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

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.