MARYLANDHEIGHTS, Mo. — MaddoxDagenais had only one regret going into his first NHL action –albeit a preseason game – on Saturday for the St. Louis Bluesagainst the Dallas Stars.
Hisfather, former NHL player Pierre Dagenais, was supposed to fly in andsee his son play. Unfortunately, his flight got canceled buthe will be able to watch the game on the Blues website.
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Otherthan that, the first-round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2026 NHLDraft was just going to let it rip on Saturday and soak in theexperience, take back with him whatever knowledge he can and makemarked improvements while playing for Quebec of the Quebec MajorJunior Hockey League for the third season.
“Yeahfor sure. There’s some veterans with us,” Dagenais said beforethe Blues hosted the Stars in their preseason opener. “Justask some questions, how is it to play in an NHL rink. Just have fun.When you have fun, you always play good.”
Dagenaishas been good in his first pro training camp.
Bluescoach Jim Montgomery said, “he’s a little bit of a 10 to 2 skateron a clock and his feet are going that way and that makes it hardbecause the angles are completely different and he’s going to bevery deceptive, I think.”
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Andthat playing in Saturday’s game, “giveshim a taste of what it’s really like, the speed of it, the electricbuilding, our fans, and then also what the strength and speed of whatthe opposition is and what they can build towards.”
It’sbeen a relatively smooth transition for the 18-year-old, who’s fitin well in his first training camp. The 6-foot-4, 194-pound forwardwas a bit of a sleeper pick by the Blues at No. 16 who is eager andanxious to make good on the Blues investing in him.
“It’snice to see the pro guys and how they act, how they go to the gym,”Dagenaissaid.”It’s nice to meet them also. I think it’s been going well.
“Ithink there’s a lot of different areas of the game that I’m justtrying to ask the coaches and also the players. It’s (goingto be) mythird year in junior and I’m trying to be a leader out there. Ithink the game’s also faster. I’m just trying to bring that paceover there and show an example.”
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Montgomeryhas high praise for the kid but also wants to make sure everyone isguarded before adding too much pressure on the teenager.
“It’sreal early, you know what I mean,” Montgomerysaid. “I’mobviously excited that he can score goals, that he’s an offensiveplayer because you can teach defense, but it’s real early for me tobe overly excited. But I’ve really liked what I’ve seen.”
Dagenais,who was a point-per-game player last season with the Remparts (30goals, 32 assists in 62 games), wants to continue to use the toolsthat’s gotten him to this point.
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“I’mjust trying to use what I’m good at for sure,” hesaid.”I’m just trying to work on everything in my game.”
Asfor what’s to come after the 2026-27 season, that will be up to theBlues and Dagenais. College is always an option but so is turningpro.
“I’mnot there yet. I think I’m taking a day at a time,” Dagenaissaid. “This year, right now I’m in St. Louis and making it as faras possible. If I’m going back to Quebec for sure, our goal is towin this year and next year’s going to be next year. I’m focusingon this year.”
Dagenais finished with three shots on goal and one hit in 14:23 of ice time in a 2-1 loss.
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