The St. Louis Blues are heading into a youth movement, and there is an emphasis on redeveloping the core group. That can be accelerated with this upcoming draft, in which they have three picks in the first round.
The 11th pick is going to be the most important one, as this is the best chance of getting their next NHL talent. The 15th and 29th selections still have a chance to be great, but the odds dwindle significantly.
Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report had a great piece on what the draft might look like following the draft combine. The Blues' 11th pick had a great choice, and if he is there, he could be a fantastic addition.
Ethan Belchetz wowed scouts
Ethan Belchetz, the left winger out of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, could fall to the Blues at No. 11. The majority of mock drafts have had General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Doug Armstrong going with either a defenseman or a center, but Belchetz might be too good to pass up.
He is a large body, and he really wowed at the scouting combine. As a bona fide power forward, which still is a necessary position in today's NHL, Belchetz has a chance to be something special at the highest level of play.
Nicknamed as a "wrecking ball" in some initial reports, Belchetz could be the perfect player for the rough and tough Blues. With so many skill players like Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Robert Thomas, grabbing a power forward that has the skill to be in the top six is a fantastic next step toward building a playoff-ready roster.
If the Blues are going for positional help, Belchetz might not be the greatest choice, but in terms of who should be there at the 11th pick, he will be the best available.
