Blues sign 2013 second-round draft pick Vannelli

The St. Louis Blues on Monday signed defenseman Thomas Vannelli, a 2013 second-round pick (No. 47).

Vannelli had 14 goals and 41 points in 59 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, and was second on the team with nine power-play goals. The Tigers start the WHL playoffs Friday against Swift Current Broncos.

A 6-foot-2, 165-pound right-shot defenseman from Minnetonka, Minn., Vannelli was the top-ranked high school player and No. 44 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of the top North American skaters for the 2013 NHL Draft.

As a senior at Minnetonka High School he was a finalist for the 2013 Mr. Hockey Award.