The Central Division got so much stronger with this rendition of the NHL Draft. Going into the next few seasons, the St. Louis Blues are going to have a tough time with their rivals and that is because of this draft.
So, let's discuss how this division was blown wide-open, and what grade the Blues should deserve with their three selections.
Central Division is the wild, wild west
Over the past couple of seasons, the Central Division has been dominated by the same number fo teams every year. Colorado, Dallas and Winnipeg have been solid teams for a while now, but now the divison has become a bit of a warzone. The Blues, who were not supposed to finish as high as they were in the division, and certainly not make it into the last wildcard spot in the Western Conference, are knocking on the door of de-throning one of the top-three teams.
In the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks, Utah Mammoth, and Nashville Predators had picks three through five and used them flawlessly. Chicago got a sidekick to Connor Bedard in Anton Frondell, the first player to ever wear the Mammoth's new threads is Caleb Desnoyers and Nashville added Brady Martin to fix their issues down the middle of the lineup. All three of those players will do wonders for their respectful franchises, giving the Blues a bit of a headache for years to come.
Blues grade for the draft
This grade is due in large part to the acquisition of Justin Carbonneau. The later-round picks have the potential to be good, but there is a big-if there. Carbonneau, however, has the potential to be great in the 'Lou.
Let us also not forget that the Blues only had three draft picks, and fans should be thankful for it. By using the middle-round picks to acquire Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, this team is in a fantastic situation. These three-picks have no real impact on the 2025-26 season, but they can be used for some depth in the future.