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Prospects who could intrigue St. Louis Blues in 2017 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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Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Hague closely fits the mold of the big but offensively-skilled defensemen that have fueled the Blues’ success over the past two decades, including Chris Pronger, Alex Pietrangelo, and Colton Parayko. At a listed 6-foot-6 and 206 pounds, Hague obviously has the power to influence the game from a physical standpoint and should provide a reliable presence in his own zone, but his most special skills come from the offensive end of the ice. The highlight reel above is a must-watch, as he’s got a wicked lefthanded slapshot that might rival Parayko’s shot from the right side.

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL)

Ratcliffe fits the mold of the big, physically-skilled forwards such as Tage Thompson and Adam Musil that the Blues have drafted in recent years, and his greatest quality is the one that the Blues arguably lack the most at the moment–the ability to provide a consistent net-front presence. The 6-foot-6, 200-pounder isn’t going to make the nifty plays that Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz make–and maybe that’s a deal-breaker for the Blues at the wing position–but he gets in front of the net and imposes his will in a way that not many other young players can.

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