Improving the blue line may be the preferred method for the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 NHL Draft, and it’s why we listed five dynamic blueliners general manager Doug Armstrong must seriously consider at the end of June before discussing any other position. But just because he should go after defensemen early doesn’t mean he will, so it makes little sense to avoid making a list involving some forwards who may be there in the middle of the first round.
When compiling a list of the best centers and wingers to take, we weren’t just looking at those putting up the best numbers, as there is a good chance such players will be long gone by the time the Blues pick. But it also doesn’t mean those mentioned in the following slides haven’t been productive.
Sure, some put up pedestrian stats as recently as last season. But breakout campaigns pushed them toward the middle to the back half of the first round - with one forward skyrocketing even higher - and other intangibles like work ethic, hockey IQ, and/or the ability to play a strong two-way game also influenced this list.
St. Louis Blues will have quite a few high-end forwards in 2024 NHL Draft
One forward that did not make the list was Igor Chernysov, whom Tankathon mocked to the Blues with the 16th pick on May 1st. While Chernysov is a great player with excellent size, sound numbers in the MHL, and experience in the KHL, I wanted to explore those whom this particular outlet is projecting to either go a few selections before the Blues pick or at least a few slots after.
There is always that one ultra-talented player who will end up freefalling, and likewise, others will work their way into a mid-first-round pick. So let’s check out the one forward who went 11th overall in Tankathon’s mock who I would like to see fall to the Blues should Armstrong take a forward over a blueliner, then discuss four others whose stocks have an outstanding chance to trend north.