The St. Louis Blues are reportedly aiming to be a significant player leading up to the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. According to NHL rumors, the team is actively looking to improve their draft position, potentially by packaging their existing first-round picks, No. 11 and No. 15. It’s speculated that to move up to a higher selection, such as the No. 2 overall pick, the Blues would likely need to include a player in any proposed trade.
During discussions, the possibility of trading players like Jordan Kyrou was brought up, though it was acknowledged that it might be too early for concrete trade talks to materialize around the draft. However, there are indications that St. Louis is making a concerted effort to move up in the draft order. Notably, the San Jose Sharks have shown a degree of openness to discussing trades involving their draft picks.
The Blues are reportedly considering a “retool” rather than a complete “rebuild.” This strategy could involve utilizing their draft capital, including their first-round selections, to acquire a higher pick. It’s also suggested that they might revisit trade conversations previously held with teams like the Buffalo Sabres or explore new possibilities with the Anaheim Ducks, with whom a significant trade was once reportedly brewing but ultimately did not come to fruition.
Specifically concerning the No. 2 overall pick, the Blues’ strategy would necessitate attaching a high-caliber player to their draft selections (No. 11 and No. 15) to make such a move viable. This suggests a significant shake-up could be on the horizon for the St. Louis Blues as they aim to enhance their future prospects through the upcoming draft.
English Translation:
The St. Louis Blues are positioning themselves as a team to watch closely as the 2026 NHL Entry Draft approaches. Reports suggest the Blues are keen on moving up in the draft, and they might be willing to combine their picks at No. 11 and No. 15. To ascend to a much higher selection, such as the No. 2 overall spot, it’s believed they would need to include a player in the deal.
When asked about potential player movement, such as that involving Jordan Kyrou, and if it’s too early for draft-related trade speculation, it was noted that while it’s a bit early, St. Louis is actively trying to improve their draft position. There appears to be some willingness from the San Jose Sharks to consider moving their pick. If the Blues can find a way to leverage their first-round picks to move up, it’s likely a player would need to be part of the package. There’s also mention of potentially targeting players like Ivar Stenberg, if available, and significant buzz surrounding Caleb Malhotra, the son of Manny Malhotra, whom Vancouver is reportedly interested in at the third spot.
Furthermore, there’s a growing sentiment that the Blues might re-examine trade discussions they had with the Buffalo Sabres around the trade deadline. Similarly, there was a substantial trade brewing between the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues during that period, but the pieces didn’t fall into place. Therefore, there could be renewed interest in those possibilities. The main takeaway is to keep an eye on the Blues’ efforts to move as high as they possibly can in the first round.
Regarding the No. 2 pick specifically, moving just picks No. 11 and No. 15 wouldn’t be enough. To achieve that goal, the team would need to attach a “quality, quality piece” along with those draft selections.
