St. Louis Blues Potential 2025 First Round Draft Choices
A way too early look at four first round options for the St. Louis Blues in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
The St. Louis Blues currently hold only one draft pick (2025 1st) in the first round rounds of the 2025 Entry Draft. Right now, this upcoming draft class is looking a little weaker than years past and what may lie ahead. That being said, where the Blues draft in the first round could be the difference between a bottom-six or third-pairing defenseman potential, to one with top-six, or top-four pairing potential.
I have taken a little bit of time outlining a way too early look at a few candidates that could be a potential fit for the Blues come draft day.
Caleb Desnoyers
The current 1C for the Moncton Wildcats, Desnoyers plays on the same QMJHL team that Blues prospect, Juraj Pekarcik. This is a prospect who could fall to St. Louis if they are drafting around the 10th overall pick once again. If that is what this season has in store for the Blues, Desnoyers could be a prospect that would be a realistic option.
The 6-foot-2-inch center is a cerebral tactician and playmaker who does a brilliant job of seeing the ice and setting up in the offensive zone or off the rush. He does well in his own zone stealing pucks from his opposition, but still lacks a bit of speed that will need to be worked on.
He wrapped up his 2023-24 season, scoring 20 goals and 56 pts in his first season in the QMJHL. He played with Canada White donning an ‘A’, scoring three goals and five pts in eight games. He also appeared on the Canada U18 team, scoring at a point-per-game pace (one goal, four assists) in five games.
Desnoyers currently leads his team in points and is among the top players in goals scored in the QMJHL.
“In many ways, Desnoyers is basically the textbook hockey player. He's a skillful playmaker, dangerous scorer, shutdown centre, and one of the draft's most physical players yet simultaneously one of its most disciplined. There isn't a zone or situation that he doesn't impact; it's rare to see a shift where he wasn't impactful at some point.”
Brown, M. (Oct. 2024). Scout's Notebook: The QMJHL's top forward prospects in a resurgent year. EP Rinkside.
Cole Reschny
Reschny is a very intriguing prospect should he be available when the Blues are selecting. After briefly missing a few games due to injury, the dynamic top-line center for the Victoria Royals in the WHL is on pace to shatter his 2023-24 point totals this season. To date, he has appeared in 20 games, scoring eight goals and 26 points. He also appeared for Canada’s U-18 squad playing for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he scored seven points (3-4-7) in five games.
The Blues currently have Robert Thomas set as their number-one center for the foreseeable future and should have prospect Dalibor Dvorsky behind him as their 2C of the future. However, the playmaking two-way forward would be a tempting option should Reschny be available to them in the first round.
Reschny is a natural in all three zones and quick to create time and space for his linemates while also always ready to pounce on a rebound. Currently listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 187 lbs, Reschny does his job well to work his way off of defenders and keep himself out of danger. A battle for the 2C position or increased competition for positions in the top six is never a bad problem to have.
Victor Eklund
This is a prospect who could go within the top 5-8 range, or drop to just within the top 10-15. However, if there is one thing we have seen in recent history is that the Blues can’t help themselves with a “Super-Swede”. Eklund is currently playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional hockey level, playing for Djurgårdens IF.
The 5-foot-11, 161 lb left winger was impactful in every league he appeared in during the 2023-24 campaign.
Eklund is continuing to progress along in HockeyAllsvenskan with 15 points (eight goals and seven assists) in 19 games to date and is on pace for a whopping 22 goals and 41 points in 52 games this season. His offensive production this season is impressive as he leads all players from 17-19 years old in total points this season.
He is a deceptive and crafty forward who is not afraid to move the puck off of his stick and maneuver around the defender to recapture the puck and quickly put a shot on the net with his deceptive wrist shot. He will need to continue to develop his patience with the puck and let the play develop rather than fire a quick shot at the goaltender to swallow up, but that should come with time and maturity.
Radim Mrtka
No list would be complete without adding at least one defender to this mix and this one is beginning to rise in mock draft lists.
The 17-year-old, right-shot Czech defender is very similar to a Dmitri Simishev type of player where his point totals are not going to be what sells him to scouts, but rather his size, skating, and defensive ability upside. With more size, skill, and grit currently being added to the Blues defensive farm clubs, the 6-foot-6 defenseman is exactly a player who could be targeted with long-time Blue, Colton Parayko already on the downward swing in his career.
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