Blues pick defenseman, make trade on first day of 2024 NHL Draft
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KMIZ)
The St. Louis Blues' front office ended a busy opening night of the 2024 NHL Draft by selecting defenseman Adam Jiricek with the team's first round pick. Doug Armstrong and his staff also added center Alexandre Texier to their roster through a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday afternoon.
Jiricek becomes the Blues' highest-drafted defenseman in more than a decade. The last time that St. Louis selected a defenseman with an overall draft pick No. 16 or higher was Alex Pietrangelo back in 2008.
Most recently, the Blues' No. 16 overall draft pick played hockey for his hometown team Plzen HC in Czech Republic. The 6-foot-2, right-handed defenseman is also the younger brother of Columbus defenseman David Jiricek, who was drafted No. 6 overall by the Blue Jackets back in 2022.
Meanwhile, Texier signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension with the Blues after being traded for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. Over his 201-game career with Columbus, the veteran center recorded 79 total points on 34 goals and 45 assists.
The Blues currently have eight picks left to make at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. Right now, St. Louis owns two second-, third- and seventh-round picks and one fourth- and fifth-round pick at the draft.
