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Ranking the Top Ten St. Louis Blues First-Round Picks Since 2000

St. Louis Blues first-round picks

Welcome to another installment where we rank players, coaches, and events from the St. Louis Blues since the 2000 season. This is the third in the series. Two weeks ago, we ranked the Blues starting goalies since 2000. Last week, we ranked the Blues head coaches since 2000. This week, we do something a little different. For the first time in this series, we will only be ranking the top ten of our category today. Today, we are ranking the top ten Blues first-round picks since 2000.

Blues Top Ten Ranking Criteria

The following is the criteria for the rankings:

  1. All first-round picks for the Blues between the 2000 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft are eligible.
  2. Multiple players from a draft year can be chosen as long as they were in the first round.
  3. Players must have played at least one season with the Blues.
  4. First-round picks from other teams who played for the Blues are not eligible.
  5. Individual and team success from their time with the Blues will factor into the rankings.

Without further ado, here are the top ten Blues first-round picks since 2000.

Ranking The Top Ten Blues First-Round Picks Since 2000

#10 Jay McClement (2001)

McClement made his NHL debut in the 2005-06 season. In an abysmal season for the Blues, the young centre would be a bright spot. In 67 games, McClement recorded 27 points. The next four seasons would see McClement play in all but two regular season games. McClement had a career-high in assists in the 2006-07 season. Two years later, McClement scored a career high in goals. Furthermore, McClement helped the Blues overcome a last-place spot to make their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2004.

The Blues traded McClement in a 2011 blockbuster deal with the Colorado Avalanche. McClement was never a flashy player with the Blues. However, he was a reliable forward who performed well on the team’s penalty kill. Of McClement’s 90 career goals, 52 of them came with the Blues.

#9 Patrik Berglund (2006)

Berglund scored 21 goals in his rookie season in 2009. Paired with T.J. Oshie and David Perron in what was called the “Kid Line,” as all three were 22 or younger, Berglund had an excellent start to his NHL career. In his first four seasons, Berglund scored no less than 17 goals in three of them. In the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Berglund scored three goals in the Blues first-round victory over the San Jose Sharks. After a three-year struggle, Berglund scored a career-high 23 goals in 2017.

Berglund’s Blues career ended when he was traded as part of the Ryan O’Reilly deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Berglund’s career would end abruptly after that. However, Berglund did have a decent career with the Blues. He had periods of inconsistency, but he had some big moments with the team. Futhermore, can any Blues fan listen to “Don’t Stop Believing,” without picturing Berglund playing the piano?

#8 Robby Fabbri (2014)

Fabbri is the first player on this list who still plays in the NHL. A player drafted for his offensive ability, Fabbri showcased that in his rookie season. The winger scored 18 goals in 72 games. Furthermore, Fabbri ranked fourth on the Blues in scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Notably, Fabbri recorded five points in the Blues first-round series win against the Chicago Blackhawks. The following season started positive for Fabbri. It was looking as if he was going to be the offensive weapon he was projected to be. Unfortunately, Fabbri tore his ACL in January, then tore it again the following preseason.

Fabbri would never be the same player again with the Blues. He was traded in 2019 to the Detroit Red Wings.

#7 Jake Neighbours (2020)

Neighbours just completed his first full season in the NHL. However, he is showing the promise his scouting report suggested. In 77 games last season, Neighbours scored 27 goals. He likely would have scored 30 if not for a late-season injury. Neighbours is expected to play on the Blues top line next season.

There is not too much to say about Neighbours, other than the future is bright for the young winger. Another season like last year may earn him a contract extension. If Neighbours does sign an extension, the Blues would have a core locked up for the foreseeable future.

#6 T.J. Oshie (2005)

Oshie quickly became a fan favorite due to his fast and energetic style of play. Playing in 57 games his rookie season in 2009, he scored 14 goals, helping the Blues reach the playoffs. Oshie became a consistent scorer in the Blues offence. Furthermore, Oshie made national headlines during the 2014 Winter Olympics after his impressive showing in a shootout for Team USA.

Unfortunately, Oshie was unable to carry his offensive success into the playoffs. In 30 playoff games with the Blues, Oshie only scored five goals. Oshie was traded to the Washington Capitals in a 2015 trade that angered Blues fans due to Oshie’s popularity. However, Oshie would give Blues another fond moment in St. Louis. Oshie’s only All-Star appearance came in 2020 in St. Louis. He scored a goal in the game and waved to his father, who was suffering some Alzheimer’s, from the bench.

#5 Robert Thomas (2017)

When Thomas made his NHL debut in the first game of the 2018-19 season, big things were expected. Thomas was considered one of the Blues best prospects. After a rough start to the season, both for Thomas and the Blues, things turned around for both in January. Playing on the third line with Pat Maroon and Tyler Bozak, Thomas registered 33 points in 70 games. Futhermore, in Game 7 against the Dallas Stars in the second round, Thomas assisted on both Blues goals.

Over the following seasons, Thomas has emerged as an elite goal scorer in the league. Last season, Thomas scored a career-high 26 goals. Furthermore, Thomas was named an All-Star for the first time. The Blues may be in a retool, but Thomas is going to play a big role in the Blues future.

#4 Jaden Schwartz (2010)

Schwartz made an immediate impact after making his NHL debut. He scored 25 goals in his first full season and followed that with 28 the next year. During that year, Schwartz formed a productive line alongside Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera. The line was appropriately nicknamed the “STL Line.” Schwartz’s biggest moments with the Blues, however, came in the 2019 playoffs. Schwartz scored 12 goals. Furthermore, Schwartz scored a natural hat trick in the series-clinching game against the Winnipeg Jets. Two rounds later, Schwartz scored another hat trick against the San Jose Sharks. Schwartz’s heroics were even noted by then-President Donald Trump, who jokingly asked why Schwartz was not the winner of the 2019 Conn Smythe Award.

Schwartz signed with the Seattle Kraken for their inaugural 2021-22 season. Despite his time with the Blues ending, Schwartz’s contributions to the first Stanley Cup in team history gives him a permanent place in Blues history.

#3 David Perron (2007)

Perron was one of three first-round picks the Blues had in 2007. Perron has had three different stints with the Blues, each highlighting different points of his career. His first stint (his first years in the NHL) from 2007-2013 showcased Perron’s offensive ability while also showing some immaturity at times. His second in the 2016-17 season showed growth, as Perron himself even admitted he was not always an easy player to be around in the locker room. In his third stint, from 2018-2022, Perron became an elite player in the NHL. In those four seasons, Perron scored 20+ goals in three of them. Furthermore, Perron was very effective in the playoffs. In four playoff runs with the Blues, Perron scored 20 goals. This includes a game-winning goal in Game Five of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, as well as a hat trick in the Blues 2022 opening-game against the Minnesota Wild.

Perron left the Blues in free agency after the 2021-22 season. Perron’s third stint with the Blues will be the one Blues fans remember the most, but the entire story of Perron’s time with the Blues is a fun one. Futhermore, when Perron retires, it is likely he will be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

#2 Alex Pietrangelo (2008)

Pietrangelo’s first full season in the NHL in the 2010-11 season showed he had the potential to be an elite two-way defenceman. Pietrangelo led Blues defencemen in points and was a regular on the team’s power play and penalty kill. From that year until the 2014-15 season, Pietrangelo recorded no less than 43 points in full 82-game seasons. In the 2016-17 season, Pietrangelo became the Blues captain. The following season, Pietrangelo had a career year with 54 assists and was named an All-Star for the first time. On June 12, 2019, Pietrangelo became the first Blues captain to hoist the Stanley Cup. Furthermore, Pietrangelo scored the Cup-winning goal in the clinching Game Seven.

The Blues had hoped to re-sign Pietrangelo when his contract expired. However, both sides were unable to agree to a deal. Pietrangelo’s departure is probably the one that stings the most for Blues fans since 2019. If the Blues could do it over again, or if we could somehow move to an alternative timeline, one can imagine the Blues would have re-signed their captain. Pietrangelo will forever hold a special place in Blues history. Furthermore, like Perron, Pietrangelo is likely to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

#1 Vladimir Tarasenko (2010)

Tarasenko may just be the Blues most-electric forward since Brett Hull. Tarasenko quickly became an elite scorer in the league. In his first full season, the Russian forward scored 21 goals. The following seasons, Tarasenko scored 37, 40, 39, 33, and 33 goals respectively. Furthermore, Tarasenko proved to be an elite scorer in the playoffs as well. Even in seasons where the Blues were eliminated in the first round, Tarasenko was one of the few players to consistently score. In the 2019 Stanley Cup season, Tarasenko scored 11 goals in the playoffs, including three in the Stanley Cup Final.

Some animosity arose between the team and Tarasenko in 2021, leading Tarasenko to request a trade. However, both sides managed to put their differences aside. Tarasenko scored 34 goals the following season and scored six more in the playoffs. Tarasenko’s trade to the New York Rangers the following season became the first domino to fall as the Blues transitioned into their retool.

Tarasenko was the elite player the Blues needed to get over the hump and succeed in the playoffs. Whether it was his first NHL game, the playoffs, or even his success in the Winter Classic, the Blues were always treated to an edition of the “Tarasenk-Show.”

Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Willis

Andrew Willis

Andrew Willis has been a hockey and St. Louis Blues fan since 2007. Andrew's passion for the Blues, hockey, and writing have come together multiple times. Andrew wrote hockey articles for his high school newspaper from 2011-2015 and had a brief stint with LWOH in 2020.

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