2026 Blues Draft Stategy

[a smell of green grass]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

[Old_Goat]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Well, I do call them as I see them...I agree with you.

[sdaltons]

Two 6s when it should be 6 7

[Bubble4427]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The tutti mare at Zia’s is my favorite dinner in all of St. Louis.
It’s even decent if it has to be reheated at home the next day.

[stlblue06]

Two 6s when it should be 6 7

Oh boy this is turning into a January draft strategy thread quickly

[LGB73]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Agreed overall.. I always laugh at BPA because that would mean you have a prospect that ever single outlet ranking prospects agrees on is the 4th, 5th, 12th best player. Once you get past the generational type guys, the ranking in prospects within a range is pretty fluid. Also, if the BPA is the end all be all, then you could draft with your 1st round pick a LD year after year after year after year after year because that was the BPA which would be a waste.

[The Average Gatsby]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Agreed overall.. I always laugh at BPA because that would mean you have a prospect that ever single outlet ranking prospects agrees on is the 4th, 5th, 12th best player. Once you get past the generational type guys, the ranking in prospects within a range is pretty fluid. Also, if the BPA is the end all be all, then you could draft with your 1st round pick a LD year after year after year after year after year because that was the BPA which would be a waste.

When people and teams say they’re picking bpa they mean bpa according to their own rankings, not rankings published by any particular site. Just fyi.

[LGB73]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Agreed overall.. I always laugh at BPA because that would mean you have a prospect that ever single outlet ranking prospects agrees on is the 4th, 5th, 12th best player. Once you get past the generational type guys, the ranking in prospects within a range is pretty fluid. Also, if the BPA is the end all be all, then you could draft with your 1st round pick a LD year after year after year after year after year because that was the BPA which would be a waste.

When people and teams say they’re picking bpa they mean bpa according to their own rankings, not rankings published by any particular site. Just fyi.

I understand but no organization is going to say that player they left on the table is better than the guy they just drafted because they took position into consideration. They'll always say he was BPA and it's pretty impossible to prove otherwise given the fluidity in how prospects are ranked outside the top guy(s) in most drafts.

[a smell of green grass]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Agreed overall.. I always laugh at BPA because that would mean you have a prospect that ever single outlet ranking prospects agrees on is the 4th, 5th, 12th best player. Once you get past the generational type guys, the ranking in prospects within a range is pretty fluid. Also, if the BPA is the end all be all, then you could draft with your 1st round pick a LD year after year after year after year after year because that was the BPA which would be a waste.

When people and teams say they’re picking bpa they mean bpa according to their own rankings, not rankings published by any particular site. Just fyi.

Agree completely. The draftniks are saying currently that there is no generational talent in this draft, but if there is, I expect our GM to run to the podium if he is available. Same with RHD QB and 1C etc.

[a smell of green grass]

Here are my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
6. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

Agreed overall.. I always laugh at BPA because that would mean you have a prospect that ever single outlet ranking prospects agrees on is the 4th, 5th, 12th best player. Once you get past the generational type guys, the ranking in prospects within a range is pretty fluid. Also, if the BPA is the end all be all, then you could draft with your 1st round pick a LD year after year after year after year after year because that was the BPA which would be a waste.

When people and teams say they’re picking bpa they mean bpa according to their own rankings, not rankings published by any particular site. Just fyi.

I understand but no organization is going to say that player they left on the table is better than the guy they just drafted because they took position into consideration. They'll always say he was BPA and it's pretty impossible to prove otherwise given the fluidity in how prospects are ranked outside the top guy(s) in most drafts.

I agree that everyone claims that, and often they are fibbing etc. I used to agree with BPA or bust as well. However, after seeing the premium that 1C's and RHD's command, I would look long and hard at them before I took a winger. However, I'd override that and take Ovechkin at #1 if he was there.

[SameOldBlues]

Two 6s when it should be 6 7

He most likely was listening to Iron Maiden’s ‘666 - The Number Of The Beast’ at the time & got confused.

[a smell of green grass]

Does anyone know if the Blues are scouting more thoroughly this year than in previous years? They should be IMO since the stakes are higher this year than any draft in the last 20 years. When you select HIGH, you don't want to miss on a great talent.

[Bubble4427]

Does anyone know if the Blues are scouting more thoroughly this year than in previous years? They should be IMO since the stakes are higher this year than any draft in the last 20 years. When you select HIGH, you don't want to miss on a great talent.

Another dumb comment.

[a smell of green grass]

Thomas is now officially injury-prone, IMO. That changes my thoughts on Draft Strategy.

Round 1: (In order of importance)
1. If generational player available, take him regardless of role or need.
2. If Top 15 NHL 1C available, take him. 1C is too important of a position to accept bottom-15.
2. If potential NHL 1C available, take him. At worst, we solidify 2C. This would collide with Dvorsky, but so be it. We need young Centers.
3. If BIG SIZE NHL RHD (power play QB) available, take him.
4. If MEDIUM SIZE NHL RHD available, take him.
5. If Top 20 NHL LHD available, take him.
6. If NHL 2C available, take him.
7. Best Player Available, regardless of role.

Round 2:
We have no pick in Round 2 for the next 2 years. Highly disappointing-especially since it would be a high pick.
If we can get high Round 2 picks for Faulk and others...that would be great.

My current thought on who the Blues should pick in the TOP 5 based on this strategy:
Caleb Maholtra

[Harry S Deals]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The tutti mare at Zia’s is my favorite dinner in all of St. Louis.
It’s even decent if it has to be reheated at home the next day.

Im going the pork chop at Louies all day long. By far my favorite in STL. Ive seen Prongs there more than a few times with the lovely Lauren.

[Harry S Deals]

Does anyone know if the Blues are scouting more thoroughly this year than in previous years? They should be IMO since the stakes are higher this year than any draft in the last 20 years. When you select HIGH, you don't want to miss on a great talent.

Another dumb comment.

This stuff is like some one on the spectrum may come up with. Its like bad A.I.

The Blues are going to be drafting high no doubt this year at least thats my hope. My fear is they get healthy and a healthy line up is pretty good and they will win some games.

Pro players are not going to TANK. Organizations as a whole do not TANK, they might sell off at the TDL when they realize they suck

Heres my prediction, the Blues will take Stenberg over McKenna if they get that option

Other than Stenberg the Blues will take the BPA according to their staff

Tony Feltran and his crew are great, read it again, great at their jobs. The Blues super power is they draft really well. Some of the pro depts decisions can be debated, the amateur dept, Feltran, Vopat, Niemiec are very very good. Then after a kid is drafted, Thorburn, Glenn Wesley, Dags are excellent in the development dept.
ZERO concern here. As we can consistently show based on how the Blues picks have performed.