The St. Louis Blues need to roll with either a blueliner or the best available, and in this NHL Mock Draft, they added an enticing prospect.

Wow, often these NHL mock draft simulations from FC Hockey can be full of surprises, and don’t get me wrong, this team-by-team one featuring picks No. 1 through No. 16 had its fair share of astonishing decisions. Nonetheless, what didn didn’t surprise me was the number of defensemen selected in the top 15, which made me pause to think when I made choices for the St. Louis Blues in the simulation.

Despite six defensemen being chosen, I still made strategic decisions as if I were general manager Doug Armstrong. Although my latest seven-round mock draft simulation may have constructed the perfect scenario, I also wouldn’t object if the top 16 picks unfolded the same way as in this mock.

1st Overall: San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini, C/Boston University The San Jose Sharks don’t need to look further than Macklin Celebrini, as he’s the cornerstone player around whom a franchise can confidently build for a generation. While this simulation included some surprising selections, it just isn’t necessary for San Jose to pass on Celebrini, even in a simulation.

2nd Overall: Chicago Blackhawks

Anton Silayev, D/Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod If it’s going to be a defenseman and not Artyom Levshunov, Anton Silayev is most likely the pick here. Some may not favor this choice, but there’s no denying that the Blackhawks’ defensive lineup will significantly improve if they select Silayev, and he eventually joins the main team.

3rd Overall: Anaheim Ducks

Zayne Parekh, D/Saginaw Spirit After the Blackhawks chose Anton Silayev, I expected Artyom Levshunov to be the next defenseman taken, but instead, another surprise awaited. Zayne Parekh has a knack for putting up points, and if his performance transitions well to the NHL, he could become a dynamic quarterback on the power play.

4th Overall: Columbus Blue Jackets

Berkly Catton, C/Spokane Chiefs If the situation in this simulation calls for it, this choice will come down to three players: Cayden Lindstrom, Ivan Demidov, or Berkly Catton. While Lindstrom and Demidov might seem like the more logical choices, Berkly Catton is an ultra-high-potential prospect who could easily outperform the other two.

5th Overall: Montreal Canadiens

Cayden Lindstrom, C/Medicine Hat Tigers Cayden Lindstrom, in many ways, could resemble former first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, so just imagine these two playing together in the same top-six someday. While I doubt Lindstrom would slip past the Blue Jackets in reality, the Canadiens would be adding yet another significant player if they have the opportunity to draft Lindstrom.

6th Overall: Utah Hockey Club

Zeev Buium, D/Denver This draft holds significant importance for the Utah Hockey Club as it presents their front office with a chance to make a strong first impression on their new fan base. Selecting a dynamic player who has local connections, such as Zeev Buium, might be the best choice here, even with players like Ivan Demidov and Artyom Levshunov still available.

7th Overall: Ottawa Senators

Konsta Helenius, C/Jukurit While Ivan Demidov is still on the board, the simulation went with Konsta Helenius, a move that might be a stretch in reality. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t view it as a significant stretch, considering Helenius’ performance last year in Liiga.

8th Overall: Seattle Kraken

Ivan Demidov, RW/SKA St. Petersburg Is it conceivable for a player like Ivan Demidov to fall to the Seattle Kraken? Frankly, I can’t see it happening, but I can envision an exciting dynamic duo forming between him and Shane Wright if he does land in the Kraken’s system. They would be a pair of enjoyable young talents to watch a year or two down the line.

9th Overall: Calgary Flames

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW/Mora The Calgary Flames possess a cadre of young players to form the foundation of their team, such as Connor Zary. Therefore, selecting a player with a straightforward, industrious approach like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard would be a prudent decision. It’s not that he wouldn’t develop his game further—because I can see Brandsegg-Nygard doing so—but it makes sense on multiple levels.

10th Overall: New Jersey Devils

Artyom Levshunov, D/Michigan State This could be the most ideal scenario for the New Jersey Devils. It’s evident that they have yet to address their defensive issues, but adding a dynamic player like Artyom Levshunov, should he somehow be available at this stage, would bring them closer to resolving those problems.

11th Overall: Buffalo Sabres

Cole Eiserman, LW/USNTDP I’ve come across a few simulations where Cole Eiserman falls to the Sabres, but I’m not ready to fully believe it just yet. However, if it does happen, he would be a steal. Could you imagine a better eventual successor to Jeff Skinner? While I doubt he’ll drop to No. 11, if he’s still available, I also doubt he’d slip past that point.

12th Overall: Philadelphia Flyers

Tij Iginla, C/Kelowna Rockets Even if the Philadelphia Flyers had the option to choose between Cole Eiserman and Tij Iginla, I’d still lean towards the latter. However, in this simulation, only Iginla was on the table. Despite the loss of Cutter Gauthier, Philadelphia already boasts an impressive pool of prospects, and Tij Iginla is a more than suitable addition to their system.

13th Overall: Minnesota Wild

Sam Dickinson, D/London Knights It seems like the Minnesota Wild is encountering some tough luck in this simulation, with both Cole Eiserman and Tij Iginla catching their attention only to be taken by other teams. This could be disappointing for the fans, but if Sam Dickinson falls to them next week, it should certainly lift their spirits.

14th Overall: San Jose Sharks

Nikia Artamov, LW/Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod In my experience with these team-by-team mock drafts, I’ve had varied outcomes with the 14th pick. Considering the Celebrini selection, opting for a defenseman still seems like the most reasonable choice to me here. However, finding a potential complementary player at No. 14 – excluding players like Will Smith – wouldn’t be a bad move either.

15th Overall: Detroit Red Wings

Carter Yakemchuk, D/Calgary Hitmen Carter Yakemchuk would have been my selection if he had slipped just one more spot, but that’s often the nature of these NHL draft simulations, isn’t it? Regardless, I can’t fault the simulation for this outcome, especially with so much talent already off the board.

16th Overall: St. Louis Blues

Stian Solberg, D/Färjestad BK I entered this simulation with the intention of picking the best available defenseman, and although I was disappointed that my top choices didn’t fall, Stian Solberg still proved to be an excellent consolation prize. While he may not fit the mold of the two-way defenseman some fans might be hoping for, an old-school, physical player will be necessary once the Blues’ current crop of defensemen starts moving on elsewhere.