St. Louis Blues 2024 Draft Recap

First and foremost we would like to congratulate the Buffalo Sabres for winning the coveted EHE Cup, as well as Seattle for making the run as well.

Going into this year’s draft our scouts felt that if you were not drafting in the top 10-12 picks this year’s class was going to be a dart throw.  We felt that there was lots of middling talent scattered throughout the middle of round 1 all the way through.  Now could we be incorrect of course we could, chances are that a bunch of these young men will prove our scouts wrong.  And for that I commend them.  But for now lets go through a few new faces St. Louis will be bringing to rookie camp.

#60 – Adam Kleber –  Defence RHD - 6’5” 210LBS, Chaska Minnesota, Lincoln Stars (USHL)

As pick 58 came around there were three players left at the top of our board, two of them were selected with picks 58 and 59 so it made this selection easy.  Kleber is an intriguing prospect as he is still figuring out what he wants to be.  I do not see him having much offensive upside at the next level but his skating and physicality for a big man oozes defensive potential.  With that being said is above average with the puck in his hands.  Reminds me a lot of what Brandon Carlo has become at the next level.  Happy to get him here at 60, not a pretty or splashy pick but could end up being a very useful pick down the road!  Committed to Minnesota Duluth where he should spend 3-4 years developing unless something unforeseen happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoN_QJpT6oA

# 124 – Lucas Ellinas – Forward LW/C – 6’1” 190LBS, Toronto Ontario, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Having the luxury of being able to see a bunch of OHL games live, I had Ellinas very high on my board # 63.  He had the typical OHL rookie season, where he had to earn his ice time  on a fairly deep and older Kitchener squad.  At about the 50 game mark something just clicked and he moved all the way up the lineup onto the second line and 1^st PP unit.  He possesses and NHL ready shot and an NHL ready work ethic.  I feel based on my viewings that he is a 20-25 goal guy at the NHL level and at worst a 35 goal guy in the AHL. He had 16 goals and 17 assists in 67 regular season games with Kitchener this year, but in his last 15 games he tallied 8 goals and 5 assists and was a PPG player in 10 OHL playoff games.  He is just starting to tap into his potential I feel, almost has the Easton Cowan feel to him by coming on hot and heavy late into the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYZBbDamBqM

# 146 – Owen Allard – Forward C – 6’2” 200LBs, Ottawa Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Was a toss up between a few players but I felt that Allard was the best bet as I see him playing pro at some point in the next few years as to what extent is to be seen.  He skates like the wind and is an extremely defensively responsible player.  Still looking to find his offence as his offensive IQ is still in the works.  Unfortunately he was bitten by the COVID lockout season  which took a year of Junior development away from him and the very next season a shoulder injury the required surgery that saw him play only 14 OHL  games in his first two years of eligibility.  Needless to say there is a lot more to develop if put into the correct hands.  I am thrilled to have him onboard to see what type of roll he can carve out for himself in the pro ranks.  Reminds me a lot of Alex Formenton on the ice of course, not in hotel rooms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46eJHf1JaxU&pp=ygUWT3dlbiBBbGxhcmQgaGlnaGxpZ2h0cw%3D%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG8c3kEMjHo