The Blues seem to have taken a step back from their original goal of “staying competitive while rebuilding.” That said, the season is not completely over, and the team has shown glimpses of the future with Dalibor Dvorsky and Otto Stenberg stepping in, new faces like Jonatan Berggren making an immediate impact, and promising defenseman Logan Mailloux. These players all have at least two things in common for now: they fit the age group for the Blues' rebuild and have been identified as key pieces of the organization.
With the Blues dealing with injuries to key players throughout the season and struggling to generate offense, they’ve been near the bottom of the league standings for much of the year. Otto Stenbergs' brother, Ivar, has been gaining attention across the league, as many now consider him the top draft pick. Ivar Stenberg is a winger who plays similarly to Otto, yet his ceiling is projected to be higher. He is best known for his elite playmaking, excellent vision, and two-way ability. At just 18 years old. Stenberg is nearly averaging a point per game in the SHL, with eight goals, twenty-one assists, and twenty-nine points. The 2026 Draft Prospect Rankings have Ivar Stenberg ranked first among international skaters.
The 2026 NHL Draft could be a historic opportunity for the St. Louis Blues. Ivar Stenberg is making waves in the SHL and appears to be a top pick currently. If the Blues draft Stenberg, it would mark the eighth set of brothers to join the St. Louis Blues organization, with Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph being the most recent. Others include Bill, Bob, and Barclay Plager; Harvey and Curt Bennett; Gino and Paul Cavallini; Danny and Kevin O’Shea; Noel and Roger Picard; and Rich and Ron Suter.