St. Louis Blues Sign Physical Defense Prospect

The St. Louis Blues have signed a recent third-round pick to an entry-level deal, inking their 2020 Draft No. 88 overall pick, Leo Loof, to a three-year contract.

We've signed 2020 draft pick Leo Loof to a three-year entry-level contract. #stlblues https://t.co/E7Iy7UkzRP

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 28, 2023

It's a two-way ELC, but Loof could still need some seasoning in the AHL, if he isn't loaned back to a European team next season. 

The 21-year-old played the past two years in Finland, this past season with Ilves in the Finnish Liiga, registering 16 points in 55 games, with an impressive plus/minus rating of +22. 

A native of Sweden, Loof also got into some high-level competition while playing for his home country at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships, helping them to the Bronze medal. 

He's a physical player, certainly suitable for the Blues' style, but he might best be known for receiving a match penalty for this vicious high hit. 

If this hit by Sweden’s Leo Loof on Slovakia’s Simon Nemec occurred in an NHL game, the amount of games it would be suspended is _____ games?

CC: @TimCPeel20

Loof received a match penalty. #worldjuniors pic.twitter.com/H2qguEFn98

— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) December 28, 2021

Loof received a one-game suspension for that hit. 

The D-man is the fifth player from the Blues' 2020 draft class to sign an ELC, joining Jake Neighbours, Tanner Dickinson, Matthew Kessel, and Will Cranley.

Photo: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports