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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects! Every day in August, we will bring you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check back often because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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By: Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

It’s common for a rebuilding team like the Blues to remain quiet during the summer, letting things play out with their young players. Initially, it seemed like that was exactly what the Blues planned to do—until they submitted offer sheets for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg in August. This move sent shockwaves through the NHL. Ultimately, it worked for the Blues, who acquired those players for pennies. This gives hope to the fans who may have lost some after the draft.

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NHL Draft Recap

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Round 1, 16th Overall – Adam Jiricek, RD

If David Jiricek was a sure bet in his draft year, the same cannot be said for his brother Adam, who was drafted 16th overall. Adam Jiricek is known to be a very physical defenseman who, despite weighing only 179 lbs, punishes opponents. However, the biggest flaw and concern with Jiricek is his vision of the game, where he often struggles with quick decisions and has had difficulty staying consistent. While Jiricek has plenty of time to address these issues, it seems unlikely that he will be able to help the Blues in the short term. The Blues may have chosen the player they believed had the more significant potential rather than the one who would be impactful within the timeline of their current star players.

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Round 2, 48th Overall – Colin Ralph, LD

The Blues followed their first pick with another player fitting the same mold: Colin Ralph. Ralph plays a very defensive game on the back end and doesn’t project to become anything more than a bottom-of-the-lineup penalty-kill specialist. If he doesn’t exceed expectations, this pick could disappoint the Blues.

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Round 2, 56th Overall – Lukas Fischer, LD

At just a week shy of eligibility for next year’s draft, Fischer is one of the youngest players in the 2024 class. Known for his size, speed, and smooth skating, Fischer recorded 34 points in 68 OHL games this season. Scouts highlight his strong positional play and effective breakout passes, making him a well-rounded defenseman. The Blues hope Fischer, likely to return to the Sarnia Sting for further development, can become a cornerstone of their defensive core.

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Round 3, 81st Overall – Ondrej Kos, LW

The Blues finally selected a forward with their fourth pick in this draft. Kos is a two-way forward who, even if he doesn’t bring much offense to the table, still adds a lot of value to his team with excellent defense. This may not be the flashy pick for the fans, but sometimes, these players find their offensive game and become tangible assets to any team.

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Round 3, 95th Overall – Adam Jecho, C

In 54 games this season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Jecho had a great rookie season in the OHL, recording 47 points. You might assume his success was due to playing against adults in Europe before coming to Canada, but that is not the case. Jecho never played in a league higher than under-20. The main factor in his performance was his size. At 6-5 and 201 pounds, Jecho was overpowering opponents, and it paid off massively. Jecho is projected to become a third-line checking forward for the Blues.

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Round 4, 113th Overall – Tomas Mrsic, C

Mrsic, known for his dynamic play and powerful shot, had an impressive season with 62 points in 63 games for Medicine Hat. Despite a slow start, he finished strong and climbed the draft rankings. Mrsic’s speed and scoring potential make him a valuable addition to the Blues forward depth.

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Round 5, 145th Overall – William McIsaac, RD

With their fifth-round pick, the Blues selected their last defenseman of the draft, William McIsaac. Unlike the other defensemen drafted by the Blues this year, McIsaac is an excellent skater who uses his skating abilities well to break up plays and generate offense in the zone. Like most fifth-round picks, McIsaac is far from a sure bet, but he is still a very interesting prospect for the Blues.

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Round 7, 209th Overall – Antoine Dorion, C

Dorion only managed 26 points in 68 games in a very offensive league. Those numbers in the QMJHL are disappointing for a draft pick, no matter the round. However, the Blues must see something in him that was missing because, for now, it seems like a strange flyer to take on a player.

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Round 7, 211th Overall – Matvei Korotky, C

The Blues selected forward Matvei Korotky from Russia with their final draft pick. Korotky has steadily improved in the MHL, scoring 20 goals and 18 assists last season and excelling in the playoffs. Known for his strong shooting, he brings some scoring potential to the Blues’ future lineup.

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Off-Season Moves

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Incoming

Alexander Texier

Corey Schueneman

Dylan Holloway

Mathieu Joseph

Philip Broberg

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Radek Faksa

Ryan Suter

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Outgoing

Adam Gaudette

Calle Rosén

Josh Jacobs

Keean Washkurak

Kevin Hayes

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Re-Signed

Colten Ellis

Hunter Skinner

Kasperi Kapanen

Mathias Laferriere

Pavel Buchnevich

Scott Perunovich

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Final Thoughts

Overall, it seems the Blues drafted higher-floor, lower-ceiling players this year. They also focused heavily on defense, addressing a position lacking depth, though the same could be said about their forward group. Should Blues fans be excited about this year’s draft class? In my opinion, not particularly. However, scouting is not an exact science, and the Blues management and their picks could quickly prove me wrong.

Find my updates on St.Louis Blues prospects here. St. Louis Blues – DobberProspects