Liam Greentree could be a prospect of interest for the St. Louis Blues when they pick 16th overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft
With the 2024 NHL Draft approaching, it's time to look at some prospects that may be available to the St. Louis Blues with their first round pick. Now, as reported by fellow St. Louis Site Editor Lou Korac, the team could move up or down with the pick. Or, trade the pick for a young roster player, or make the pick.
However, Since St. Louis still has hold of pick No. 16 in the NHL Entry Draft, we’re going to spend every day leading up to June 28, looking at prospects who may be available and of interest to Doug Armstrong and his scouting team.
Today's prospect is the left-shot right winger Liam Greentree, from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Greentree was ranked 15th in THN’s draft preview magazine and 16th by THN’s scouting expert Tony Ferrari.
The Blues have shown a liking towards selecting players out of the OHL, as they should with the successful draft picks over the years of Jordan Binnington, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou.
On top of that, the Windsor captain stands at 6-foot-2.5 inches and is already at 215 pounds. He possesses the ideal size of a power forward in the NHL.
Greentree played on a very poor Windsor Spitfires team in 2023-24, yet he still managed to record 90 points in 64 games (second-most on his team finished 24 points behind him) and led as a leader with his performance on the ice and work ethic off the ice.
*No. 66 In Red and White
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One of Greentree’s greatest assets is his hands and high-end skill for a big man. His puck protection in tight is terrific and he has the reach to evade stick checks in unison with his stick handles. He’s able to open up space with his ability to draw defenders into him because he’s so dangerous handling the puck.
Defenders can not get focused watching the puck when defending Greentree one-on-one as he will make one quick move to slip by them, leaving them in the dust.
Greentree is a dual threat offensively. He has a deceptive release on his shot but is also a smart playmaker who identifies passing lanes quickly after stickhandling around his opposition. He can drag players out of their positions to open up cross-ice lanes before placing the puck perfectly on the tape for his teammates. His playmaking ability took massive strides forward this year in Windsor.
Despite having the build of a power forward, he plays more like a skilled winger than a physical player looking to rough up opponents. If he adds more physicality to his game, he could become a Brayden Schenn 2.0.
Skating is another area of his game that will need improvement. He’s not a poor skater by any means, but he doesn’t possess that explosiveness to separate himself from opponents.
If the Blues are looking to add a talented forward with size and trust their development staff to improve his skating power and have him play more physically consistently like a power forward, Greentree would be their guy and an excellent pick at No. 16.
Greentree won gold at the U18 IIHF Men's World Championship with Canada, but his tournament performance wasn't the best as he played in a depth role for the team. However, his play all season long in the OHL should have been enough to wipe out his play at the U18s.
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