The St. Louis Blues will be picking 11th and 15th on June 28 for the 2026 NHL Draft. They did not move an inch from their projected spot, and the possible prospects at those numbers could be a good indication of where this team might be in a season or two.
But, what if there was another option with those two top-15 picks? What if there was another way the Blues could make a serious switch-up this offseason, and put this retool into hyperdrive?
In General Manager Doug Armstrong's final act as boss, he has a few paths he could take to dictate the legacy he leaves behind. Let's go over them.
Draft the future
Option one is to simply use the 11th pick and 15th pick to draft two studs. The Blues have a number of prospects that are either already here at the NHL-level, or very close to it once the 2026-27 season rolls around. These two picks could also be in that category in this upcoming season or the year after.
This prospect pool that is entering the NHL landscape is deep and full of high-end talent. Surely there is no mistake in whomever falls to them at those pick selections.
Package the two picks to move up
With that said on how great this upcoming draft class could be, why not take the two top-15 picks and try to move up. Toronto won the Draft Lottery, and will likely be putting Gavin McKenna on the wing alongside Auston Matthews in October. But, San Jose at No. 2 is where things get interesting.
Ivar Stenberg, the brother of Blues prospect Otto Stenberg, is projected to be the second-best player on the draft board. Can Armstong move up and reunite the brothers?
Trade one for established talent, keep the other
The NHL teams in the playoffs, currently, are going to want to get in on this draft class. Why not take that 11th pick and try and grab an established talent. The team that jumps off the board is Ottawa, and their Draft penalty of picking 32nd in this draft has some indication on them wanting to change that.
A package deal with that first round pick and another prospect could land them a solid NHLer that can help patch up the many holes in this lineup. Even if they get rid of one of the two picks, they have the other to supplement the pipeline.
Add us as a preferred source on Google