A question mark looming this offseason for the St. Louis Blues is what they will do with their first-round pick. Historically, Doug Armstrong has been reluctant to trade first-round picks, the last time being in 2018 when the Blues traded for Ryan O'Reilly. It was a win-now move for the Blues, who had an established core, and the team believed O'Reilly was the missing piece in their objective of winning the Stanley Cup. The gamble paid off, with the Blues hoisting the Stanley Cup less than a year later.
In Armstrong's post-season press conference, he stated, "I'm hoping that we have turned the tide on the re-whatever and we're starting to become a competitive team that has expectations." His response made it seem as though, for the first time since 2018, the team could use their pick to trade for an already-established NHLer to make the team more competitive right now. In all likelihood, the team will make a selection with their first-round pick on draft night, but let us examine the possible options the team could do with that pick.
If the Blues Stand Pat at 19
The 2025 NHL draft is not as strong as the previous ones, but that does not mean the Blues will not find a steal with the 19th pick. The Blues have a good track record, picking in the middle or late in the first round. If the Blues choose to keep their pick, there are a couple of players Blues fans should keep an eye on.
Malcolm Spence is a two-way goalscoring winger for the Erie Otters. He finished the season with 32 goals and 73 points in 65 games. His strong play continued into the playoffs, posting four goals and nine points in nine games. The left winger is listed on Elite Prospects at 6'2" and 201 pounds. Spence can affect a game in many ways, whether through his goalscoring ability, defensive play, or physicality. Draft experts have Spence going anywhere from 15 to 25, but if he is available, the Blues should not pass on taking him with the 19th overall pick.
Bill Zonnon is a speedy playmaking winger for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The 6'2", 190-pound winger led the Huskies in assists with 55 and finished with 83 points in 63 games. Zonnon has good stickhandling ability that pairs well with his size and strong understanding of the game. The Montreal native is expected to go anywhere in the second half of the first round, with draft experts having him listed as low as the 15th and as high as the 31st-ranked prospect on draft boards.
Should the Blues Trade Their First-Round Pick?
If we were to take Armstrong at his word that he wants the team to be more competitive moving forward, the best way would be to flip this year's first-round pick for an established player who could help the team win right now. The pressing need for the Blues right now would be to bolster their blueline. Ryan Suter is a free agent, and the Blues may try to trade someone like Nick Leddy, who is coming off an injury-plagued, lacklustre season.
The name floating around right now is the Buffalo Sabres defenceman Bowen Byram. The reports are that the Sabres are willing to listen to offers on the former 4th overall pick. Byram is an excellent offensive puck-moving defenceman, but has had injury problems that have plagued him throughout his career. Byram would help the team's power play, which was ranked 16th in the NHL this season. He would add a dimension to the Blues game that they do not currently have, which is a legitimate puck-moving defenceman. If the asking price is not too steep, it may be worth the Blues' time to take a chance on the once-promising blueliner.