St. Louis Blues
· 2026-06-26
The St. Louis Blues are poised to make a significant impact in the 2026 NHL draft with four first-round picks, currently standing 9th in the Western Conference with a 37-33 record and on a W4 streak.
The Blues can choose to keep their picks or package some to move up in the draft, with TSN's Craig Button suggesting they use their back-to-back picks at 15 and 16 to select the Ruck twins, Markus and Liam.
The Ruck twins spent the 2025-26 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, leading the WHL and CHL in scoring, with Markus scoring 21 goals and 87 points for 108 points, and Liam notching 45 goals and 104 points.
The twins have been dynamic and productive, with their offensive skills making them appealing to the Blues, who could benefit from their playmaking and goal-scoring abilities.
However, the twins' defensive game and skating are areas of concern, with most analysts ranking them lower in the first round due to these weaknesses.
Most scouts don't believe Liam or Markus are worthy of being selected this highly, but Craig Button's suggestion has sparked interest in the possibility of the Blues taking a gamble on the twins.
The twins each stand six feet, with Markus a left-handed center and Liam a right-handed winger, and will return to Medicine Hat for the 2026-27 season before joining the University of North Dakota in the 2027-28 season.
The Blues' decision to take the Ruck twins would be a gamble, but if they pan out, it could be a major win for the team, potentially revitalizing their prospect pool with dynamic offensive players.