3 St. Louis Blues Takeaways From Round 1 of the Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft is underway. All 32 teams were busy, with some being busier than others. The St. Louis Blues were one of the busier teams. They entered Round 1 with four first-round picks. They used two to draft players and two to acquire a player. There is a lot to get into, so here are some takeaways from the Blues in Round 1.

Paid a High Price for McTavish

The Blues traded the 15th-overall pick and the 29th-overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks for center Mason McTavish. Trade rumors circulated throughout the day that the Ducks were considering offers from both the Blues and the New York Rangers, but it is the Blues who ended up with McTavish.

The Blues were in need of center depth on their roster. Many wondered whether the Blues would use their draft capital to acquire a center, whether as an active player or a draft pick.

McTavish, while he has upside offensively, struggles defensively. He was a healthy scratch for the Ducks throughout the regular season and playoffs. He lost his second-line center spot to Mikael Granlund. It was a rough season following a 22-goal season in 2024-25.

I think the Blues overpaid. He is under a team-friendly contract, but it appears the Blues are really betting on 2024-25 to be the true version of McTavish. Was that worth two first-round picks? I do not think I would have made this trade if I were in general manager Doug Armstrong‘s shoes.

However, Armstrong has shown he is not afraid to take a chance on young players. He did so with Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, and it has been a success. Furthermore, McTavish may flourish in a new environment. To his credit, he admitted some of his shortcomings after the Ducks’ season ended (from ‘How Would Anaheim’s Mason McTavish Fit With the Blues?,’ The Athletic, 6/25/26).

The Blues took a chance here, but we will wait and see if it pays off. If I am wrong, and I hope I am, I will gladly eat some crow, provided I am allowed some hot sauce.

Prioritizing Centers Over Defenseman

The Blues acquired three centers in Round 1. In addition to McTavish, they drafted Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais. They definitely added some centers, but that wasn’t the only position they could have upgraded. The Blues could have looked to add some defense to their roster and/or prospect pool. They chose the center position tonight, but that is not a wrong move.

Looking at the team’s current active roster, the defensive core is clearly stronger than the center core. The top four are already set with Philip Broberg, Logan Mailloux, Cam Fowler, and Colton Parayko taking those spots. Furthermore, Adam Jiricek and Theo Lindstein are lingering in the prospect pool. We saw Lindstein this past season and could see Jiricek in 2026-27.

As far as centers go, Robert Thomas was the only center the team could count on going into Round 1. Pius Suter did not have the impact many expected in his first season, and Pavel Buchnevich has regressed in recent seasons (in addition to not being a true center anyway). The Blues’ prospect pool is full of a lot of wingers. In fact, they only had four true centers in the pool heading into Round 1.

Could they have upgraded on defense? Yes. I was keeping my fingers crossed that Zach Werenski would be coming over in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yet, I understand the decisions in Round 1. Furthermore, there is still plenty of draft left. There is plenty of time to add some defensemen.

Lawrence and Dagenais Are Not NHL Ready, But That Is Okay

Do not expect Lawrence and Dagenais to wear a Blue Note in a regular-season game next season. Lawrence is committed to Boston University, while Dagenais is expected to return to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

While it would be nice to draft some NHL-ready talent, the Blues’ track record shows that Lawrence and Dagenais will benefit from further development before joining the Blues. A great example of this is Jimmy Snuggerud. Many were shocked to see Snuggerud return to college rather than join the Blues for the full 2024-25 season. However, that extra season of collegian play helped the forward continue to develop, and he is coming off a strong rookie season.

Few Blues’ draft picks play the next season following their selection. That will not change with Lawrence and Dagenais, but that is better in the long run. Both can continue to develop while the Blues continue to navigate this retool and shape their roster. Both have strong futures and could be key members of the next Blues team to contend. There is no need to rush anything. History shows it works for the Blues.

Remainder of the Draft

The Blues have nine picks left in this year’s draft. Of course, that can always change. It will be interesting to see what the next rounds have in store as the Blues continue to build their future.