he scored 22 points in the effort.

Gilmour would go on to have some fantastic years with the Toronto Maple Leafs before bouncing around the league later in his career. Like the others on this list, he still managed to score quite a bit even though the teams he played for seemed to not appreciate it in the end.

He only had the one Stanley Cup, but that’s more than most. He was a two-time All-Star as well. He would end his career with almost a point per game. He had 354 points in 384 games with the Blues. He had 1414 points in 1474 career games.

While the legal situation he became involved in was messy, he was never indicted. If he was innocent, it’s sad that he could not spend more time in St. Louis. However, he proved them right in drafting him while he was here and also over the course of his career.

1. Bernie Federko

Could it be anyone else at the top spot? The Blues took a kid from Foam Lake, Saskatchewan with the seventh overall pick in the 1976 NHL Draft and he turned out to be one of the best the franchise ever saw, drafted or not.

The man almost known more as just Bernie as he is Federko is at or near the top of almost every category for the Blues. He’s number one in points, assists and games played. He’s second in goals and hat tricks, third in game-tying goals, fourth in game-winning goals and second in powerplay goals.

Like his fellow farmboy, Brian Sutter, Federko got off to a slow start. He scored 14 goals and 23 points in 31 games in year one and followed it up with 17 goals and 41 points in 72 games in year two.

He only scored fewer than 90 points in one season out of the next eight though. He blew up for 95 points in year three. He had 34 goals and 102 points in helping the Blues to the Western Conference Finals in 1985-86.

He had 100 or more points four times. He had 90 or more points seven times and had 80 or more points nine times.

If not for some guy named Adam Oates being put on the block, Federko would likely have finished his career in St. Louis. Instead, he scored 57 points in his final year with the Detroit Red Wings at the all too early age of 33.

Sensing his production would not rebound, he decided to retire and return to St. Louis. He’s become a bit of an icon in the area and joined the team’s broadcast crew, first as a color commentator and now as a studio analyst.

If not for someone named Brett Hull, Federko would likely be considered the best to wear the Note in history. However, there is no doubt that he’s the best the team ever drafted.

He averaged more than a point per game over his season. 1000 games played, on the dot, and 1130 points overall and 1073 points in 924 games with the Blues.

Next: Blues Top 30 Draft Picks 30: 19-11

It takes a special player to score more than a point per game. When you’re in the conversation with names like Hull or Gretzky in that regard, you know you have a special player. The Blues were smart enough to realize it when he was still just a kid.