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St. Louis Blues Select Tage Thompson with 26th Overall Pick in NHL Draft

By Patrick Karraker

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Tage Thompson puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number twenty-six overall draft pick by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Tage Thompson puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number twenty-six overall draft pick by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The St. Louis Blues took University of Connecticut center Tage Thompson with their first pick in this year’s NHL Draft.

Though the St. Louis Blues didn’t move up nearly as high in Friday’s NHL Draft as some had predicted–there had been rumors of the team moving up into the Top 10 as part of a deal involving defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk–they ultimately did decide to trade up, swapping first-rounders with the Washington Capitals and giving up a third-rounder in order to move up from pick 28 to 26. The Blues used that pick to select center Tage Thompson, a 6-foot-5, 185-pounder who played at the University of Connecticut during the 2015-16 season.

Thompson, who had 14 goals, 18 assists and 12 penalty minutes with a minus-14 rating during his freshman season at UConn, is considered a raw but intriguing prospect who presents tremendous upside because of his size and athleticism. If he develops into a more complete player under the Blues’ guidance, he could be a powerful, dynamic center-ice presence in the same way that David Backes, Alexander Steen, and Patrik Berglund have done so in recent seasons.

Next: Blues Trade Brian Elliott to Flames

Though the Blues gave up a third-rounder to trade up for Thompson, they acquired the 35th overall pick when they traded Brian Elliott, so they have six picks during Saturday’s portion of the selection meeting, which features rounds 2-7.

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