St. Louis Blues load up on the blue line in NHL Mock Draft 3.0 with THREE first-round talents

81st Overall: Matvei Babenko, RW/Toros Neftekamsk

Finally, a forward, and one listed as a right wing who can really play on the off-wing as well. Matvei Babenko also boasts remarkable size at 6’3, 201 pounds, and his current contract only runs until 2024-25, so we’ll see what kind of jump he makes in the VHL this year and what his future plans are. Still, a high-potential forward who could have a future as a lower liner in the NHL.

95th Overall: Ben Danford, D/Oshawa Generals

Yep, just like that, we’re going right back to the blue line, this time snagging Ben Danford, a high-IQ player who loves pressuring opponents when his team doesn’t have the puck. With 33 points and 32 assists in 66 games, Danford has also been a catalyst in helping his team finish plays, giving him a good deal of two-way potential. 

113th Overall: Lukas Fischer, D/Sarnia Sting

You can tell I went into this mock draft with the goal of filling the blue line, and Lukas Fischer was my latest find. At 6’4, he’s got the ideal height, but he still needs to get his 181-pound frame up at least 15 pounds, if not more, before he’s ready to scale up. Luckily, the rangy blueliner has a September birthday and two full seasons left in the OHL, giving him plenty of time to further develop his build and to keep trending toward two-way player range - 34 points and six goals in 68 regular season outings for the Sting.