Top 5 forwards the St. Louis Blues must have on their shortlist in the 2024 NHL Draft

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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.

Tij Iginla, Kelowna

Few prospects in the 2024 draft saw their productivity take off in the way Tij Iginla’s has. The 17-year-old didn’t make a significant impact with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, putting up just 18 points and six goals in 48 games, and he made just three appearances in the playoffs. But Iginla was also one of the youngest players on what was a stacked Thunderbirds team, so this had little to do with loss of competition or underperformance.

Following a strong showing for Team Canada that saw him score two goals and contribute seven points in WHC-17, Iginla continued his WHL career with the Kelowna Rockets, where he found twine 47 times and logged 84 points in 64 games. He also scored another nine goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games,

Iginla’s 47 goals equaled 18.8 percent of the 250 the team scored this year, and his 84 points meant he contributed to 33.6 percent of them. That’s ultra-impressive, and Iginla isn’t finished just yet, as he will return to the junior ranks next season.

From a size standpoint, the 6’0, 185-pound Iginla is ahead of the curve. So, if Doug Armstrong went with a forward over a blueliner, it wouldn’t be an ideal scenario, but it would be hard not to like Iginla in the system.

Maxim Masse, Chicoutimi

We talked about how Tij Iginla broke out as a dynamic scorer this season, but Maxim Masse has spent two years in the QMJHL regularly contributing and finding twine often. In 2022-23, Masse put up 29 goals and 62 points in 65 regular season contests, and that number increased to 36 goals and 75 points in 67 matchups this past campaign.

He was also a dynamic power play asset, as Cap Friendly reminded us that 13 of Masse’s goals came on the man advantage. While his numbers show us he’s a great shooter, the real question is whether Masse is as good as advertised or if the Chicoutimi Sagueneens just played well offensively.

That’s a valid question, as the Sagueneens finished in the top half of the league with 247 goals, including fourth out of 10 teams in the Eastern Conference. But this is also a team that finished in the middle of the pack in the QMJHL and saw their playoff run end in a four-game sweep to Cape Breton in the second round.

So it’s more appropriate to say Masse played for an above-average team and that his overall drive, feel for the game, and ability to build epic chemistry with his linemates made the Sagueneens a better hockey team.

Jett Luchanko, Guelph

Another one with a later birthday and decent size at 5’11, 183 lbs, Jett Luchanko’s production is similar to what Tij Iginla saw. In 2022-23, he played in 46 regular season games and registered just 14 points and five goals. But this past season, his production skyrocketed to include 74 points and 20 goals in 68 games.

While not yet an incredible scorer, the data alone shows you that Luchanko knows where to find the hot hand who will convert the sequence into a goal. It’s something we also saw in the playoffs, as Luchanko put up three assists in four games and in international play, in which four of his five points were helpers.

Better yet, it wasn’t like the Guelph Storm was a great hockey team, and Luchanko had to step in as the top player this past season. Raw ability can only take a player so far in such a tough situation, and possessing a high hockey IQ worked wonders for the 17-year-old, something Peter Baracchini of The Hockey Writers pointed out.

Luchanko’s uptick in production and his ability to wreak havoc regardless of which zone he’s in means someone is getting a player who can contribute all over the ice. Once again, drafting sound defensemen is key for Doug Armstrong, but a forward who brings a balanced approach would also make a great asset to the system.

Dean Letourneau, St. Andrew’s College

Dean Letourneau’s size would make any fan of the NHL’s 32 teams want him in their system, thanks to his 6’7, 209-pound build. And at age 18, he may not be finished filling out his frame just yet. By the time he’s in the NHL, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Letourneau clocked in between 225 and 230 pounds and stood even taller, and that doesn’t include the kind of strength he will also add in that span.

His status as an alternate captain is also a positive since it shows us Letourneau can be a future leader in whichever system he calls home, but what may be more striking than anything else is his productivity.

Here’s a hint: Letourneau didn’t put up two points per game; he finished the regular season at St. Andrew’s College with 2.26 points per contest, or 127 total and 61 goals in 56 matchups.

He’s also taking the collegiate route and will suit up for the Boston College Eagles in 2024-25. A team that just earned a trip to the National Championship Game this past season will seek to make a return, and an asset like Letourneau will certainly help them get there.

He’s a power forward in the making and even if he doesn’t land in the Blues system, a player like Letourneau will be a privilege to watch over the next few seasons.

Tanner Howe, Regina

Every forward on this list has at least decent size, and the 5’11, 181-pound Tanner Howe is no different. Like most forwards on the Regina Pats, someone had to step up and be the go-to guy following Connor Bedard’s departure to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Howe did that in more than one way.

Overall, his points productivity dropped, but it declined from 85 in 67 games to 77 in 68 games, so he still logged over a point per in the regular season. Howe was also the team captain this year, so he’s another player listed who exemplifies leadership qualities, and it’s always an added bonus for NHL organizations.

Best yet, Howe has an early birthday, so he will be eligible to make the leap into the AHL for the 2025-26 season, while most prospects in the CHL leagues will be waiting two years before entering the pro ranks. Howe has an incredible blend of productivity, experience, and leadership qualities, and in time, he will also possess pro-ready size.

No, his numbers may not be as eye-popping as some of the other forward prospects listed, but we can’t base everything on statistics. You can argue that nobody has better intangibles in this group of five forwards than Howe and such intangibles may take a player further.

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(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)

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