2010 NHL Mock Draft, 14th Pick: St. Louis Blues Select Nick Bjugstad

With the 14th pick in the 2010 SB Nation NHL Mock Draft, our St. Louis Blues bloggers at St. Louis Game Time select...

Nick Bjugstad, Blaine High School (Minnesota)

photo via vintageminnesotahockey.com

From St. Louis Game Time:

Game Time's choice, however, is Minnesota’s 2010 "Mr. Hockey," Nick Bjugstad. He’s big at 6’4, 187, and at only 17 years old, probably still has growing and filling out to do. The scouting report on him is that he’s a good skater with an excellent shot, decent faceoff skills, and leadership qualities. Personality-wise, he’s driven; he accelerated his high school coursework so as to graduate early this year at attend the U. of Minnesota in the fall, which tells us he’ll work like a fiend to accomplish a goal.

The Blues like to take Americans in the first round, and drafting a guy who’s going to college gives them four years to keep him on the reserve list without having to sign him, instead of the two years they get for a junior player. For a cash-strapped organization, that’s a plus, and it’s a route the Blues have taken many, many times in the past.

A big, skilled, intense forward who is a born leader… exactly what this organization needs right now.

The next pick belongs to the Boston Bruins delegation at Stanley Cup of Chowder.