But most of the prospects ready to make the jump to the NHL are defensemen and their arrival could make it a position of strength.
Blues 30 in 30: Season outlook | Burning questions, reasons for optimism | Fantasy outlook
Here are the Blues' top five prospects, according to NHL.com:
1. Ty Rattie, RW
How acquired: Selected with No. 32 pick in 2011 NHL Draft
Last season: St. Louis: 13 GP, 4-2-6; Chicago (AHL): 62 GP, 17-29-46
Rattie, 23, has been touted as one of the up-and-coming prospects the past couple of seasons but has not been able to stay in the NHL. He will have his best chance at making the opening roster this season with the Blues going with youth and will have every opportunity to battle for a top-nine role in training camp.
Rattie (6-foot, 178 pounds) was the Chicago Wolves' third-leading scorer last season and had 136 points (69 goals, 67 assists) in three seasons in the American Hockey League. That followed a junior career with Portland of the Western Hockey League, where Rattie had 348 points (151 goals, 197 assists) in 269 games through four-plus seasons.
"With a younger, different lineup, it's going to give Ty Rattie an opportunity to come in and gain a spot," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "I look at it as windows, and what we've always talked about is as one window closes, we want to have this window propped up."
Projected NHL arrival: This season