Final Blues Only 2025 Mock Draft

1.19 – Cole Reschny (C)

You might as well call me the leader of the Cole Reschny fan club because I’ve been talking nonstop about this guy for weeks. He’s a two-way center, which is something even Army has said was the most important need coming into this draft. His offensive stats are incredible, finishing 10th in points for the WHL this season. His coach has compared him to Ryan O’Reilly, and he says he looks up to a fellow Saskatchewan native in Brayden Schenn. He’s going to the University of North Dakota, which is a path the Blues have stated they love, especially with how Jimmy Snuggerud developed at Minnesota. He only plans to play a year or two in college, meaning he fits the timeline of the Blues. He has amazing character, he’s a farm kid, and there is so much to like about this prospect.

Here are the main issues with Reschny. The biggest one is height. Blues haven’t selected a first-round prospect at 5’10’’ or below since another Saskatchewan native in Jaden Schwartz. The Blues have talked a lot about size in the past couple of years, but they have one of the biggest prospect pools in the league. I’m sure Reschny talent, position, and play style make up for one inch of height. Another big thing, though, and this one is more worrisome, a lot of Canadian teams in front of the Blues at 19 like him. Specifically, Calgary, which is funny because Reschny grew up an Edmonton fan. Nevertheless, if Reschny is there at 19, he will more than likely be the best player available, he will be the best fit for the Blues organization, and he may immediately be a top-three prospect in the Blues system.

Others Considered: Logan Hensler, Lynden Lakovic, Braeden Cootes, Jack Nesbitt, Joshua Ravensgarden.

5.147 – Elijah Neuenschwander (G)

So, here’s the background about this pick. The Blues desperately need another goalie in their system. Currently, the Blues only have 4 goalies in the entire organization, including Jordan Binnington, Joel Hofer, Colten Ellis, and Will Cranley. There are some speculations about Vadim Zherenko whether he will go back to Russia or resign, but either way, this is not a deep system whatsoever. Combine that with your youngest goalies (Hofer and Cranley) being 24, and there is another big issue. The last time the Blues drafted a goalie was in 2020 with Cranley. All this to say, the Blues going goalie sometime in this draft might be the safest prediction in the entire league.

Now the big question is who? Along with having an incredible hockey name, Neuenschwander fits the bill. The Blues seem to like goalies around the 6-foot couple of inches range, and if Neuenschwander is to be Zherenko replacement, then it is absolutely perfect, as both goalies are listed as 6’4’’ and 198 lbs. Neuenschwander also has WJC20 experience, which is something the Blues always seem to look at. Stats might not pop off the board, but you also have to remember that Neuenschwander competition in the Swiss SL is much greater than the CHL has to offer. To me, the comparisons to Zherenko, along with the competition faced, give Neuenschwander the leg up over a lot of the other goalies in this range.

Others Considered: Gabriel D’Aigle, Jayden Kraus, John Parsons.

6.176 – Linus Funck (RHD)

In his pre-draft press conference, Doug Armstrong made it very clear that the three keys for the Blues this draft were Center, Defensemen, and Goalkeeper. I’ve already taken a center and a goalie, so it's time to look at the defense. The biggest question about this pick is whether to select a righty or a lefty. When you look into the Blues' prospect pool, there is a clear need for RHDs, so that’s where I’m going. It’s tough to say who will be available around this pick, but I am going to go with Linus Funck simply because he checks a lot of the boxes. He’s 6’3’’ and has an incredible reach, to say the least. He loves playing on the boards and brings a physical presence. Probably the best thing about Funck, though, is that he is amazing at stopping transitions, which is becoming increasingly important in the NHL as players get faster. Played 48 games in the Swedish J20 Nationell and had 28 points, showing he can play on both ends of the ice, even against older competition. Just have to see who falls here in the 6th round, but Funck is the type of guy I would like to see the Blues draft.

Others Considered: Will Murphy, Edison Engle, Anthony Allain Samake.