Blues select seven players at 2020 NHL Draft

The St. Louis Blues made seven picks at the 2020 NHL Draft, which was held virtually from Oct. 6-7.

Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong, amateur scouts Tony Feltrin and Dan Ginnell, and other members of the Hockey Operations department set up shop in the team's locker room to make their decisions.
The Blues selected three forwards (Jake Neighbours, Dylan Peterson and Tanner Dickinson), three defensemen (Leo Loof, Matthew Kessel, and Noah Beck) and one goalie (Will Cranley).

2020 Blues Draft Picks

Round 1 - No. 26
Jake Neighbours, LWHeight: 5-11Weight: 201
Jake Neighbours played the last three seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings
of the Western Hockey League. Last season, Neighbours posted 23 goals and 47 assists (70 points) in 64 games. The 18-year-old left winger is a "deceptively fast player who likes to get in on the forecheck," according to DobberProspects.com. "He plays with an edge and knows how to operate in any role offensively."
Round 3 - No. 86 (from MTL)
Dylan Peterson, CHeight: 6-4Weight: 192
Dylan Peterson is a 6-foot-4 center that has committed to Boston University for the 2020-21 season. The 18-year-old from Roseville, CA says he models his game after San Jose's Joe Thornton. Peterson has represented the U.S. National team over the last two seasons, posting seven goals and 15 assists (22 points) in 50 games.

Round 3 - No. 88
Leo Loof, DHeight: 6-1Weight: 179
Leo Loof is considered a big defender who uses his size and can contribute on the power play. "Loof is a technically refined stickhandler, with poise and a sound mechanical base," EliteProspects.com writes. "He's tough as nails along the boards and in front of his own net, dominating his opponents with strong reads and heavy hits." Loof's twin brother, Linus, is also draft eligible this season.
Round 4 - No. 119
Tanner Dickinson, CHeight: 6-0Weight: 169
Tanner Dickinson is a speedy center from Perrysburg, Ohio. He was ranked No. 67 amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. "He didn't play a ton, but when he did, he used his speed with extreme effectiveness," said Elite Prospects. "Explosive skating led to a few rushes and net drives." Last season, Dickinson recorded nine goals and 31 assists (40 points) in 64 games with the Soo Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League.

Round 5 - No. 150
Matthew Kessel, DHeight: 6-3Weight: 203
Matthew Kessel recently completed his freshman season at UMass-Amherst, where he led all defensemen with seven goals. In his first collegiate season, Kessel posted seven goals and four assists (11 points) in 34 games. Prior to going to UMass-Amherst, Kessel played three seasons in the USHL.
Round 6 - No. 163 (from MIN)
Will Cranley, GHeight: 6-4Weight: 185
Will Cranley posted a 2.81 goals-against average and a .894 save-percentage in 21 games with the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's last season. He posted a shutout streak of 159 minutes, 36 seconds in January - the second-longest all-time by an Ottawa goalie.
Round 7 - No. 194 (from MIN)
Noah Beck, DHeight: 6-3Weight: 192
Noah Beck spent last season with the Fargo Force of the USHL, posting four goals and 23 assists (27 points) in 42 games. The 19-year-old defenseman is set to play with Clarkson University this season.

Draft Notes

• The Blues traded their second-round pick (No. 57 overall) to the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 18, 2020 to acquire defenseman Marco Scandella. The club also traded their sixth-round pick (No. 181) to the Edmonton Oilers in 2018 in exchange for defenseman Jakub Jerabek.
  - The Blues acquired a third-round pick (No. 87) and a seventh-round pick (No. 203) in the deal that sent Jake Allen and a seventh-round pick in 2022 to Montreal.
  - The Blues also received a fifth-round pick (No. 146) and Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes in a Sept. 2019 trade that sent Joel Edmundson, Dominik Bokk and a seventh-round pick in 2021 to the Hurricanes. They then traded that pick to Minnesota, in exchange for a 2020 sixth round pick (No. 163) and a 2020 seventh round pick (No. 194).
  -The Blues traded their seventh-round pick (No. 203) to the Detroit Red Wings for a seventh-round pick in 2021.