Blues Eye Potential Trades with 11th and 15th Picks in 2026 NHL Draft

The St. Louis Blues have emerged from the 2026 NHL draft lottery knowing they will hold the 11th and 15th overall picks. While they won’t be moving up in the draft order, fans can take solace in the fact that they avoided dropping lower in the rankings. The Blues have a solid track record with selections in this range, and their scouting department has consistently demonstrated the ability to identify viable NHL talent.

However, the opportunity to draft players like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg appears out of reach. This raises an intriguing question: could the Blues leverage their two first-round picks to trade up in the draft? Though the team has not made any definitive statements regarding such a move, it’s certainly a possibility worth considering.

The Blues boast a deep prospect pool across various positions, although it lacks a franchise-altering player. According to a mock draft by TheHockeyNews.com, the Blues could select Viggo Bjorck, a skilled Swedish center, with the 11th pick, and Ryan Lin, a smooth-skating Canadian defender, with the 15th pick. Bjorck’s talent suggests he might be a candidate for a higher selection, offering potential superstar value, though he may not reach the caliber of a top-five pick.

Realistically, if the Blues decide to package their 11th and 15th picks to move up, they may find that breaking into the top three is unlikely. However, the San Jose Sharks could be a potential trade-back candidate. Meanwhile, teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers are in need of high-end skill and may be reluctant to move their picks. On the other hand, franchises such as the Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, and Florida Panthers might be intrigued by the idea of moving down.

In summary, while the Blues may not secure a coveted top-five pick, the upcoming draft presents intriguing options for the team. They could emerge as one of the more compelling storylines to follow as the draft approaches.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.