The NHL draft is just a couple weeks away and, for the St. Louis Blues, it will be the last one with Doug Armstrong at the helm as general manager. For better or for worse, the Blues have instituted a succession plan, with Alex Steen taking over as general manager on July 1, a few days after the draft.
This could be the most important draft of Armstrong's storied career.
The Blues have three picks in the first round, which is enough to add some high-end talent for the health of the franchise in the future, or make some trades to help the roster right now--a decision they'll have to make soon. Beyond the first round, the Blues have an additional nine draft picks, though none are in the second round. With Robert Thomas off the trade block for the time being, it sure seems like the organization's going to go for it again next year.
If the Blues do decide to try and contend again next season, rather than taking a step back, then Armstrong should be shopping the 15th- and 29th-overall picks for players that can help this team compete in the present. They have enough draft capital to fill out their prospect pipeline while trying to add NHL-ready players.
Armstrong can't afford to play it safe with the picks he does retain, though--especially in what's shaping up to be a somewhat weak draft class. This team needs high-end talent, not a collection of solid but limited middle-of-the-lineup players; he'll need to swing for the fences later in the draft and gamble on those sorts of high ceiling/low floor players. Or, if a trade that can help now and in the future (for, say, a young player just entering their prime), he should jump at the opportunity.
The Blues have 12 total picks in the draft, which gives Armstrong plenty of chances to lay the foundations for a successful franchise for years to come, whether through trades or making the picks outright. As long as him and Steen are on the same page, this could be one of the most pivotal drafts in Blues history.
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