Should the Blues draft Liam and Markus Ruck at picks 15-16?

TSN draft analyst Craig Button has suggested the St. Louis Blues use their back-to-back first-round picks at Nos. 15 and 16 to draft twin forwards Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck in the 2026 NHL Draft. The brothers led WHL scoring in 2025-26 and bring proven twin chemistry, though many scouts question whether their skating fits that draft range.

With four first-round selections, the Blues are among the most compelling teams on draft weekend. Button's idea would keep Liam Ruck and his brother together in St. Louis, evoking the Sedin and Sutter twin legacies while reshaping a prospect pool the club can rebuild with picks or trades.

Key Takeaways

• Craig Button recommends the Blues select Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck at consecutive picks 15 and 16.
• Liam Ruck scored 45 goals and 104 points; Markus led the WHL with 108 points for Medicine Hat in 2025-26.
• Coaches praise elite twin chemistry, but skating is widely viewed as the twins' biggest weakness.
• St. Louis holds four first-round picks after acquiring Nos. 15 and 16 in the Jordan Kyrou trade.
• Both brothers plan another WHL season before joining the University of North Dakota in 2027-28.

Why is Craig Button targeting the Ruck twins for St. Louis?

Button told TSN that twins who have spent their whole lives playing together can be dynamic and productive. He pointed to St. Louis history with Ronnie and Richie Sutter and framed Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck as strong offensive players worth pairing at the top of the Blues' draft board.

St. Louis gained picks 15 and 16 when it traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington, giving the club back-to-back slots that align with where many analysts project the brothers. Yahoo Sports notes the Blues could also package picks to move up, but Button's mock scenario keeps all four first-rounders and still lands both twins.

What would Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck bring to the Blues?

The identical twins from Osoyoos, B.C., dominated the 2025-26 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Markus, a left-handed center, posted 21 goals and 87 assists for 108 points. Liam Ruck, a right-handed winger, finished with 45 goals and 104 points. Together they led the WHL and CHL in scoring.

Medicine Hat coach Willie Desjardins told Sportsnet the twins show another level of chemistry when together, citing a back-door pass play where Markus read a subtle stick roll from Liam without a full signal. Desjardins also praised their defensive work on penalty kills, though Yahoo Sports reports their defensive game is not as rounded as some peers.

Can twin chemistry outweigh skating concerns at pick 15?

Most scouts rank Liam Ruck ahead of Markus because his goal-scoring from the wing is more coveted. Both stand about six feet tall, but skating is their most cited flaw. Many analysts slot them lower in the first round or into the second and ask whether improved skating or elite hockey IQ can close the gap.

Sportsnet ranks Liam 20th and Markus 30th among prospects. Button's call at 15 and 16 would be a gamble most scouts do not share, yet Desjardins believes whoever drafts one twin will want the other. The brothers hope a team pulls it off, though Markus acknowledged the odds are low.

How does the UND pipeline factor into their draft story?

Before any NHL career, Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck will return to Medicine Hat for 2026-27 and then join North Dakota in 2027-28. The Grand Forks Herald reported that UND addressed a recruiting gap for high-end offensive difference-makers by landing the twins alongside top 2027 American recruit Nolan Fitzhenry within five days.

UND head coach Dane Jackson said the commits combine two-way habits with special scoring instincts. For draft watchers tracking prospect value beyond St. Louis, our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub covers other fast-moving market stories. Full analysis of Button's proposal is available via Yahoo Sports.

If the gamble pays off, the Blues could add two prolific scorers with built-in line chemistry. If skating limits their ceiling, St. Louis still holds additional first-round capital to balance the risk.