The draft lottery is done and dusted, with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the first-overall selection and the San Jose Sharks jumping up to second. The St. Louis Blues, as a result, stay right where they were pre-lottery: 11th overall.
We're going to see a lot of prospect names thrown around in the coming weeks: who would fit the Blues' roster from a positional standpoint, risers and fallers that may or may not be available by the time general manager Doug Armstrong takes the stage for the last time. One certainty, though, is that whatever the Blues opt to do with the 11th-overall pick, that player (or trade return, which we'll get to) is the most likely of the Blues' 2026 draft selections to break camp with the team and play NHL games in the 2026-27 season.
While it's not the norm for players taken outside the top ten to make their respective NHL clubs in their first seasons, it's not unheard of. Jett Luchanko, who was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers 13th overall in 2024, made the Flyers out of camp two years in a row; he was ultimately sent back to his juniors team, but a taste of NHL experience early on can be good for developing prospects.
Of course, maybe the Blues don't even use the pick to select a player--maybe they trade it for someone who can help the team compete right now. It's still unclear whether the Blues are going to be rebuilding or retooling, but an 11th-overall pick could be quite a valuable part of a trade package for a top-six forward or top-four defenseman. If they do trade the pick for immediate help, then whatever player (or players) they get in return better have a major impact!
We're a few weeks out from the draft and in the thick of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Generally, front offices don't make transactions until after the Cup's been awarded so we've got plenty of time to see what the Blues front office decides to do.
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