Top pick Johnson opts for college

~ The Blues agreed with the 18-year-old's decision to play hockey at the University of Minnesota this season.

ST. LOUIS -- Erik Johnson, the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft, will go to the University of Minnesota this fall rather than join the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues retain the rights to the defenseman, and the team was part of his decision to go to college.

"We feel this is a win-win situation for Erik to be going to an excellent hockey program to continue his development," Blues president John Davidson said Friday on the team's Web site.

"This is beneficial for his career, short term and long term, to play for the Gophers. He will have an opportunity to compete for an NCAA national championship, play in the world junior championships and enjoy university life."

Johnson was selected by the Blues last month, the fifth American chosen first overall in the draft. The 18-year-old Bloomington, Minn., player has spent the last two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, had 16 goals and 33 assists with the U.S. under-18 team this past year. His team won a gold medal at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 world championships for the second consecutive year.