The St. Louis Blues traded up tonight to take Tage Thompson 26th in the NHL draft in Buffalo. Brent’s older son had been projected, generally, right in that range. He becomes UConn’s first NHL first-rounder after his 14-18-32 freshman year.
Brent Thompson’s full-time coaching career began in the Blues organization. He spent four years in Peoria before heading to Alaska, then coming here after winning the Kelly Cup.
The Islanders kept the 19th pick and took Kieffer Bellows, Brian’s son. The Islanders aren’t scheduled to pick until the fourth round, 110th overall, on Day 2.