St. Louis Blues
· 2026-06-27
The St. Louis Blues drafted centers Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Blues had four first-round picks but traded two to the Anaheim Ducks for center Mason McTavish.
They selected Lawrence at No. 11 and Dagenais at No. 16.
The team is currently 9th in the Western Conference with a 37-33 record, on a W4 streak.
Lawrence and Dagenais will help address the team's need for centers.
Doug Armstrong, the Blues' general manager, said Lawrence is a 200-foot player who can play in the middle second-third line.
The team will look to integrate Lawrence and Dagenais into their lineup.
Lawrence had 17 points in 13 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks before joining Boston University.
Dagenais was listed as 23rd in TSN's prospect final rankings.
The Blues passed on other prospects, including Ethan Belchetz and Ryan Lin, to select Dagenais.
Armstrong said Dagenais has multi-positional talents and is a big man with a long runway for growth.
The Blues are looking to build on their current streak and make a push for the playoffs.
As of June 27, 2026, the team is focused on developing their new draft picks.
Lawrence said his experience playing with a struggling team has helped him grow as a player.
He had to overcome a broken foot and high ankle sprain suffered in training camp.
The Blues are hoping Lawrence and Dagenais can make an immediate impact.
The team's current record and standing will be a factor in their decision-making.
Armstrong said the team needs six forwards who can make up the balance of the next two lines.
The Blues are looking to build a strong lineup with their new draft picks.