Blues go size at center with 16th pick, selecting power forward Maddox Dagenais

With the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the St. Louis Blues selected power forward Maddox Dagenais, a 6-foot-4 prospect the organization views as a needed fit in the center ice group. The pick reflects how St. Louis approached this draft class, prioritizing a mix of roles and, more importantly, different physical profiles within its forward prospects as the franchise looks to build depth for the years ahead.

Dagenais’ profile stood out to the Blues because it adds size and physicality to a center group that, by scouting assessment, has been short on true impact at the position. The Hockey News noted that while St. Louis’ top internal NHL center options are not small, physicality is not typically portrayed as a defining strength, and the organization’s prospect depth at center had similar questions. In that context, Dagenais is framed as a power-forward style option who can bring a different look when he develops into a regular role.

St. Louis entered the 2026 draft with four first-round picks and left with two, but the club used that remaining day-one value to accumulate specific traits. The draft plan included a pair of center-targeted decisions earlier in the first round, followed by the selection of Dagenais as the final first-round piece, according to The Hockey News’ draft rundown. In total, the Blues’ first-round selections were described as adding multiple left-handed centers, while Dagenais supplied the size and play-style contrast the Blues wanted at center ice.

On the production side, Dagenais showed a meaningful jump in development during the 2025-26 season. The Hockey News reported he recorded 30 goals and 62 points in 62 games, following a strong improvement from his rookie year in 2024-25. The same reporting also characterized his international offensive breakout as still a work in progress, which helps explain why the Blues are betting on his overall game translating, rather than expecting him to be a polished finisher immediately.

The broader takeaway is that the Blues are not only drafting for skill, they are drafting for roster construction. If Dagenais’ physical-forward traits emerge at the pro level, he could become a valuable asset in the type of lineup teams want when they need centers who can win battles, protect space, and play through contact. But as with any prospect, the time horizon matters, and this pick’s impact will hinge on how quickly he adapts from junior-style game elements into the pace, leverage, and defensive responsibility of the NHL.

The next thing to watch is how St. Louis develops Dagenais in the year after his selection, particularly whether his game evolves toward more consistent two-way impact at center, not just a power-forward identity. The Blues’ earlier first-round center emphasis suggests the organization wants him to be more than a one-dimensional enforcer type, and the fit will ultimately be tested in the way his role expands against stronger competition as he moves up the ladder.