The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Mock 2023 St. Louis Blues Draft
It's been a long, upsetting year for Blues fans. But the 2023 NHL Draft represents a much-needed silver lining.
Welcome Blues fans! And… I’m sorry Blues fans. We find ourselves in an incredibly unfamiliar spot this year, faced with the thought of missing the playoffs and having to worry about previously trivial things like lottery draft picks. It’s terrible and I don’t like it. But some of you have requested that I do my part in breaking the lull of this lovely 6-11-2 streak that we’re currently riding by sharing my thoughts on the looming 203 St Louis Blues Draft.
And I couldn’t be happier to oblige. Despite a desolate season, the draft is a tremendous silver lining. This year’s First Round is top-to-bottom better than previous years, with potential team-changing talent overflowing the Top 10. And even better? The Blues have a roughly 5% chance at the grand prize of it all: Connor ‘some call me Gretzky’ Bedard. As much as I’ve tried to fight the thought, at the risk of being a jinx, there is a very real chance that the Blues could shatter their way into a new era with a Top 3 pick and a chance at Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, or many other of the top names.
So let’s dive in! I have used the fabulous tankathon.com to randomize the draft order – randomizing 10 times, no fewer and no less. Luckily, the Blues aren’t picking 1st, or this article would be much shorter. They actually pick 10, 27 (from TOR), and 29 (from DAL) in the randomized order we’ll be working with…
For fun, this draft order had Boston beating Vegas in the Stanley Cup Finals, Columbus getting Bedard, and Chicago picking outside the Top 5.
… From this draft order, I will share who I think the Blues will take, based on my knowledge of their scouting and previous tendencies, and then some names that I would take there if it was my call to make. Each player will have a short description, some player comparable, and a projected timeline to the NHL shared with them to help give you a better idea of who we’re working with.
Alright, with the groundwork laid out, let’s go!
Projecting Out the 2023 St. Louis Blues Draft
Projected Pick 10: St. Louis Blues select Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD, Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
Mar. 11, 2005 | Gällivare, SWE | 5’11” / 181lbs | Shoots: R
I would say I’m about 80% sure I know who the Blues are targeting with their top pick this year. And lucky day, they land him in this mock. Axel Sandin-Pellika is a really exciting player to get. He has matured very quickly, taking on a very professional and responsible two-way style. This style is rooted in Sandin-Pellikka’s ability to use his large frame effectively. His skating is tremendously smooth, with good-enough edgework to boot. He keeps his stick active in transition, shutting down attacking opponents well, and is quick to make plays when he gets the puck back thanks to some strong passing ability. His style fits beautifully into the Blues’ preferences and with a year of SHL play under his belt, he’ll likely be quick to make it to the NHL. If I’m correct in thinking this is the Blues’ guy, fans should be very excited.
Stylistic Comparables: Jay Bouwmeester, Damon Severson, Alex Pietrangelo
Years to NHL: 2-3 Years
Who I Would Pick at 10
Axel Sandin-Pellikka is the perfect pick here. I think he’ll be available and is a perfectly fine name to take. But in case he isn’t, here are a few other options…
Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Feb. 14, 2005 | Orillia, ON, CAN | 6’1” / 187lbs | Shoots: L
Colby Barlow may be taken before the Blues have a chance at him. But if he falls to St. Louis, they’ll be getting an incredibly reliable, heavy-hitting forward with a top-three shot in this draft. He is lethal, strong as an ox, and an incredible scorer. If Craig Berube could build a prospect, it’d be Barlow.
Stylistic Comparable: Tom Wilson, Blake Coleman, Mason McTavish
Years to NHL: 0-2 Years.
Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)
Jan. 21, 2005 | Amherst, MA, USA | 6’0” / 181lbs | Shoots: R
Another heavy-shooting winger, Ryan Leonard plays a style similar to Rick Nash, although not as talented. But he carries his power in his shoulders, using strong strides to blow through opponents and drive the net. This power is newfound, too, with Leonard actually being a prototypical sniper, speaking to the talent behind his shot. Certainly a ton of reason for optimism with this one.
Stylistic Comparable: Rick Nash, Brock Nelson, Jeff Skinner, Timo Meier
Years to NHL: 3-4 Years
Projected Pick 27: St. Louis Blues select Daniil But, F, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Feb. 15, 2005 | Yaroslavl, RUS | 6’5” / 203lbs | Shoots: R
There’s a quiet rumor that Daniil But is being looked at by teams in the late-First. And if any team is looking close, it’s the St. Louis Blues. It only makes sense: a light-footed, nimble giant with stickhandling finesse is the makeup of the Frankenstein Doug Armstrong’s been making. If we nag him, Blues fans can expect a really curious prospect. It’s hard to say where But’s floor and ceiling lie. He’s a bit of a unicorn, rocking a style that’s rarely seen in prospects, thanks to just how smooth his skating is. Regardless, he’ll be an exciting name to follow. If he translates to NA pros well, he has the chance be a really unique and impactful player.
Stylistic Comparable: Egor Afanasyev (NSH), Arthur Kaliyev (LAK)
Years to NHL: 3-4 Years**
**It’s worth mentioning that Russian prospects face an unknown challenge ahead that may cloud their path to the NHL.
Who I Would Pick at 27
Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Feb. 4, 2005 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | 5’10” / 165lbs | Shoots: L
Some fans are not going to like that I’m mentioning Cristall here. But the info I have on how NHL teams are leaning says that he might be available in this range. If so, the Blues should absolutely jump on him. Cristall has gained the adore of many this year on the back of an incredibly skillful, flashy game and historical scoring (up there with Bedard, believe it or not). But he’s lost the love of NHL scouts due to his lack of explosivity and quick off-puck reactions, flaws that hit a little harder given his smaller frame. If there was ever a boom-or-bust prospect, it’d be Andrew Cristall. He could be a star in the making or a swing and a miss. But I have confidence that his style would develop well under the Blues watch, meaning we may be sitting in steal-territory with our second pick.
Stylistic Comparable: Claude Giroux, Johnny Gaudreau, Mats Zuccarello
Years to NHL: 2-3 Years
Maxim Štrbák, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Apr. 13, 2005 | Kosice, SVK | 6’2” / 198lbs | Shoots: R
I have a sense that Maxim Štrbák will be considered by teams as soon as the 20s roll around. But I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he fell to the Blues in this range. If they get Štrbák, St. Louis will be adding a blue-liners whose skillset rests primarily on the defensive side of the puck. Štrbák is another player who has matured quickly, although instead of looking like a spry 25, Štrbák plays with the poise and assuredness of a veteran 30-year-old. He’s a heavy-skating defenseman who does a great job at closing off the rush and playing physically in all three zones. It’s that classic old-school style, fit with a booming slapshot and the fearlessness to use it. There are some questions about where his growth may come – although smoothing out his skating will pay dividends for NHL teams – but with how calmly impactful Strbak is, I don’t know if he needs massive growth.
Stylistic Comparison: Barret Jackman, Chris Tanev
Years to NHL: 2-3 Years
Projected Pick 29: St. Louis Blues Select Quentin Musty, F, Sudbury Wolves
Jul. 6, 2005 | Hamburg, NY, USA | 6’2” / 205lbs | Shoots: L
There is a healthy chance that Quentin Musty doesn’t fall to the Blues. But I think his chance to end up at 29 is high enough to worth mentioning. And with Musty, the Blues would be rounding out their dream first round, nabbing a rangey two-way defenseman, smooth-moving giant, and a trouble-making scorer. Musty couldn’t be scared less about the physical aspects of the game and has the skillful puckhandling to work himself out of corners after winning puck battles. He’s very determined in driving the net, driving him to a lot of well-earned scoring. He is yet another player that would thrive under the current Berube-led systems.
Stylistic Comparison: Zachary L’Heureux (NSH), Anders Lee, Charlie Coyle
Years to NHL: 3-4 Years
Who I Would Pick at 29
This is another situation where the projected pick also feels like the right one. In the event that Musty isn’t there, the Blues will potentially have access to my two choices previously. Or they could go with…
Bradly Nadeau, F, Penticton Vees (BCHL)
May 5, 2005 | Saint-François de Madawaska, NB, CAN | 5’10” / 163lbs | Shoots: R
Bradly Nadeau has recorded obscene levels of scoring on the back of very poised, striking play. He’s fantastic in regroups, showing a ton of strength in gaining the puck and turning up the ice quickly, using bursts of skating and controlled puckhandling to burst through holes in the defense. He’s a very heads-up player, allowing him to fit well as the quarterback of offensive zone systems. To boot, Nadeau’s passing and shooting are both strong. He plays like he’s four inches taller than he actually is to become a lanky, well-rounded center with the awareness and raw skill to put pucks into the net. His style looks like one that will translate well to the professional scene, although I’d say he’ll still have a lot to learn before he becomes a true impact NHLer.
Stylistic Comparison: Vincent Trochek, Evan Rodrigues
Years to NHL: 4-5 Years
Closing Out
With the strength of this draft class, the Blues were smart to load up in First Round picks. There is, of course, the chance that trade-wizard Doug Armstrong sends one or more of these draft picks away. But if they end up making all three selections, the Blues will catapult their prospect pool from the bottom-10 of the league to well around league-average. That will be an essential improvement if the team wants their looming retool to go well!
Who did I miss? What other questions do you have? Let me know on my Twitter (@NHLFoley)! And don’t forget to subscribe for more NHL and prospect content moving forward!
Featured Image
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the 17th pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues select Zachary Bolduc during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)