This is going to be a big month for the St. Louis Blues as the NHL Draft is rapidly approaching. The next era of the NHL is already at the combine, getting evaluated.
The Blues have three picks in the first round, and there is a number of things they can do with it. They can just use all of them as is, or try to package them to move up behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If that were to happen, who would be some pipe dream draft selections for the Blues? These guys will not be there at 11.
Ivar Stenberg
Following Gavin McKenna, there used to be a pretty clear picture of who was going next. Ivar Stenberg was likely to be the second pick, but times have changed with San Jose being the second team to go.
The biggest need is on the defensive end, as it is with the Blues. But the Blues also need to grab forwards, too, and they already have a Stenberg in their pipeline. Ivar could join his brother Otto, and the duo could be an exciting pair to watch for the next 15 years.
Chase Reid
Speaking of defenseman, the highest-ranked blueliner is Chase Reid. And, it is for good reason.
Reid is a franchise-changing d-man, and with the growing expectation that Parayko might either be on his way out this summer, they need to try to riddle him away from the rest of the competition. It is a long shot for him to join the Blues, but if they can get in a position to get him, he might be the most beneficial draft pick of the bunch.
Caleb Malhotra
If Stenberg cannot be grabbed, which is very likely, Caleb Malhotra is the next big name on the board. As his father, Manny Malhotra, was just hired by Vancouver and could potentially draft his own son and coach him next season.
The Blues can play a big spoiler to that really heartwarming moment, and as terrible as it sounds, they might have to. With Robert Thomas staying put, the uncertainty of the second-line center spot is still up for debate. Malhotra can come in and at least get a tryout at that spot, as both Pius Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky have not shown enough to earn that spot full-time.
