Pronman - 16th ranked pipeline

[stljrs]

Today in the Athletic

The Blues have drafted a lot of quality forwards in recent years, led by Dalibor Dvorský and Jimmy Snuggerud. They have a solid system, but for a team that’s hanging around playoff bubble status, I’m not convinced there’s enough coming to elevate their club to the next level.

2024 ranking: 16

2025 NHL Draft grade: C+

Player Ranking
1. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW

June 1, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 187 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 23 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Snuggerud finished out a stellar college career by again being a top forward in the country. He turned pro and was then quite good for the Blues, becoming a middle-six winger for them right away and looking solid in the NHL playoffs. Snuggerud has a lot of offensive creativity. He makes difficult dekes and passes seem routine and despite not having great foot speed, he generates a lot of controlled entries with his skill. Inside the zone, he’s a pass and shot threat and can make an impact on a power play. His shot is a rifle, and his one-timer can be a legit weapon versus NHL goalies from range. His foot speed is his main issue. He’s not overly physical, but Snuggerud gives an honest effort, and coaches tend to trust him. He could be a second-line winger who puts up notable scoring totals.

2. Adam Jiříček, D

June 28, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 179 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 16 in 2024
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Jiříček missed the first half of the season due to a lower-body injury he sustained in his draft season. When healthy, he’s a 6-2 right-shot who skates quite well. His skating allows him to make a lot of stops and be strong going back to retrieve pucks. Jiříček uses his big body well and competes for pucks. Offensively, he doesn’t stand out, but he has more skill than his lackluster point totals this season suggest. He has decent hands and moves pucks efficiently. He will never do anything truly spectacular on the ice, but his type of steady two-way defenseman tends to play a lot of NHL games.

3. Justin Carbonneau, RW

Nov. 25, 2006 | 6-foot-2| 191 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 19 in 2025
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Carbonneau has been a top player in the QMJHL. He’s a very strong skater and puck handler who can beat defenders one-on-one at full flight. He’s a physically developed winger who plays hard and can win puck battles fairly often. His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and effort in his shifts. He has a great shot and is often a threat to score from the faceoff dots with his one-timer. The one issue with Carbonneau is that his decision-making at times is questionable, and I wouldn’t call him a natural playmaker. He projects as a top-six winger.

4. Dalibor Dvorský, C

June 15, 2005 | 6-foot-1 | 205 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 10 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Dvorský had a successful season, being a top player for his AHL team in Springfield as a 19-year-old. Dvorský had previously had his struggles versus men in Sweden, so it was great to see his game develop. Dvorský is a very talented offensive player. He has a high skill level and is high-end at breaking down opponents one-on-one. He sees the ice well, and he has a clear NHL shot, making him a constant threat to score goals from the perimeter. He plays on the perimeter a bit too much, though, leaning on his shot. Dvorský competes well enough, but given his subpar skating stride, you would like to see his overall energy level be higher more consistently. He projects as a top-six forward due to his pure offensive tools, but I could see him being pushed to the wing unless he rounds out his game.

5. Otto Stenberg, C

May 29, 2005 | 6-feet | 187 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 25 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Stenberg wasn’t great in the SHL this season, but he was a top player for Sweden’s U20 team and was quite good when he came over to the AHL. He’s a strong skater with good hands who can be a threat in transition. His shot is excellent, and Stenberg is often a threat to score from the faceoff dots. Stenberg isn’t the biggest forward, but he gives an honest effort and doesn’t shy away from going into traffic. He’s a highly creative offensive player who can make difficult handles and passes. Stenberg’s development wasn’t going well in Sweden, but how well he showed toward the end of the year displayed promise for his NHL projection. He projects as a top-nine winger.

6. Logan Mailloux, D

April 15, 2003 | 6-foot-3 | 212 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 31 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Mailloux had another great year in the AHL as a top player for Laval. He has an exciting toolkit as a big right-shot defenseman who skates well and has legit skill. On his best shifts when he’s carrying the puck up ice or launching a bomb from the point, he looks like a top-four defenseman in the NHL. With his reach, feet and some physicality, he’s a solid enough defender, too. Mailloux’s biggest issue is his hockey sense. He makes iffy decisions with and without the puck, and it could hold him back from being a legit big-minutes defenseman in the NHL. His talent is good enough that he should be a regular NHLer, though.

7. Adam Jecho, C

March 24, 2006 | 6-foot-5 | 201 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 95 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Jecho’s production didn’t take a big step this season as hoped, but his great toolkit still gives reason for pro optimism, and he was quite good at the World Juniors for Czechia. He’s a huge winger who skates quite well for a guy his size, even if he’s not a blazer. Jecho has good hands and can shoot the puck well from range. He tends to fade into the background at times, whether due to a mixture of sense or compete issues — I think it’s mostly the former. You wish for his size that he’d played a bit harder, too. Despite the issues, he’s so toolsy that I can see a path to becoming a third-line winger.

8. Theo Lindstein, D

Jan. 5, 2005 | 6-feet | 192 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 29 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Lindstein didn’t play a ton on a strong SHL team, but he was again a top player for Sweden’s U20 team. He has a well-rounded game, but he won’t stand out. He’s mobile, and he’s very smart. Lindstein makes great outlets, can skate pucks up ice and shows some blue-line creativity. Defensively, he uses his brain and feet to break up plays, but he’s not overly physical. I like his effort enough, though, and he’s a player coaches rely on. He looks like an NHL defenseman but I’m not completely sold on the offensive game to see a clear top-four defender yet and think he’s likely more of a third-pair type.

9. Lukas Fischer, D

Sept. 9, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 56 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Fischer played a big role on a bottom-feeding Sarnia team. His offensive output took a notable step, scoring 15 goals in 51 games. His shot is excellent and projects to beat NHL goalies. He’s not the most natural puck mover and can force decisions, but his first pass is OK enough. Fischer’s main value is on defense. He’s a big, mobile, physical defender who makes a lot of stops and projects as a hard-to-play-against type in the NHL. Fischer is trending to being a third-pair defenseman, and I can see an outcome where he becomes a legit top-four type.

10. Arseni Koromyslov, D

Nov. 3, 2003 | 6-foot-5 | 181 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 120 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Koromyslov was in between KHL teams to start the year. He was traded from SKA to Traktor mid-year, where he found his stride for one of the top teams in the league. He doesn’t have the flashiest toolkit, but there’s a path for him to make the NHL. Koromyslov is a big defenseman who can skate, and at times over his career, he has shown flashes of offense. That part of his game isn’t consistent, but I’ve seen enough puck-moving in him that the sum of the parts makes for a potential NHL defenseman. He’s a solid defender who can break up plays with his body and feet. He has the traits to be a third-pair guy.

11. Jakub Stancl, LW

April 10, 2005 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 106 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Stancl had a decent year in Kelowna, but truly stood out at the World Juniors for Czechia. He’s a big forward who can play center or wing, but is probably a pro winger. He has strong offensive skills and is a goal-scoring threat from mid-distance. Stancl isn’t the most instinctive passer you’ll ever see, but he can make creative enough plays with the puck to point versus men. The biggest issue for him will be his skating. He has a heavy stride, and it may make him more of a depth player for an NHL team.

12. Matvei Korotky, C

Dec. 23, 2005 | 6-feet | 194 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 211 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Korotky had an impressive season. He was very good at the Russian junior level and earned extended time up with SKA in the KHL as an 18-year-old playing notable minutes. Korotky is a well-rounded center with a high compete level. He doesn’t shy away from physical play and can kill penalties well. He has very good one-on-one abilities and vision, creating a lot of chances. The biggest issue in his game is his feet. He has a little bit of a clunky skating stride, but the rest of his game has enough positives that I could see a bottom-six NHL forward potentially.

Has a chance to play*
Colin Ralph played on the World Juniors team for the USA this season. The offense in his game is a question, but he’s tall, can skate and doesn’t shy away from physical play. Juraj Pekarcik is a toolsy forward as well. I don’t know if he’s going to be a major scorer at the next level, but he moves well and can make creative plays.

Quinton Burns, D

April 14, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 74 in 2023

Ondrej Kos, LW

March 7, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 81 in 2024

Matthew Mayich, D

Dec. 21, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 196 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 170 in 2023

William McIsaac, D

May 26, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 201 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 145 in 2024

Juraj Pekarcik, C

Sept. 12, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 76 in 2023

Colin Ralph, D

Oct. 4, 2005 | 6-foot-5 | 227 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 48 in 2024

* Listed in alphabetical order

[BalotelliMassive]

Everybody overhypes their own prospect because they're watching with rose colored glasses....but Pronman is a bum.

[seattleblue]

I find this list laughable. Like awesomely bad. Well done Corey

[STL fan in MN]

I find this list laughable. Like awesomely bad. Well done Corey

It’s absolute garbage. Which unfortunately, is par for the course from Corey. He’s a hack plain and simple. I might actually disrespect his work more than Dom Luszczyszyn, which is saying something because Dom is just absolutely the worst.

Jiricek our 2nd best prospect? He couldn’t stay healthy and when he did play he scored 12 pts in 27 games.

Dvorsky our 4th? Hardly any player can be a top player in the AHL as a teenager but Dvorsky did. Voted by the league and the league’s GMs to the AHL top prospect team.

Jecho at 7 might be the worst of all. Corey correctly evaluates his skating and hockey sense as below average with really nothing else going for him other than size and a decent shot but somehow he’s our 7th best. I’d have him at the tail end of our top-20. “Jecho’s production didn’t take a big step this season as hoped.” Yeah, no $h!t, Corey!! It doesn’t take as big of a step as you hoped. But did he re-evaluate his clearly misguided opinion on Jecho as a result? Nope!

Lindstein might not bring enough offense to be in the top-4 is just an insane misunderstanding of how NHL place their d-men. For some reason, NHL teams tend to play d-men that are good at defense. The ones that are also good at offense play even more. The ones that are good at just offense play very sheltered 3rd pairing minutes and PP minutes. IMO, Lindstein will likely not bring enough offense to be a PP guy. But he’s way above his peers defensively and this should get a lot of even strength and PK time. Corey has always wildly overrated players that bring empty offense and underrated players that are very solid defensively but don’t bring you out of your seat with offensive flair.

Mayich isn’t even a Blues prospect anymore. But Corey Pronman, a guy actually paid to do this work, doesn’t know this. In short, he’s a hack.

[a smell of green grass]

Skating is Average or Below Average for everyone of our prospects.

Our scouting must be watching donuts at the Canadien bakeries instead of skating at the rinks.

[STL fan in MN]

One more thing I want to add about Corey Pronman. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to go to 3-4 U17, U18 and U20 international events. I’ve also attended countless Jr games. I’ve run into Scott Wheeler and Chris Peters countless times. Ryan Kennedy from THN numerous times as well. You know who I’ve never run into at any of these events or ever heard of him being there or saw him post about these events clearly showing he was there? Corey Pronman.

Maybe the guy only attends stuff in Canada, idk. Maybe he does a lot of video work. But in person is so much better and I’m pretty convinced at this point that Corey isn’t putting in that work and has been phoning it in for a while.

[Harry York 37]

Skating is Average or Below Average for everyone of our prospects.

Our scouting must be watching donuts at the Canadien bakeries instead of skating at the rinks.

You don't really need to put together any new thoughts, do you?

Is there a "rubber stamp" keyboard button?

Are there any aspects of NHL Hockey that do not cause you distress and compel you to mash the rubber stamp button til the blisters burst?

Have you tried deep breathing?

[sdaltons]

Haha what an awful list. I used to enjoy his work but that was a LONG time ago.

[27-12-16]

Another funny take is that playoff teams are supposed to have top 10 pipelines in addition to their current roster. Laughing...

[a smell of green grass]

Skating is Average or Below Average for everyone of our prospects.

Our scouting must be watching donuts at the Canadien bakeries instead of skating at the rinks.

You don't really need to put together any new thoughts, do you?

Is there a "rubber stamp" keyboard button?

Are there any aspects of NHL Hockey that do not cause you distress and compel you to mash the rubber stamp button til the blisters burst?

Have you tried deep breathing?

I'm just pointing out to you the effects of Army Hockey. He wants bland skaters, and that is what we get to watch.

Sorry if it offends you to be told what is on our lunch menu for the next 10 years.

[a smell of green grass]

Another funny take is that playoff teams are supposed to have top 10 pipelines in addition to their current roster. Laughing...

I wish someone would do a study.

How many "re-whatevers" culminate with a C+ prospect grade, and #16 rank? It has to be one of the most pzz-poor re-whatevers ever.

[dhsux]

Hey! Blues have 3 "Bubble Top - middle line up players" coming our way!!

[a smell of green grass]

Hey! Blues have 3 "Bubble Top - middle line up players" coming our way!!

ASOGG's theory of hockey relativity:

An average young player replacing an average veteran = average results

[callitwhatyouwant]

does someone have the list of pipelines 1-32? I find it oddly funny we are 16 when we are also probably like a top 11-18 team in the league. I'm curious if he just flipped the order? I can see the 9-32 or something on another website.

Oddly enough, this should be a positive if you talk about where the Blues are at. According to my book, us and the Capitals are the highest ranked teams that made the playoffs last year.

[BalotelliMassive]

does someone have the list of pipelines 1-32? I find it oddly funny we are 16 when we are also probably like a top 11-18 team in the league.

I don't think it's finished yet...

Rank Team
9 Islanders Islanders
10 Predators Predators
11 Red Wings Red Wings
12 Devils Devils
13 Sabres Sabres
14 Wild Wild
15 Capitals Capitals
16 Blues Blues
17 Flames Flames
18 Hurricanes Hurricanes
19 Penguins Penguins
20 Bruins Bruins
21 Kings Kings
22 Canucks Canucks
23 Stars Stars
24 Rangers Rangers
25 Jets Jets
26 Maple Leafs Maple Leafs
27 Senators Senators
28 Lightning Lightning
29 Panthers Panthers
30 Golden Knights Golden Knights
31 Oilers Oilers
32 Avalanche Avalanche

Player eligibility is determined by age. A player is eligible if he is 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025. This encompasses almost every prospect selected between the 2021 and 2025 NHL Drafts. This is done to include a team’s top prospects without aggressively graduating players who have a lot of prime development years ahead of them, even if they are already in the NHL. This does have the effect of, at times, including star NHL players while leaving off players who are still in the minors and have a chance to make the league. There is no perfect way to create player eligibility for a prospect ranking. This method has become my preference after trying all the other options; your method may vary.

[callitwhatyouwant]

does someone have the list of pipelines 1-32? I find it oddly funny we are 16 when we are also probably like a top 11-18 team in the league.

I don't think it's finished yet...

Rank Team
9 Islanders Islanders
10 Predators Predators
11 Red Wings Red Wings
12 Devils Devils
13 Sabres Sabres
14 Wild Wild
15 Capitals Capitals
16 Blues Blues
17 Flames Flames
18 Hurricanes Hurricanes
19 Penguins Penguins
20 Bruins Bruins
21 Kings Kings
22 Canucks Canucks
23 Stars Stars
24 Rangers Rangers
25 Jets Jets
26 Maple Leafs Maple Leafs
27 Senators Senators
28 Lightning Lightning
29 Panthers Panthers
30 Golden Knights Golden Knights
31 Oilers Oilers
32 Avalanche Avalanche

Player eligibility is determined by age. A player is eligible if he is 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025. This encompasses almost every prospect selected between the 2021 and 2025 NHL Drafts. This is done to include a team’s top prospects without aggressively graduating players who have a lot of prime development years ahead of them, even if they are already in the NHL. This does have the effect of, at times, including star NHL players while leaving off players who are still in the minors and have a chance to make the league. There is no perfect way to create player eligibility for a prospect ranking. This method has become my preference after trying all the other options; your method may vary.

I figured the age thing, which kind of oddly puts his rankings as somewhat "lazyish". Because having a team like the Hawks or San Jose who have been dumpster diving on purpose for multiple years are going to fill those top spots. While the success of 32-26 (with the exception of the seators) is of course going to have them where they are.

Anyways, not trying to knock his ranking, moreso there are only a couple oddballs of the 9-32. Senators, Hurricanes and maybe Predators. Senators because they are low and haven't been traditionally successful and Hurricanes because they are so high and have been kicking butt.