The 2026 NHL Draft lottery delivered another jolt of good fortune to the San Jose Sharks. Projected to pick ninth, they leapt to No. 2 overall, marking back-to-back top-two selections after taking Macklin Celebrini first in 2024. For GM Mike Grier, this is an exciting chance to another very talented player to a young core that already includes Celebrini, Michael Misa, Will Smith, and William Eklund. For the St. Louis Blues, sitting at numbers 11 and 15, in addition to a third first-rounder from Colorado, the temptation to chase, St. Louis Blues forward Otto Stenberg’s younger brother, Ivar, the dynamic Swedish winger ranked No. 2 overall is real. However, turning that interest into a deal looks a bit unlikely.
The fundamental problem in all of this boils down to mismatched incentives. San Jose’s young forward group is already one of the NHL’s most enviable prospect hauls. Adding Stenberg, a two-way play-driver with proven SHL production at 18, would create an embarrassment of riches up front. Even if the Sharks pivot to defense they could have Chase Reid, the draft’s top blueliner, sitting right there at No. 2. Reid’s size, skating, and offensive upside address the exact hole Grier has been trying to fill. With only Dmitry Orlov (34) and Sam Dickinson (19) signed for 2026-27 on the back end, drafting Reid keeps the Sharks on the “best player available” path without sacrificing elite talent.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong could assemble a credible package and 11th, 15th, and a prospect. To make it even more appealing, he could include veteran right-shot defenseman Colton Parayko, who would fit San Jose’s dire blue-line needs like a glove. At 33, the 6-foot-6 Parayko is a proven top-pair NHL stalwart with size, physicality, and leadership. He could immediately stabilize San Jose’s thin defense, mentor young pieces like Dickinson, and provide right-side balance alongside Orlov. A veteran of over 800 NHL games and a 2019 Stanley Cup winner, Parayko would bring instant credibility to a rebuilding Sharks blueline that desperately needs help now, not just in the future.
But here’s where the deal likely dies. Both the Blues and Parayko himself appear deeply reluctant to part ways. Parayko has spent his entire NHL career in St. Louis since being drafted in 2012. He signed an eight-year, $52-million extension in 2021 that runs through 2029-30 with a $6.5-million cap hit and strong no-trade protections. Parayko has called St. Louis home for more than a decade, built roots, and clearly values loyalty over a fresh start. Forcing him out now would be messy.
The Blues should be equally hesitant. Even after a down 2025-26 season for Parayko (just 18 points and a minus-14 rating), he remains a top-four defenseman, alternate captain, and locker-room anchor during a retool. Trading him for draft capital might make analytical sense on paper, but it risks alienating a player who just chose to stay and could damage team culture at a time when the Blues are trying to stay competitive in the Central Division. Armstrong has shown he’s willing to move pieces, but management may be reluctant to make a move at this time without the risk of burning bridges with a franchise stalwart who doesn’t want to leave.
Historically, top-five selections almost never move without an overpay that includes multiple firsts and a blue-chip NHL contributor or near-NHL prospect. Adding Parayko might sweeten the pot for the Sharks, but the human element, the loyalty, no-trade protections, and mutual reluctance could make it a non-starter. Grier may always open to listening, but listening is not the same as accepting. The Sharks are in year three of a deliberate rebuild and could have enough pieces on their active roster and pushing for a spot next season to contend for a postseason spot. Another lottery windfall lets them fast-track contention around Celebrini rather than trade down.
The Blues have the picks and prospects to start a conversation. They do not have the leverage, let alone the willingness from all parties to finish one. The brother-reunion narrative with Ivar Stenberg adds emotional appeal, but NHL front offices prioritize on-ice fit, asset value, and player buy-in over storylines. Unless something dramatic changes, the No. 2 pick is almost certainly staying in San Jose. The lottery gods smiled on the Sharks again. This time, the Blues are left hoping for a miracle on draft night.