Which Prospects Crack the Opening Night Roster?

[Boomac]

With the offseason at a standstill, Im starting to wonder what the opening night roster might actually look like — and which of our prospects have a real shot at sticking in St. Louis.

Here’s a quick look at the projected depth chart and cap situation (Puckpedia):

14 Forwards, $52,640,457 (55.1% of cap)
7 Defencemen, $30,680,918 (32.1% of cap)
2 Goaltenders, $9,400,000 (9.8% of cap)
Buyout & Cap Charges, $2,153,475 (2.3% of cap)

NHL CAP LIMIT: $95,500,000
PROJECTED CAP HIT: $94,874,850
PROJECTED CAP SPACE: $625,150

https://puckpedia.com/team/st-louis-blues

LW: Buchnevich, Holloway, Neighbours, Toropchenko
C: Thomas, Schenn, Suter, Bjugstad
RW: Snuggerud, Kyrou, Joseph, Sundqvist
Depth: Walker, Texier

RD: Parayko, Faulk, Mailloux
LD: Fowler, Broberg, Tucker
Depth: Kessel

G: Binnington, Hofer

LTIR: Krug

Potential Forward Prospects:
Stenberg, Otto Dvorský, Dalibor Kaskimäki, Aleksanteri Peterson, Dylan Robertsson, Simon Dean, Zach Stancl, Jakub

Potential Defense Prospects:
Lindstein, Theo Loof, Leo Buchinger, Michael Burns, Quinton

Who realistically makes the roster out of camp? Would you rather see us run a vet-heavy roster (Joseph, Texier) or give minutes to a couple rookies (Dvorsky, Peterson, Kaskimaki,etc...)?

I think at least one prospect eventually pushes Texier out of a job this year. Im not sure if it's by the opening night roster, though.

Looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts.

[smilinjoefission]

Walker will get the nod over Joseph and Sunny will probably be hurt by then.

[DawgDad]

All things staying the same, the Blues are a brick short on RW. I view Carbonneau as very low probability to stick, until he isn't, close to zero this year and much higher next. Dvorsky is a possibility, I'm leaning 35-45% out of camp unless we see real maturity from him. There appears to be a clearer path for Peterson or Dean to push up from the bottom, assume Peterson has a more immediate chance and Dean needs a bit of rust removal in the A..

I'm not real high on Joseph or Texier, but I expect they'll keep one around for depth. My choice would be Joseph.

I really don't know what Kaskimaki's chances are. No clue. The rest, development/depth in the A.

My concern right now is the third line. I suspect they'll want to get a look at Suter between Holloway and Kyrou. A 3rd line of Neighbours-Schenn-whoever or Neighbours-Bjugstad-Schenn appears to be a plodding nothing-burger. Schenn's value rose when speedsters Holloway and Kyrou were driving the puck up ice. He and Neighbours need to be split up, and the 3rd line needs an injection of offense. Neighbours-Suter-Dvorsky would appear to me to have upside the Schenn combinations lack.

[seattleblue]

Joseph and Texier are filler just waiting to be displaced by superior players. I'd say Dvorsky makes the team out of camp and one of them is waived and goes to Springfield unclaimed.

The Perron-style wildcard is Carbonneau but I think it's still unlikely if everyone is healthy breaking camp. The situation in 2007 when Perron made the team (don't forget he was 19 just super inexperienced & raw with organized hockey) was a lot more wide open than it is this year. He's also not ready for the NHL so why do that with him? Some of his skills are indeed ready but his game needs 1-2 years of polish IMO. Powerful, raw skill there to work with. He could end up in a 9-game trial situation but I think that's more likely if there's an injury in training camp/preseason.

With strong camps, either/or Dean and Kaskimaki are possible.

They will want to season Stenberg, Stancl, Pekarcik and Burns in the AHL and that will be fun to see.

[Pierre McGuire]

Dvorsky makes the team. He almost made it out of camp last year. This year he sticks.

[STL fan in MN]

Snuggerud is still very much a prospect so I’d say him for sure.

Mailloux is still very much a prospect so him as well.

Beyond that, I’d say Dvorsky has about a 50/50 shot but it’ll depend on how things shake out in camp.

I’d expect others to make their NHL debuts perhaps at some point this season but I’ll be surprised if anyone beyond those 3 make the team out of camp.

[JoshInFenton]

I feel like this is the last season before we start to see some of the 2022-2024 crop really show up in larger numbers. We have a lot of expiring contracts on the forward side, and while one of Toropchenko or walker probably hang around, i think Joseph, Texier, and Sunny are all outbound. Unless Texier randomly showcases a better two way game, i think that got him press box time above and beyond times where he was hurt/sick.

When that happens, there are at least 2 roster spots available on the forward side. Defensively, Fowler is playing for us this year on the left side, if he stays at his current level i think he could get extended, but he is on that fringe age range where he could start to lose some speed/physicality or something, so theres a chance for a LD spot to open up for sure, and with any injury i think a lot of the up and coming guys who showcase they are NHL ready could fight Kessel for his ice time. But i think thats more of a middle-of-the-season type of situation, i think it'd just be Corey Schueneman and Leo Loof getting a few games here and there at the halfway point or prior.

I don't project too many upsets for roster spots this season though overall. Dvorsky if he has added 5-10 pounds to his frame has the best chance to remove one of the expiring contracts from their job (40-50% chance). No other player has a better than 1 in 20 chance to make the club, a lot of these guys are 1 season too soon imho. edit: this assumes that snuggy and Mailloux are givens, if not then they get roster spots.

Gonna be a pretty interesting season in the AHL for the club though, lots of young firepower down there right now.

[JR1]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

[STL fan in MN]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

I think he’d be much better served going to BC than to attend camp and try to make the NHL. I think the thought of him being close to NHL ready is a crock of poo. He’s more physically developed than most 18 yr olds and he’s on the older side of his draft class but he really needs to work on passing, playmaking, utilizing teammates more etc. He’s simply not pro ready.

He could do that development in the Q but he’s already played 3 years there and college hockey is a higher caliber and l think he’d be better served going that route. But…he’d have to delay signing a contract and thus the $97.5k signing bonus that’d come with it. My guess is he may choose to take the money (he’ll get the money either way but it’d be delayed a bit if he went the college route).

[seattleblue]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

I think he’d be much better served going to BC than to attend camp and try to make the NHL. I think the thought of him being close to NHL ready is a crock of poo. He’s more physically developed than most 18 yr olds and he’s on the older side of his draft class but he really needs to work on passing, playmaking, utilizing teammates more etc. He’s simply not pro ready.

He could do that development in the Q but he’s already played 3 years there and college hockey is a higher caliber and l think he’d be better served going that route. But…he’d have to delay signing a contract and thus the $97.5k signing bonus that’d come with it. My guess is he may choose to take the money (he’ll get the money either way but it’d be delayed a bit if he went the college route).

I have been refreshing this page daily to see if his name pops up under the Brigadoon-Bologna Armoire
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/articl ... ege-ranks/

Incidentally I count about 20 players going to the ECAC mostly to Clarkson, Quinnipiac, St. Lawerence. 0 for my team. I notice a lot of the players heading to college are undrafted older players, and there could be reasons both general logical college decisions as well as potential extensions of career reasons for that.

If he goes Q he remains open for the 9 game trial, but I wouldn't expect him to go to college midseason, nor would I expect him to commit all next season to college if he doesn't commit before the beginning of this one. Would he really play a long competitive year on an excellent team in juniors and then emerge from that with the mindset he's not quite ready? You can tell he thinks he is readier than he is.

[STL fan in MN]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

I think he’d be much better served going to BC than to attend camp and try to make the NHL. I think the thought of him being close to NHL ready is a crock of poo. He’s more physically developed than most 18 yr olds and he’s on the older side of his draft class but he really needs to work on passing, playmaking, utilizing teammates more etc. He’s simply not pro ready.

He could do that development in the Q but he’s already played 3 years there and college hockey is a higher caliber and l think he’d be better served going that route. But…he’d have to delay signing a contract and thus the $97.5k signing bonus that’d come with it. My guess is he may choose to take the money (he’ll get the money either way but it’d be delayed a bit if he went the college route).

I have been refreshing this page daily to see if his name pops up under the Brigadoon-Bologna Armoire
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/articl ... ege-ranks/

Incidentally I count about 20 players going to the ECAC mostly to Clarkson, Quinnipiac, St. Lawerence. 0 for my team. I notice a lot of the players heading to college are undrafted older players, and there could be reasons both general logical college decisions as well as potential extensions of career reasons for that.

If he goes Q he remains open for the 9 game trial, but I wouldn't expect him to go to college midseason, nor would I expect him to commit all next season to college if he doesn't commit before the beginning of this one. Would he really play a long competitive year on an excellent team in juniors and then emerge from that with the mindset he's not quite ready? You can tell he thinks he is readier than he is.

Yeah, lots of undrafted 20 yr olds and CHLers that have aged out of Jrs are now going the NCAA route instead of USports or trying to get a AHL/ECHL deal.

There would be no going to college mid-season if Carbo attended Blues training camp or signed an NHL contract. The NCAA would consider him a pro if he did either of those things and he’d thus lose his amateur status.

[LGB73]

Be nice if Dvorsky gets a year at LW and Neighbours swaps to RW. That line needs more offensive upside now that Bolduc is gone and Joseph/Texier are not the answer. If Dvorsky sticks at 3C, then I assume Schenn will move to his wing and Suter centers the 2nd line.

[Frank Barone]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

I think he’d be much better served going to BC than to attend camp and try to make the NHL. I think the thought of him being close to NHL ready is a crock of poo. He’s more physically developed than most 18 yr olds and he’s on the older side of his draft class but he really needs to work on passing, playmaking, utilizing teammates more etc. He’s simply not pro ready.

He could do that development in the Q but he’s already played 3 years there and college hockey is a higher caliber and l think he’d be better served going that route. But…he’d have to delay signing a contract and thus the $97.5k signing bonus that’d come with it. My guess is he may choose to take the money (he’ll get the money either way but it’d be delayed a bit if he went the college route).

I have been refreshing this page daily to see if his name pops up under the Brigadoon-Bologna Armoire
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/articl ... ege-ranks/

Incidentally I count about 20 players going to the ECAC mostly to Clarkson, Quinnipiac, St. Lawerence. 0 for my team. I notice a lot of the players heading to college are undrafted older players, and there could be reasons both general logical college decisions as well as potential extensions of career reasons for that.

If he goes Q he remains open for the 9 game trial, but I wouldn't expect him to go to college midseason, nor would I expect him to commit all next season to college if he doesn't commit before the beginning of this one. Would he really play a long competitive year on an excellent team in juniors and then emerge from that with the mindset he's not quite ready? You can tell he thinks he is readier than he is.

Yeah, lots of undrafted 20 yr olds and CHLers that have aged out of Jrs are now going the NCAA route instead of USports or trying to get a AHL/ECHL deal.

There would be no going to college mid-season if Carbo attended Blues training camp or signed an NHL contract. The NCAA would consider him a pro if he did either of those things and he’d thus lose his amateur status.

Is there any logic at all for a guy like Carbo to go to an OHL team? Is this even possible? Would his rights need to be traded by his current team in the Q? I am assuming the OHL is a better league and some of the teams like London have a good reputation for player development.

[SameOldBlues]

It has to be Dvorsky. He needs to get acclimated to the NHL next year so he will be ready for 2C duty in the Blues’ next Cup season in 2026-27.

[BalotelliMassive]

Something tells me that none of them besides Rudy start the season in the NHL but they'll trickle in as injuries happen.

[STL fan in MN]

I really don’t expect Carbonneau to make the team but he sure looked like a man against boys at the development camp. Perhaps because I had my eye on him but he looked very talented.

I think he’d be much better served going to BC than to attend camp and try to make the NHL. I think the thought of him being close to NHL ready is a crock of poo. He’s more physically developed than most 18 yr olds and he’s on the older side of his draft class but he really needs to work on passing, playmaking, utilizing teammates more etc. He’s simply not pro ready.

He could do that development in the Q but he’s already played 3 years there and college hockey is a higher caliber and l think he’d be better served going that route. But…he’d have to delay signing a contract and thus the $97.5k signing bonus that’d come with it. My guess is he may choose to take the money (he’ll get the money either way but it’d be delayed a bit if he went the college route).

I have been refreshing this page daily to see if his name pops up under the Brigadoon-Bologna Armoire
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/articl ... ege-ranks/

Incidentally I count about 20 players going to the ECAC mostly to Clarkson, Quinnipiac, St. Lawerence. 0 for my team. I notice a lot of the players heading to college are undrafted older players, and there could be reasons both general logical college decisions as well as potential extensions of career reasons for that.

If he goes Q he remains open for the 9 game trial, but I wouldn't expect him to go to college midseason, nor would I expect him to commit all next season to college if he doesn't commit before the beginning of this one. Would he really play a long competitive year on an excellent team in juniors and then emerge from that with the mindset he's not quite ready? You can tell he thinks he is readier than he is.

Yeah, lots of undrafted 20 yr olds and CHLers that have aged out of Jrs are now going the NCAA route instead of USports or trying to get a AHL/ECHL deal.

There would be no going to college mid-season if Carbo attended Blues training camp or signed an NHL contract. The NCAA would consider him a pro if he did either of those things and he’d thus lose his amateur status.

Is there any logic at all for a guy like Carbo to go to an OHL team? Is this even possible? Would his rights need to be traded by his current team in the Q? I am assuming the OHL is a better league and some of the teams like London have a good reputation for player development.

Not possible to be traded from the QMJHL to the OHL.