Blues select seven forwards among eight draft picks
The St. Louis Blues leaned heavily toward offense in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, selecting seven forwards among their eight picks. Their other selection was a goaltender.
The Blues selected forward Tage Thompson with the 26th overall pick on Day 1 of the draft Friday. They made their other picks Saturday.
A summary of all eight Blues draft picks:
Tage Thompson, forward, Round 1 (26th overall)
Thompson, 18, dressed in 36 games during his freshman season at the University of Connecticut in 2015-16, recording 32 points, including 14 goals and 18 assists. In 2014-15, the 6-foot-5, 194-pound forward appeared in 64 games with the United States National U-18 Team, posting 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. In addition, the Oyster Bay, New York, native dressed in seven games with Team USA at the U-18 World Junior Championships, helping the team capture the Gold Medal.
Jordan Kyrou, forward, Round 2 (35th overall)
Kyrou, 18, has spent the past two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting. In 2015-16, the 6-foot, 183-pound forward ranked third on the Sting with 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) in 65 regular-season games, earning a selection to the Canadian Hockey League's Top Prospects Game. In international play, the Toronto, Ontario, native logged eight points (five goals, three assists) in eight games at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, helping Team Canada capture the Gold Medal.
Evan Fitzpatrick, goaltender, Round 2 (59th overall)
Fitzpatrick, 18, has spent the past two seasons with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Sherbrooke Phoenix. In 2015-16, the 6-3, 222-pound goaltender posted an 18-26-8 record along with a 3.42 goals-against average, an .896 save percentage and two shutouts, earning a selection to the CHL Top Prospects Game. In international play, the St. John's, Newfoundland, native recorded a 3.17 GAA and an .895 save percentage in five games with Team Canada at the 2016 U-18 World Junior Championships. In 2014-15, Fitzpatrick was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team after accruing a 13-11-3 record along with a 3.41 GAA and an .884 save percentage.
Tanner Kaspick, forward, Round 4 (119th overall)
Kaspick, 18, has spent the past two seasons with the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings. In 2015-16, the 6-1, 201-pound forward collected 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in 53 regular-season games as well as 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 21 postseason appearances, leading the Wheat Kings to WHL championship. In international play, the Brandon, Manitoba, native dressed in four games with Team Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, helping the team capture the Gold Medal.
Nolan Stevens, forward, Round 5 (125th overall)
Stevens, 19, is a product of the U.S. Developmental Program and has spent the past two seasons at Northeastern University. In 2015-16, the 6-3, 185-pound forward collected 42 points, including a team-leading 20 goals, in 41 regular-season games while leading Northeastern to the 2016 Hockey East championship. In international play, the Sea Isle City, New Jersey, native dressed in seven games with Team USA at the 2014 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping the team capture the Gold Medal.
Conner Bleackley, forward, Round 5 (144th overall)
Bleackley, 20, has spent the past five seasons with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. In 2015-16, the 6-1, 192-pound forward ranked fifth on the Rebels with 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists) in 55 regular-season games. In international play, the High River, Alberta, native served as an assistant captain on Team Canada at the 2014 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping the team capture the Bronze Medal.
Nikolaj Krag Christensen, forward, Round 7 (209th overall)
Krag Christensen, 17, dressed in 30 games with Rodovre in Denmark in 2015-16, posting four points (two goals, two assists) and 10 penalty minutes. In international play, the Rodovre, Denmark, native dressed in seven games as an assistant captain for Denmark at the 2016 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping the team capture the Division 1A Gold Medal. The 6-3, 201-pound forward also appeared in five games at the 2016 U-20 World Junior Championships.
Filip Helt, forward, Round 7 (211th overall)
Helt, 18, has spent the past five seasons with HC Litvinov in the Czech Republic. In 2015-16, the 6-1, 194-pound forward posted 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 42 games in the Czech U-18 league, while logging three assists in seven games with the U-20 club.
