The St. Louis Blues opened the 2023 NHL Draft with their highest draw since 2008 – the No. 10 overall pick. They took forward Dalibor Dvorsky from Sweden’s AIK, following it up with fellow Swedish Leaguers Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein to complete the first round.
The Blues finished the two-day event by making all nine picks they entered with, their most in a single draft since 2014.
Located at Bridgestone Arena, the Draft began with Round 1 on June 28 and finished with Rounds 2-7 on June 29.
Analysis courtesy of NHL.com draft content.
2023 Blues Draft Picks
Round 1 – No. 10 – Dalibor Dvorsky – C
With the No. 10 overall pick, the Blues select forward Dalibor Dvorsky from Sweden’s AIK. Dvorsky is a 6-foot-1, 201-pound centerman who led fourth-place Slovakia with 13 points in seven games at the U18 IIHF World Championships.
“Dvorsky has the size and skill to play in the middle, but also could find a home on the wing. Wherever he ends up, the Blues will be happy to have him; Dvorsky is a high-IQ player with a really good shot that he doesn’t need much room to get it off.” – Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com.
“Dvorsky is a good skater, great with the puck on his stick, and has the ability to maintain possession with good vision. He can win battles in the corner and shows great skill in tight spaces.” – Adam Kimelman, NHL.com.
Dvorsky entered the draft ranked No. 3 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 1 – No. 25 (via TOR) – Otto Stenberg – C
The Blues select forward Otto Stenberg, a centerman from Sweden’s Frölunda, with the No. 25 pick in the 2023 Draft. He posted 16 points in seven games as captain for Team Sweden at U18 Worlds and measured at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. Scouts see Stenberg’s game as resembling former Blue – who recently rejoined the organization – fellow Swede Alexander Steen.
“Stenberg has leadership qualities and a tremendous two-way game. An offensively gifted player with quick hands and an accurate shot, Stenberg is a complete player with a strong work ethic and the ability to come up big in clutch situations. He’s also versatile enough to play wing or center.” – Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com.
Stenberg entered the draft ranked No. 6 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 1 – No. 29 (via DAL) – Theo Lindstein – D
A 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman, Theo Lindstein is selected by the Blues with the No. 29 pick. Lindstein represents the third player out of the Swedish League taken by the Blues this year, previously suiting up for Brynäs.
Scouts praise Lindstein’s fundamental play, aggressiveness and decision-making from the blue line. He posted a goal and four assists for Team Sweden at the U18 World Championship alongside Blues draftee Otto Stenberg. The two-way defenseman compares his game to Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen.
Lindstein entered the draft ranked No. 14 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 3 – No. 74 – Quinton Burns – D
The Blues take Quinton Burns with the No. 74 pick. A 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenseman, Burns recorded two goals and 27 assists in 54 games for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs last season.
Burns entered the draft ranked No. 34 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 3 – No. 76 (via OTT) – Juraj Pekarcik – LW
With the No. 76 pick in the third round, the Blues take forward Juraj Pekarcik out of Slovakia’s Nitra. The 6-foot-1, 183-pound winger recorded 10 points in seven games alongside Dalibor Dvorsky for Team Slovakia at the U18 World Championship.
Pekarcik entered the draft ranked No. 41 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 4 – No. 106 – Jakub Stancl – C
The Blues select forward Jakub Stancl with their fourth-round pick out of Sweden’s Växjö Lakers. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound centerman posted one assist in five games for Team Czechia at the U18 World Championships.
Stancl entered the draft ranked No. 26 among European Skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 5 – No. 138 – Paul Fischer – D
With their fifth-round pick, the Blues select defenseman Paul Fischer out of Team USA’s National Team Development Program. Committed to the University of Notre Dame next season, Fischer recorded four goals and 17 assists in 56 games with the NTDP this year.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman entered the draft ranked No. 58 among North American skaters.
Round 6 – No. 170 – Matt Mayich – D
The Blues select Matt Mayich with their sixth-round pick out of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. Mayich, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound defenseman, posted 22 points in 64 games with Ottawa last season.
He entered the draft ranked No. 72 among North American skaters.
Round 7 – No. 202 – Nikita Susuyev – RW
The Blues conclude their 2023 Draft with Nikita Susuyev, a forward out of Russia. Susuyev recorded 28 points in 38 games at the junior level last season, listed at 6-foot, 172 pounds.
He entered the draft ranked No. 29 among European skaters.
Draft Notes
- The Blues acquired a first-round pick (No. 25) from the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as a third-round pick (No. 76) from the Ottawa Senators, when they sent forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari to Toronto. They also received a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
- The Blues acquired a first-round pick (No. 29) from the New York Rangers via the Dallas Stars when they traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola to New York. The Blues also received a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
- The Blues traded away their second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (No. 42) to Detroit, along with forward Oskar Sundqvist and defenseman Jake Walman, to acquire defensemen Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski ahead of the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline.
