With the NHL Draft still chugging along, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong is starting to develop a bit of a trend with his picks today, as opposed to last night in the first round. With the trade for Brandon Carlo with Toronto, grabbing Luke Schairer in the third round, the Blues then selected another defenseman in the first of two fourth-round picks.
Please welcome Landon Nycz, selected by the Blues with the 107th pick. A left-handed shot, he spent his 2025-26 campaign at the University of Massachusetts. He appeared in 35 games, scoring a goal and adding two assists.
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he has the ability to be a driving force in this trend of grabbing bigger defensemen. Nycz has been described as having some explosiveness, as well as the ability to be mobile.
This is now the third new blueliner to join the Blues today, and with a handful more picks to go, there is a chance that this trend might be ending here. After grabbing all centers on night one, including Mason McTavish from Anaheim, the defensive depth was sorely needed up and down the organization's pipeline.
Nycz is one of many USHL players to make the jump to the NCAA level, and it has shown to be a benefit for the young NHLers of the league. We will see if he turns out to be a diamond in the rough of the fourth round.
Does Armstrong continue to go with the blueline help, or is something else afoot following the second straight defenseman called on the day?
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