With the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the St. Louis Blues selected forward Maddox Dagenais of the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), injecting their prospect pipeline with a big, versatile power forward who has risen steadily up draft boards thanks to a breakout draft-year campaign.
At 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds, the left-shooting center/winger from Montreal brings an imposing frame and a well-rounded game that fits the Blues’ preference for players who can blend size, compete, and offensive tools. Born March 27, 2008, Dagenais turned heads as the former first-overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft—the first father-son duo to achieve that distinction alongside his father, former NHL forward Pierre Dagenais.
In his second season with the Remparts, Dagenais posted a point-per-game performance with 30 goals and 32 assists for 62 points in 62 regular-season games, adding six points in 11 playoff contests. He ranked fourth in the QMJHL with 273 shots on goal, showcasing a shoot-first mentality and a heavy, accurate release that includes a lethal wrist shot and one-timer. He also won 51.3 percent of his faceoffs while averaging significant ice time.
Scouts praise Dagenais as a true power-forward project with NHL-caliber tools. His skating stands out for a player his size, featuring powerful linear crossovers and explosive transition speed that allows him to win races to the puck, initiate chip-and-chase sequences, and pressure defenders effectively. He plays with a relentless motor, physical edge, and strong board work, winning battles in the dirty areas and protecting the puck with confidence.
Offensively, Dagenais isn’t just a volume shooter; he has the hands and hockey sense to finish in tight and create for linemates. When engaged, he dominates puck battles, drives to the net, and stacks positive shifts, projecting as a middle-six contributor capable of 20-goal seasons at the NHL level. Defensively, he has shown reliability and improving consistency, though refining shot selection and defensive details will be keys to his development.
Versatility is a major plus. While primarily a center, Dagenais gained valuable experience on the wing in 2025-26, learning to hunt pucks as an F1, reverse-hit, and utilize his size along the boards. He models aspects of his game after big-bodied scorers like Tage Thompson and Juraj Slafkovsky.
NHL Central Scouting ranked him No. 15 among North American skaters, with other final rankings placing him in the late first-round range (e.g., No. 17 on EliteProspects, No. 24-30 on various boards). He has drawn comparisons to a reliable, toolsy forward who can play multiple roles and contribute at both ends.
Dagenais also represented Canada at the U18 World Junior Championship, where his size, work rate, and motor were noted as standout qualities. He is expected to return to Quebec for the 2026-27 season, where he’ll help the Remparts chase another deep playoff run in front of passionate home crowds at the Centre Vidéotron.
For the Blues, who have emphasized character, competitiveness, and developmental upside in recent drafts, Dagenais represents a high-ceiling addition. His raw physical tools paired with an elite scoring mechanism align well with the organization’s track record of molding big forwards into impact players. If he continues his upward trajectory—polishing his two-way game and leveraging that frame—St. Louis may have landed a future middle-six staple who can bang bodies, score goals, and provide secondary scoring depth alongside their core.
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