NHL Network ranks Blues Prospect Pool as 4th best

[LGB73]

I don't put a lot of weight into prospect rankings one way or the other. Think the Blues have a lot of potential 2nd line and 2nd pair players in the pipeline and the hope is that most meet that potential with a couple exceeding it. I don't think the pipeline is so deep though that we're just going to be easily trading players away to fill gaps. We traded Bolduc this year and that's leaving a gap that may or may not be filled adequately, but it did put a much needed piece in place for development on our aging RD.

Personally like to see the organization push forward with getting prospects full seasons in the NHL in a staggered fashion over the next two years:

Dvo(on RW), Snug and Mailloux this year
Stenberg, Carb and Lindstein next year

Hoping that would put us in good position 3 years from now to start being contenders with all those guys having at least a full season under their belt.

[MikoTython]

Really enjoying this discussion. Can I say I don't care about any of that other nonsense, see no need to keep reverting to it.

Regarding Toro, I've super enjoyed watching his game evolve over the past couple of years, watching his hands catch up to his feet. The guy has heart, and no quit. Hope he remains a part of this team as it matures, but as said in regard to him or the other FAs, vets OR prospects - in a cap league in a mid-market town, you have keep the corn popping - tough decisions must & will be made over the next two years, for sure. It's the price of success.

What still blows me away is how this team went from a potential re-config at mid-season last year, to what it has become. Awesome to have seen this transpire, def. not something inevitable to have occurred - the GM & Coach put it to the players, the players made this team what it now is, themselves. It was a huge step forward.

[BluesDom]

The longer it takes for a prospect to make an NHL squad, the LESS OF AN IMPACT they will bring.

Do we have anyone very close to a roster spot? Nope. Not a single one.

I'm glad that someone thinks we are as high as #4, but I don't believe it. I wish I had a count of the number of forwards who were drafted in 2023 or later, and who are already playing in the NHL. I'm sure that it would be sickening to see.

The prospect showcase is just one more test failed. I am thoroughly PO'd and disgusted.

BLUES HAVE PLENTY OF YOUNG PROSPECTS.

19 PLAYERS FROM ENTIRE 2023 DRAFT HAVE PLAYED IN THE NHL.; 6 HAVE PLAYED 2 GAMES OR LESS. 6 HAVE PLAYED 74 GAMES OR MORE.
THIS IS THE YEAR FOR MANY 23 DRAFTED PLAYERS.
IN THE 2022 DRAFT--ALL BUT 6 OF THE 1ST ROUNDERS HAVE PLAYED IN NHL.
HUGE YEAR FOR JIMMY SNUGGERUD(22 draft). DVORSKY AND STENBERG APPEAR TO BE THE NEXT 2 FROM 23 TO PLAY IN THE NHL.

THE BLUES CREAM OF THE CROP THAT MAY HAVE PUT THEM 4TH IN THIS RANKING:
SNUGGERUD(23), DVORSKY(10) , LINDSTEIN(29), JIRICEK(16), STENBERG(25), CARBONNEAU(19)
SEEMS LIKE ALL 6 OF THESE GUYS WILL PLAY IN THE NHL. HOW SUCCESSFUL IS TBD.
NOT A BAD GROUP AT ALL.
ALSO THE SHEER VOLUME OF PROSPECTS IS PROMISING: MAY SEE SOME SUPRISE GUYS AS ROLE PLAYERS MAKE IT TO NHL LIKE; KASKIMAKI, STANCL, PEKARCIK, BURNS, BUCHINGER, RALPH, FISHER OR ANOTHER.

NOT MUCH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT.
DRAFT POSITION ISNT THE END ALL BE ALL. BLUES HIT BIG ON THOMAS AND KYROU IS GOOD AND IT APPEARS HOLLOWAY AND BROBERG WILL BE AT LEAST GOOD.
AND I THINK NEIGHBOURS IS A VERY NICE PLAYER (26TH DRAFT POSITION--OUTPOINTED 14 PLAYERS SELECTED IN FRONT OF HIM).

Logan Mailloux IS ANOTHER CHARACTER WHO SEEMS READY TO PLAY FULL TIME IN THE NHL. I THINK HE WILL BE AN NHL PLAYER. HOW GOOD TBD. (21 DRAFT 31 OVERALL)
(sorry about caps)

[Harry York 37]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

[theograce]

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

So he had more hits than Thomas and Buchnevich combined?

[DawgDad]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

[Harry York 37]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

[DawgDad]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

"Just sayin'", he was drafted as a center, he's been groomed as a center, he just passed an open book test as a center. He's also bigger than Thomas was. He looked better to me last weekend as a center than Thomas did when they first moved him over. I have no issue with him playing wing if they deem that is best but for all the world he looks to me like a center, an ROR STYLE center. Not a Mc or Mac, or even a Schenn, an ROR style.

[Harry York 37]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

"Just sayin'", he was drafted as a center, he's been groomed as a center, he just passed an open book test as a center. He's also bigger than Thomas was. He looked better to me last weekend as a center than Thomas did when they first moved him over. I have no issue with him playing wing if they deem that is best but for all the world he looks to me like a center, an ROR STYLE center. Not a Mc or Mac, or even a Schenn, an ROR style.

My question was, specifically, about Dvo playing Right Wing on the third-line.
Not about him playing the position he was drafted to play in future seasons.
How will he work on what is usually called "The Checking Line". How much value will he add in THAT capacity?

"The third line is often called the checking line, and is generally made up of more defensively oriented forwards and grinders. This line is often played against an opponent's first or second lines in an effort to reduce their scoring, and physically wear them down. The third line adds less offense than the first or second lines, but generally more than the fourth."

Now... do you have any input?

Your snarky answer was cryptic and worthless for my question.

[STL fan in MN]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

I don’t necessarily see our 3rd line as a grinder line, at least not with Suter centering it. That said, Dvorsky has shown plenty of physicality and board play at lower levels so I’m sure that’ll be a part of his game in the NHL eventually.

My main concern would be with him playing RW. Most of his experience is at C with a little at LW. I’ve never seen him play RW. Then again, it’s really not overly hard for some. And we saw that a year ago. A year ago, Bolduc played the previous 3 seasons at LW and C before that. But the need was at RW and he adapted to earn the role, so clearly it can be done.

That said, I would bet either Sunny or Bjugstad are the mostly likely to end up at 3RW. Or Snuggerud if he can’t stick on the 1st line and they go back to the Neighbours-Thomas-Buchy line.

[DawgDad]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

"Just sayin'", he was drafted as a center, he's been groomed as a center, he just passed an open book test as a center. He's also bigger than Thomas was. He looked better to me last weekend as a center than Thomas did when they first moved him over. I have no issue with him playing wing if they deem that is best but for all the world he looks to me like a center, an ROR STYLE center. Not a Mc or Mac, or even a Schenn, an ROR style.

My question was, specifically, about Dvo playing Right Wing on the third-line.
Not about him playing the position he was drafted to play in future seasons.
How will he work on what is usually called "The Checking Line". How much value will he add in THAT capacity?

"The third line is often called the checking line, and is generally made up of more defensively oriented forwards and grinders. This line is often played against an opponent's first or second lines in an effort to reduce their scoring, and physically wear them down. The third line adds less offense than the first or second lines, but generally more than the fourth."

Now... do you have any input?

Your snarky answer was cryptic and worthless for my question.

I wasn't being snarky, we are on the same side of the DD making the team issue. Take my response at face value, the BEST way to deal with any shortcomings at wing APPEAR TO ME to be playing him at center.

If they play him at wing they will get a center imitating a winger. Maybe he'll do well enough, maybe not. I would opine, they do not NEED him to play wing, they have enough wingers and then some. That to me is the big difference between this and the Cup team, the Cup team needed wingers. For goodness sake, they played SANFORD on the top line and Thomas on the 3rd line, and then Perron missed a block of time. The worst this team could do is Snuggerud plus one of Joseph/Texier/Bjugstad.

Really, all DD needs to do is play the system and minimize his mistakes, either on wing or at center. I keep coming back to this, the kid is a World Class Juniors center who just made the AHL all-prospect team at 19, and he looked smooth, composed, and systematically solid in the two prospect games against top line opponents. He won a bunch of draws clean to a teammate. He's a center.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Feel bad for Buffalo fans. How many years straight missing out on the playoffs and according to these "experts" not even a top ten prospect pool. They deserve better.

[DawgDad]

Feel bad for Buffalo fans. How many years straight missing out on the playoffs and according to these "experts" not even a top ten prospect pool. They deserve better.

Better them than us.

[Harry York 37]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

I don’t necessarily see our 3rd line as a grinder line, at least not with Suter centering it. That said, Dvorsky has shown plenty of physicality and board play at lower levels so I’m sure that’ll be a part of his game in the NHL eventually.

My main concern would be with him playing RW. Most of his experience is at C with a little at LW. I’ve never seen him play RW. Then again, it’s really not overly hard for some. And we saw that a year ago. A year ago, Bolduc played the previous 3 seasons at LW and C before that. But the need was at RW and he adapted to earn the role, so clearly it can be done.

That said, I would bet either Sunny or Bjugstad are the mostly likely to end up at 3RW. Or Snuggerud if he can’t stick on the 1st line and they go back to the Neighbours-Thomas-Buchy line.

Sound answers. You are correct about his physicality. I was surprised to learn that he is not shy about necessary contact and his willingness is unusual for Centers his age. That was written in his draft year, so maybe he is not quite as eager these days... but he is no shrinking violet.
The same reviewer lauded his defensive skills, saying he was likely the best Defensive Forward in the draft. His hockey sense keeps him aware of where the opportunities and dangers lie. I did read he was never on the ice for an ES GA in the Prospect Tournament..

For the record, I mentioned a "checking line" role and you don't need to be a grinder to check the opponents.
I think a third line could be okay with him, but I agree he will get some shifts in as a center in Springfield first, unless he blows the roof off of Training Camp.

[Harry York 37]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

"Just sayin'", he was drafted as a center, he's been groomed as a center, he just passed an open book test as a center. He's also bigger than Thomas was. He looked better to me last weekend as a center than Thomas did when they first moved him over. I have no issue with him playing wing if they deem that is best but for all the world he looks to me like a center, an ROR STYLE center. Not a Mc or Mac, or even a Schenn, an ROR style.

My question was, specifically, about Dvo playing Right Wing on the third-line.
Not about him playing the position he was drafted to play in future seasons.
How will he work on what is usually called "The Checking Line". How much value will he add in THAT capacity?

"The third line is often called the checking line, and is generally made up of more defensively oriented forwards and grinders. This line is often played against an opponent's first or second lines in an effort to reduce their scoring, and physically wear them down. The third line adds less offense than the first or second lines, but generally more than the fourth."

Now... do you have any input?

Your snarky answer was cryptic and worthless for my question.

I wasn't being snarky, we are on the same side of the DD making the team issue. Take my response at face value, the BEST way to deal with any shortcomings at wing APPEAR TO ME to be playing him at center.

If they play him at wing they will get a center imitating a winger. Maybe he'll do well enough, maybe not. I would opine, they do not NEED him to play wing, they have enough wingers and then some. That to me is the big difference between this and the Cup team, the Cup team needed wingers. For goodness sake, they played SANFORD on the top line and Thomas on the 3rd line, and then Perron missed a block of time. The worst this team could do is Snuggerud plus one of Joseph/Texier/Bjugstad.

Really, all DD needs to do is play the system and minimize his mistakes, either on wing or at center. I keep coming back to this, the kid is a World Class Juniors center who just made the AHL all-prospect team at 19, and he looked smooth, composed, and systematically solid in the two prospect games against top line opponents. He won a bunch of draws clean to a teammate. He's a center.

He has zero chance of sticking with this team at center this Fall. We have more than enough seasoned NHL'rs there.
The responsibilities of the center are second only to those of the Goalie. DD ain't ready, yet.

[kimzey59]

A question for the board about Dvorsky:

He looked good at the tournament. I don’t believe he was on the ice for any ES goals against. Awesome sauce.

The question is- on line three, will he be tough enough at RW?
Neighbours is always ruff and ready, Suter is not a physical player, is he?

How will DVO handle third-line winger “duties”?
Thomas did well with Maroon as the other wing and Bozak as the 3C.

A line of Jake and Pius, and Dvorsky might be our least physical line.

edit- Suter had 59 hits and tied Kyrou for 37th in the Selke voting.. for what that’s worth.

A: By playing center. Just sayin'.

Yes, Pius Suter tied Kyrou for the Selke AND had 9 more hits, as a Center... there is that.

If that is what your three-word answer specifically means.

If not- what are you, specifically, "just sayin'"

"Just sayin'", he was drafted as a center, he's been groomed as a center, he just passed an open book test as a center. He's also bigger than Thomas was. He looked better to me last weekend as a center than Thomas did when they first moved him over. I have no issue with him playing wing if they deem that is best but for all the world he looks to me like a center, an ROR STYLE center. Not a Mc or Mac, or even a Schenn, an ROR style.

My question was, specifically, about Dvo playing Right Wing on the third-line.
Not about him playing the position he was drafted to play in future seasons.
How will he work on what is usually called "The Checking Line". How much value will he add in THAT capacity?

"The third line is often called the checking line, and is generally made up of more defensively oriented forwards and grinders. This line is often played against an opponent's first or second lines in an effort to reduce their scoring, and physically wear them down. The third line adds less offense than the first or second lines, but generally more than the fourth."

Now... do you have any input?

Your snarky answer was cryptic and worthless for my question.

I wasn't being snarky, we are on the same side of the DD making the team issue. Take my response at face value, the BEST way to deal with any shortcomings at wing APPEAR TO ME to be playing him at center.

If they play him at wing they will get a center imitating a winger. Maybe he'll do well enough, maybe not. I would opine, they do not NEED him to play wing, they have enough wingers and then some. That to me is the big difference between this and the Cup team, the Cup team needed wingers. For goodness sake, they played SANFORD on the top line and Thomas on the 3rd line, and then Perron missed a block of time. The worst this team could do is Snuggerud plus one of Joseph/Texier/Bjugstad.

Really, all DD needs to do is play the system and minimize his mistakes, either on wing or at center. I keep coming back to this, the kid is a World Class Juniors center who just made the AHL all-prospect team at 19, and he looked smooth, composed, and systematically solid in the two prospect games against top line opponents. He won a bunch of draws clean to a teammate. He's a center.

He has zero chance of sticking with this team at center this Fall. We have more than enough seasoned NHL'rs there.
The responsibilities of the center are second only to those of the Goalie. DD ain't ready, yet.

Only one of those "seasoned NHL'ers" can reliably win a faceoff, and that's Thomas(Schenn- career 48.1%, Suter- career 46%, Bjugstad- career 48.9%, Sunny- career 43.7%).

Dvorsky can absolutely push somebody to the wing if he shows legit FO prowess(which is something he's historically been known for).

The Blues have a large collection of hybrid center-wings(you can even throw Buch and Holloway in that group). Don't just assume that those players will be gifted center spots with no competition.