St. Louis Blues Farm System Ranked Highly Again

The St. Louis Blues might find NHL success a little elusive at times, shown by their absence of a championship. Their success in restocking their ranks should come as no surprise though.

The St. Louis Blues might not ever get the flashy names or the can’t-miss players in each NHL Entry Draft. That is due to consistently drafting in the mid-to-late first round because of their usual regular season success.

While the Stanley Cup continues to elude them, the team continues to have success in the draft room. Even though they do not draft all that high, they have loaded up on good talent up and down their farm system and have been recognized for it.

For the second season in a row, the Blues have been recognized to have one of the best pipeline’s of talent on the way in hockey. In fact, they have improved their standing. A little less than a year ago, they were said to have had the eighth best pipeline. Now, the Sporting News released their rankings and have the Blues up at fifth.

What is even more impressive about the Blues’ rank is how they have done it. They are the only team in the top five that is not currently in the middle of a major rebuild. Even Colorado, who ranks just underneath them, are still in the process of coming out of their rebuild.

More from Editorials

• St. Louis Blues Need Kasperi Kapanen To Be On Best Behavior
• Hayes’ Debut And Other Bold Predictions for the St. Louis Blues
• St. Louis Blues Captaincy Is Suddenly A Huge Problem For 2023-24
• St. Louis Blues National Games Cause More Problems Than They’re Worth
• St. Louis Blues Brayden Schenn Has To Be An Impact Player In 2023-24

Only Tampa Bay, at seventh, is a more legitimate Cup contender than the Blues with a pipeline to match. St. Louis is just currently in that odd in-between phase, waiting for the pipeline players to take their next step and supplement all the pieces the Blues have acquired for the NHL right now.

Still, even though we have had to temper out excitement for these kids a little, it is exciting to know they are still highly touted outside the area. Sometimes you wonder if you pump yourself up about your own prospects too much and they are not good. While they still have to prove it on the ice, at least we know that other eyes are seeing what we are seeing.

We know that Robert Thomas is on the cusp of playing in the NHL. Whether that is this season or next remains to be seen, but the Blues have big plans for him. Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin are both burners with good stick skills that would be a big boost to a team that still lags behind in speed.

The Blues still have a goaltender of the future in Ville Husso while they figure out if Jake Allen can cement himself as the goaltender of the present or has to move on. They also still have good supplemental players waiting in the minors like Sammy Blais and Jordan Schmaltz.

When we see any of these guys in the NHL full time is up to them. The Blues have, admittedly, made their paths a little harder with plenty of additions over the summer of 2018.

The counter to that is that competition can breed greatness. Everyone knows that nobody will be handed a spot, so they have to be on top of their games at all times. Some buckle under that pressure and some rise to the occasion. The Blues need more of the latter and if some of these pipeline players can provide it, so be it.

It’s useless to have a great minor system and never have that help at the NHL level. It is merely a useless accolade if they never make the jump. Even still, it is more reason to be excited for 2018-19 and beyond.

Right now, the Blues should have a good mix of youth and experience throughout the upcoming season. Maybe we do not see as much of the “kids” as some hoped, but they will get their chance. We have seen that people from outside the organization value their skills too, so at least we know the team is not blowing smoke up our backsides to provide false hope.