ST. LOUIS — In the aftermath of AHL Springfield’s lengthy playoff run, the St. Louis Blues have re-signed two players on their affiliate’s roster.Forwards Zach Dean and Dylan Peterson each signed one-year two-way contracts this week.Dean, 23, who was acquired in the trade that sent Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights, returned from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and finished the season strong. He had 10 assists and 14 points in 36 regular-season games and two goals and three points in 12 playoff games.Peterson, 24, a third-round draft pick (No. 86) in 2020, continued his physical play for the Thunderbirds. He had 12 goals and 24 points in 57 regular-season games and one goal and two points in 12 playoff games.Dean and Peterson will be in Blues’ training camp in September, as will Adam Jiricek and Justin Carbonneau, a pair of prospects who finished the season in Springfield after their junior seasons ended.Jiricek, the No. 16 pick in 2024, and Carbonneau, the No. 19 pick in 2025, joined the Thunderbirds in the playoffs. Jiricek played six games and Carbonneau three, and though neither had a point, the 19-year-olds benefited from being part of the run.“For Dean, (Otto) Stenberg and (Theo) Lindstein, any time you can play NHL-style playoff rounds, it’s good for you,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said this week. “The job that (coach Steve Ott) did to get them to play those three different series, that’s experience they have now and didn’t have to wait a year to get.”In Jiricek and Carbonneau’s limited playing time, did the Blues see anything to make them feel like the two could be on the NHL roster next season and perhaps even make an impact?“There’s not something to say that they got X amount of games, thus they’re on the team,” Armstrong said. “As far as impacting next year? I would say less (than future years).”With several prospects in the fold and more on the way with 12 picks in the NHL Draft on June 26 and 27, Armstrong called June “a massive month.” There’s a lot of intrigue, and the best illustration of that may be the fact that subscribers sent more than 300 questions and comments for this mailbag.We’ve divided them into two parts, with Part 1 focusing heavily on the draft.(Note: Some questions are edited for length and clarity.)Which is more likely: The Blues trade up into the top five of the draft? They trade a significant roster player at the draft? Or they make all three first-round draft picks? — Shawn G.1. Make all three first-round picks: I don’t think they’ll make all three picks, but it’s more likely than the other two options.2. Trade a significant roster player at the draft: I think it will happen this offseason, but I don’t know if it will happen at the draft.3. Trade into the top five: I think they’d like to trade up high, but like Armstrong said this week, they have to find a team that wants to trade back.What should the Blues be willing to give up for the No. 2 pick? — Marcus B.We tackled this topic in May, but I didn’t give my personal opinion on what the Blues should be willing to give up. If I were them, I’d be willing to give up veteran players and high draft picks, but I’d be careful about giving up too much of the young core.Would the San Jose Sharks be interested in Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko or Jordan Binnington? If so, could that be the start of a conversation? I’m not sure, but I’m not trading Jimmy Snuggerud, and I’m not trading Jiricek or Carbonneau and multiple other assets. If that’s the ask, then I’ll take who I get at Nos. 11, 15 and 29 and stay the course.