What did you think of the play of our prospects in the preseason? Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw.
Here is my grade of the most advanced prospects.
Stenberg - B+
Carbonneau - A
Snuggerud - A+
Mailloux - B+
Lindstein - C+
Jiricek - B-
I would say that the play/impact of both Jiricek and Lindstein is why Army needed to acquire young defense help from the outside (Mailloux).
I'm curious what you think.
Preseason Prospect Thoughts
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Blues Talk Moderators
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1791
- Joined: 20 Aug 2024 15:51 pm
Re: Preseason Prospect Thoughts
Your grades are meaningless in context of "most advanced". Stenberg and Mailloux are far closer to the NHL than Carbonneau, Mailloux is an AHL all-star set to be a top-6 D in the NHL on opening night. Lindstein and Jiricek are YOUNG D prospects who were not expected to be ready for the NHL, it's arguable which is closer to NHL viability though by availability that is Lindstein. Your snub of Dvorsky is ridiculous. Carbonneau? If he were truly an A he wouldn't be headed back to juniors.a smell of green grass wrote: ↑06 Oct 2025 07:47 am What did you think of the play of our prospects in the preseason? Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw.
Here is my grade of the most advanced prospects.
Stenberg - B+
Carbonneau - A
Snuggerud - A+
Mailloux - B+
Lindstein - C+
Jiricek - B-
I would say that the play/impact of both Jiricek and Lindstein is why Army needed to acquire young defense help from the outside (Mailloux).
I'm curious what you think.
You ratings might have merit if based on POTENTIAL NHL IMPACT, but then again where is Dvorsky? What does A+ for Snuggerud mean in terms of expectations, a perennial all-star? 40 points? 50 points? PPG? If it's simply a guy penciled into the top-6 I have to ask, was Sanford an A+?
I'll freely admit my bias, I'm not a fan of prospect and prospect pool ratings.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1791
- Joined: 20 Aug 2024 15:51 pm
Re: Preseason Prospect Thoughts
I should have been more clear about the rating. I ask people to grade the prospects on their preseason play -- just like Army has certainly completed.DawgDad wrote: ↑06 Oct 2025 08:52 amYour grades are meaningless in context of "most advanced". Stenberg and Mailloux are far closer to the NHL than Carbonneau, Mailloux is an AHL all-star set to be a top-6 D in the NHL on opening night. Lindstein and Jiricek are YOUNG D prospects who were not expected to be ready for the NHL, it's arguable which is closer to NHL viability though by availability that is Lindstein. Your snub of Dvorsky is ridiculous. Carbonneau? If he were truly an A he wouldn't be headed back to juniors.a smell of green grass wrote: ↑06 Oct 2025 07:47 am What did you think of the play of our prospects in the preseason? Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw.
Here is my grade of the most advanced prospects.
Stenberg - B+
Carbonneau - A
Snuggerud - A+
Mailloux - B+
Lindstein - C+
Jiricek - B-
I would say that the play/impact of both Jiricek and Lindstein is why Army needed to acquire young defense help from the outside (Mailloux).
I'm curious what you think.
You ratings might have merit if based on POTENTIAL NHL IMPACT, but then again where is Dvorsky? What does A+ for Snuggerud mean in terms of expectations, a perennial all-star? 40 points? 50 points? PPG? If it's simply a guy penciled into the top-6 I have to ask, was Sanford an A+?
I'll freely admit my bias, I'm not a fan of prospect and prospect pool ratings.
The grades should reflect the prospects age as well as how much time on the ice that they saw.
I somehow forgot about Dvorsky. No slight was meant at all. I thought that I had in my list but didnt'.
On his preseason play, I would give Dvorsky a B+. I saw nifty passing, effort, faceoff wins, and playmaking. I didn't give him an A because I didn't see enough overall impact.
Re: Preseason Prospect Thoughts
Fair enough. I won't do grades because as I said I have a bias against the concept.
Hey, if you want to rate their preseason play, fine. I suspect Army and the organization take a broader view of evaluation of where prospects are relative to being NHL ready and where they will play.
The Blues have progressed now to where prospects will have to fill specic team needs or force their way into the NHL with exceptional talent and skill. The team also wants well-prepared prospects coming to St. Louis. Snuggerud and Mailloux are ready on both counts. Dvorsky, for example, experience-wise is about where Snuggerud was last summer, and the Blues do not need him right now.
So, in that context it's no surprise at all the Blues sent down players like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Kaskimaki, Lindstein. These guys are not needed right now in St. Louis and they will benefit from additional big minutes in a developmental context. As the season progresses we may see some of them get called up. Right now, I would consider Dvorsky the next-in-line top-9 callup for extended duty, an older player like Peterson or Alexandrov for 4th line/scratch duty. Stenberg needs more small-rink game experience, especially to hone his offense, by mid-season he might be viable with less risk. None of the D prospects other than Mailloux look ready, veterans will most likely be the callups. Lindstein and Jiricek appear to be on-track but not ready.
Carbonneau is where Snuggerud was in his draft year, NHL shot, 18-year old game. I was a bit disappointed he didn't go to college but college is not for everyone.
Hey, if you want to rate their preseason play, fine. I suspect Army and the organization take a broader view of evaluation of where prospects are relative to being NHL ready and where they will play.
The Blues have progressed now to where prospects will have to fill specic team needs or force their way into the NHL with exceptional talent and skill. The team also wants well-prepared prospects coming to St. Louis. Snuggerud and Mailloux are ready on both counts. Dvorsky, for example, experience-wise is about where Snuggerud was last summer, and the Blues do not need him right now.
So, in that context it's no surprise at all the Blues sent down players like Dvorsky, Stenberg, Kaskimaki, Lindstein. These guys are not needed right now in St. Louis and they will benefit from additional big minutes in a developmental context. As the season progresses we may see some of them get called up. Right now, I would consider Dvorsky the next-in-line top-9 callup for extended duty, an older player like Peterson or Alexandrov for 4th line/scratch duty. Stenberg needs more small-rink game experience, especially to hone his offense, by mid-season he might be viable with less risk. None of the D prospects other than Mailloux look ready, veterans will most likely be the callups. Lindstein and Jiricek appear to be on-track but not ready.
Carbonneau is where Snuggerud was in his draft year, NHL shot, 18-year old game. I was a bit disappointed he didn't go to college but college is not for everyone.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 84
- Joined: 04 Jun 2025 15:44 pm
Re: Preseason Prospect Thoughts
Jiricek exceeded my expectations. Mailloux looks like a legit nhler. And Stenberg is much closer to the nhl than I thought.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 391
- Joined: 24 May 2024 11:36 am
Re: Preseason Prospect Thoughts
Agree on all 3 of your observations, altho Ive always been a huge Mailloux fan, so I expected him to look good, and even tho Im sure there’s going to be the usual young Dman hiccups in his development, I really believe he’s gonna be a complete badazzz defenseman and fan favorite when it’s all said and done.The Average Gatsby wrote: ↑06 Oct 2025 14:51 pm Jiricek exceeded my expectations. Mailloux looks like a legit nhler. And Stenberg is much closer to the nhl than I thought.