Prospects depth chart

[clemonsonroots]

yes, until they are no longer rookies- they are still prospects
Forward/defensive rankings
1 Jimmy Snuggerud- what he showed last year is that he can play top line minutes already. The shot will be huge with Thomas playmaking to feed him for years.
2 Justin Carbonneau- Guy just has it. Confidence, moxy, sick mits and playmaking skills with a laser quick shot.
3 Dalibor Dvorsky- Excellent puck possession center. Is he ready? Will likely be a very good second line center in the not too distant future.
4 Logan Mailloux- Booming shot and physical presence. Will the blues shelter his minutes as they should in the early going, or will he be forced to play up in the top 4. I think he pairs with Tucker for an intimidating 3rd pairing and gets pp time. Future is very bright if he grows mentally and could shoot up to the top of this list.
droppoff

5 Theo Lindstien- steady eddie. This guy will be a very good 3-6 defenseman. He won't put up a ton of points but he will be a good puck moving presence that you can count on in any situation. Think Carl Gunnarsson.
6 Adam Jiricek- Could leapfrog Lindstien as the ceiling is higher but injuries are starting to stunt his development. This will be a very big season for him. Must see production and health.
7 Otto Stenberg- Seems like you have the next alex steen type here. A great middle six winger- probably more 3rd line on a good team. Lets see how he does coming over to north america. Hoping for 20 goal 50 pt type guy with solid defensive awareness.
dropoff

8 Juraj Pekarcik- one of a couple of wild cards that may have a chance to be a steal type pick. Can the scoring ability shown in juniors translate to the pro level? Hoping for a Jochen Hecht but this is where the players start to become more of a longshot to hit those ceilings.
9 Jakub Stancl- Another early/mid rd draft choice that is showing scoring and talent that could make him a steal of his draft. He is big and he will likely need to adapt a physical grinding style to make it in the nhl but the talent is there to surprise.
10 Lukas Fischer- Good genes. Big and athletic. Very good chance he plays in the nhl. Can he be more than a 6/7?
11 Adam Jecho- big guy with good skating. Sounds like a guy hoping to crack a 4th line and prove he can do more. Will we have room ever to get him in the lineup?
slight dropoff

12 Quinton Burns- Big guy with some skill. Tough. Might make it to the league, but it will take time and opportunity.
13 Colin Ralph- Another big- even bigger- dman. Strong chance he ends up being in the league, but will it be more than a 6/7 is doubtful, but that size always helps. Really look at burns/fischer/Ralph as being pretty close in terms of their future.
14 Alekstemeri Kaskimaki- has enough offensive ability and defensive skill to get into the league at some point...it will be hard for that to happen here but I bet he ends up playing in the league.
15 Tomas Mrsic- Very fast and has a shot. Potential to go up this list 7 or 8 spots. He is the last prospect I think that has at least a decent shot of playing meaningful nhl minutes. Drops off after this
hm- Zach Dean, fyodorov, Kos, Korotky, Alexandrov, Peterson, McIsaac,
If I had to put Ellis in with forwards/defenseman I would slot him around 8-12 range. Hard to compare goalies with skaters. He looks like he should make the league with his ahl performances, albeit as a backup.

[seattleblue]

I have a warm glow inside at Stancl above Pekarcik from both my boys MN and John C. I endorse MN's list/breakdown too

Seattle - I'm putting him ahead due to his size. You can't teach it and love the way he uses it. Can't wait to see his progression.

Here's a feel for his personality, right after he came back from the WJC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ubw2EO3YSM

[theograce]

Not overly impressed either what I saw from Snuggerud. Hoping he changes my vibe on him

I'm 100% sure this board, and anyone associated with the NHL, is worried that you're not impressed. His coach was however - you know, the guy that matters...

“I thought he was really good," Montgomery said. “I thought he made smart plays. I didn't think he over-complicated the game and he made plays on first-touch. That's a real good sign of a hockey player with really good hockey sense. I thought he acquitted himself well in his first game in the NHL and I was very confident putting him over the boards.”

Laughing

Well yeah he’s giving him lots of ice. Making smart plays is one thing. I wasn’t impressed with him during intensity. That seems to bother you

4 points in his first 7 playoff games seems like a pretty good start to me.

Yeah agreed. That’s not what I’m talking about though

[dhsux]

From what I have read JM has had a tough go of it with his initial entry into the pros and then Covid and injury. It has not been an ideal stretch of development time. I believe this has helped create some negative speculation. Ergo what I consider "the reach".

That's not to say he hasn't matured and can NOW recognize the magnitude of this move as it relates to his career. It's a huge time for him.

He's a first round pick so plenty of people who should well know have/had him down as a player that can do this job and do it well.

His opportunity is now, it's better than it was 2 weeks ago. I don't know how he can see it any other way. Pretty clear DA & Company are counting on this revelation to produce a great player and a winner for the Blues.

[Harry S Deals]

Bolduc.

At the top it all depends on what criteria you want to focus on. I would say, right now, the top three are:

Snuggerud
Mailloux
Dvorsky

All still project top-6 or top-4, all three are at or near the NHL. I would say Carbonneau is behind all three in terms of proving himself as he plays through his development at lower levels of hockey.

Snuggerud and Mailloux are on the Blues are we saying they are still prospects?

Dvorksy
Stenberg
Linstein
Ellis
Carbonneau
Kaskimaki
Robertsson
Jiricek

This sort of thing? Although i still believe Carbonneau has a very good chance to get the 9 game tryout if he wants to forego the NCAA route

Why do you think Mailloux is going to make the Blues as he was called up for only 1 game in 2024 and 7 games in 2025? Dvorsky has 2 games in the NHL which is not too different than Mailloux. I am sure Army will push Monte to give him every opportunity, but he still has a lot to prove.

It sounds like DA told Mailloux that the (3rd pairing) NHL spot is basically his to lose.

A defenseman plays under intense pressure, last man back, don't fumble puck at blue line, make all the right reads and perfect passes. Lay a heaping dose of pressure on the young man, see what he's made of and what he's learned. If he's ready he'll play with poise, confidence, and energy.

You do not do this to a prospect with minimal pro experience.

Unless LM sucks in camp somehow he's on the Blues 3rd pair he has nothing more to prove in the AHL. I could see a rotation of him and Kessel as Mailloux learns the job too

[tfriede2]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

[Harry S Deals]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

I agree I think he's a future bottom 6 wing very tenacious, speed and some skill he'll make his mark

[STL fan in MN]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

He certainly has a good chance IMO. And Army even talked him up in his end of season presser. So clearly he’s caught Army’s eye.

He drives the net hard, is always in the paint and has Kyrou/Holloway caliber speed.

[Harry S Deals]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

He certainly has a good chance IMO. And Army even talked him up in his end of season presser. So clearly he’s caught Army’s eye.

He drives the net hard, is always in the paint and has Kyrou/Holloway caliber speed.

This is the beauty of the Blues current situation there will be kids that over perform, under whelm and get dealt for other area of need. We have a pretty good guess at who's who but this will be a fascinating ride. The overall model of player profile they have drafted and acquired is going to give the West fits for a decade

[STL fan in MN]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

He certainly has a good chance IMO. And Army even talked him up in his end of season presser. So clearly he’s caught Army’s eye.

He drives the net hard, is always in the paint and has Kyrou/Holloway caliber speed.

This is the beauty of the Blues current situation there will be kids that over perform, under whelm and get dealt for other area of need. We have a pretty good guess at who's who but this will be a fascinating ride. The overall model of player profile they have drafted and acquired is going to give the West fits for a decade

Yep. Should be fascinating to see how they all develop over the next couple years. And besides the 2 paths you outline above, I’ll add a 3rd - overperform but still get dealt. If they all show they have NHL ability, we simply won’t have room for all of them. But then they become assets other teams value and we can flip them for something we need more (or perhaps 2 good assets for 1 better asset).

To me, we have a lot of guys that project right around 3rd line left wing. Neighbours is pretty much there now (although he moves up and down the lineup) but Kaskimaki, Pekarcik and Stancl all project about that level as well. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out, if one of the lefties can successfully convert to the right side like Bolduc did etc.

[seattleblue]

I think Kaskimaki is going to see some NHL time this year if/when injuries hit and raise some eyebrows and shoot up these ranking charts - not as a top 6 guy but a bottom 6 speedster who plays a responsible game

He certainly has a good chance IMO. And Army even talked him up in his end of season presser. So clearly he’s caught Army’s eye.

He drives the net hard, is always in the paint and has Kyrou/Holloway caliber speed.

This is the beauty of the Blues current situation there will be kids that over perform, under whelm and get dealt for other area of need. We have a pretty good guess at who's who but this will be a fascinating ride. The overall model of player profile they have drafted and acquired is going to give the West fits for a decade

Yep. Should be fascinating to see how they all develop over the next couple years. And besides the 2 paths you outline above, I’ll add a 3rd - overperform but still get dealt. If they all show they have NHL ability, we simply won’t have room for all of them. But then they become assets other teams value and we can flip them for something we need more (or perhaps 2 good assets for 1 better asset).

To me, we have a lot of guys that project right around 3rd line left wing. Neighbours is pretty much there now (although he moves up and down the lineup) but Kaskimaki, Pekarcik and Stancl all project about that level as well. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out, if one of the lefties can successfully convert to the right side like Bolduc did etc.

(If Stancl emerges from the pack I get him too, like Carbonneau. I think we all get that, lol)

[John Cocktoastin]

Dark horse...Korotky.

What a pick, but at the same time, the Blues waited to pull the trigger on him int e draft, just like the rest of the teams.

At least we got him. Very promising for a late rounder...

[STL fan in MN]

Dark horse...Korotky.

What a pick, but at the same time, the Blues waited to pull the trigger on him int e draft, just like the rest of the teams.

At least we got him. Very promising for a late rounder...

Certainly one to keep an eye on. Very good in the MHL, earned a callup to the KHL and didn’t look out of place. Not bad at all for a 19 yr old 7th rounder. Skilled and has size.

When the Blues first released their Development Camp roster, Korotky was on it. Then a few hours later his name disappeared. We’ll likely never know but I wonder what happened. Hoping to see some nice progression in his game this season.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Saw some Frontenac games. Quinton Burns really stood out on a not so great team. Mean and big. I am really excited to see how he progresses in Springfield. I think k he is going to surprise a lot of people

[John Cocktoastin]

Dark horse...Korotky.

What a pick, but at the same time, the Blues waited to pull the trigger on him int e draft, just like the rest of the teams.

At least we got him. Very promising for a late rounder...

Certainly one to keep an eye on. Very good in the MHL, earned a callup to the KHL and didn’t look out of place. Not bad at all for a 19 yr old 7th rounder. Skilled and has size.

When the Blues first released their Development Camp roster, Korotky was on it. Then a few hours later his name disappeared. We’ll likely never know but I wonder what happened. Hoping to see some nice progression in his game this season.

Odd, indeed.

[seattleblue]

Saw some Frontenac games. Quinton Burns really stood out on a not so great team. Mean and big. I am really excited to see how he progresses in Springfield. I think k he is going to surprise a lot of people

I am sneakily hoping the same thing but don't tell anybody, it'll be our secret.

Not going to make a separate reply in the screen name thread but I always cracked up at yours. Didn't you have a Dartmouth connection or did imagine