Vladimir Tarasenko drafted by St. Louis Blues (Photo © Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

With the 16th overall pick the St. Louis Blues picked during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Tarasenko was the second Russian player picked in the first round after Alexander Burmistrov, picked up by Atlanta with the 8th pick.

Tarasenko, 18, had two excellent seasons in the KHL. This year he scored 24 points with Sibir Novosibirsk.

Tarasenko has already announced that he’s going to spend the 10-11 season back home in Russia, but it looks like the Blues weren’t scared about this. Tarasenko is under contract until 2012.