Juraj Pekarcik Eager To Turn Pro

[John Cocktoastin]

Looking forward to it...

"Yeah, he had a great year," Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. "They raved about his character. His teammates loved him. He was really good in the playoffs for them. He was the type of kid that plays really big in big games, hard-nosed and has a nose for the net. We're excited for him. Obviously a steppingstone. This (was) his third camp. He's going to turn pro this year, and we have a lot of young kids turning pro this year so we're excited with that.

"Obviously he'll be coming to training camp and make a big impression on us. We expect him to turn pro and have a good year."

Link

[Zizzle1297]

I am excited to see him develop. To me he is right up there with Snuggy, Devo, and now Carbaneau. Maybe even ahead of Otto Stenberg and Stancl

[a smell of green grass]

At Development Camp, it was very easy to like him. If I was on a sandlot rink, I'd pick him very high. The guy looks like a hockey player, skates like a hockey player, and just looking at him, he oozes the will to win.

I would also say that it is clear that hockey is what he lives for. His body reflects his love. He looks like some sort of a hockey machine, not just another fine athlete on skates.

I don't know if the kid has what it takes, etc., but he sure looks the part.

[Old_Goat]

Eventually Pekarcik and Dvorsky on a line together...opponents will have no idea what they're telling each other to do out there, making it that much harder to defend. I'm eager for these and the other prospects to be ready too.

[seattleblue]

I am excited to see him develop. To me he is right up there with Snuggy, Devo, and now Carbaneau. Maybe even ahead of Otto Stenberg and Stancl

Not saying this is a bad player but you're selling the others short, they are better.

[Section315]

He's the gem in the system. He looks like he can be a bull. A unique skill set.

[seattleblue]

He's the gem in the system. He looks like he can be a bull. A unique skill set.

He's not a bull, he has a high center of gravity so I have seen smaller players get leverage on him in hits, they are lower so he goes moving. Bigger players do it to him too. It's an NHL point of concern that he has to fix

[a smell of green grass]

He's the gem in the system. He looks like he can be a bull. A unique skill set.

He's not a bull, he has a high center of gravity so I have seen smaller players get leverage on him in hits, they are lower so he goes moving. Bigger players do it to him too. It's an NHL point of concern that he has to fix

What you call high center of gravity, I call long legs that generate unique quickness and fast acceleration. .

Maybe he won't succeed because of his build etc., but I wouldn't bet against that devil. On every diamond and rink, you can spot the kids that just love the sport more than the rest, and Pekarcik is one of those.

[STL fan in MN]

I am excited to see him develop. To me he is right up there with Snuggy, Devo, and now Carbaneau. Maybe even ahead of Otto Stenberg and Stancl

I really like Pekarcik but he’s simply not at that level.

[Aesa]

I am excited to see him develop. To me he is right up there with Snuggy, Devo, and now Carbaneau. Maybe even ahead of Otto Stenberg and Stancl

I really like Pekarcik but he’s simply not at that level.

Have to agree with MN but after a year in the A and adding a few lbs, I can see him up here in the 26-27 season.

[seattleblue]

I think he's going to be a decent NHL winger. I like him, I watch him. There are numerous prospects in Springfield this upcoming year who are compelling and he is one of them. He has an active mind on the ice and skates very hard, very fast. He has offensive skill and can finish. He needs help from his linemates, he is not like some of our other prospects who drive the play themselves. However, the quality of his linemates is going to be sufficient in the future at the NHL level. He will eagerly battle for the puck but he can be dislodged from those battles, which is going to limit his effectiveness and possession numbers since the opposition is only getting faster stronger and bigger. So no matter how much desire he has he's going to have to double down and work on this aspect of his game. He doesn't shy away from physical contact it's more that he can be cleared from the crease somewhat easily.

[STL fan in MN]

I think he's going to be a decent NHL winger. I like him, I watch him. There are numerous prospects in Springfield this upcoming year who are compelling and he is one of them. He has an active mind on the ice and skates very hard, very fast. He has offensive skill and can finish. He needs help from his linemates, he is not like some of our other prospects who drive the play themselves. However, the quality of his linemates is going to be sufficient in the future at the NHL level. He will eagerly battle for the puck but he can be dislodged from those battles, which is going to limit his effectiveness and possession numbers since the opposition is only getting faster stronger and bigger. So no matter how much desire he has he's going to have to double down and work on this aspect of his game. He doesn't shy away from physical contact it's more that he can be cleared from the crease somewhat easily.

I’ve definitely seen what you’re talking about in terms of his high center of gravity, getting pushed around a bit more than you’d expect someone his size/height to be pushed around. You can never really tell when they’re wearing full equipment but I’ve simply assumed he hasn’t developed the typical tree trunk legs/hockey butt yet. Probably needs to focus on his lower body and core more in the gym. Build up that lower body strength. But he’s still only 19 so as long as he can make that transition with his body over the next 2-3 years, he should be fine IMO. He also has a bit of an awkward, hunched over skating stride. It’s not the most efficient stride but agree he gives maximum effort most of the time. High compete level. His standout strengths IMO are his playmaking ability and compete level.

And yep, with him, Stancl, Lindstein and Burns joining Dvorsky (assuming he’s not in STL), Stenberg, Dean, Ellis, Zherenko, Kaskimaki, Robertsson, Peterson, Buchinger, Loof etc in Springfield, we’ll have a lot of our prospects all at that level this season. Should be lots of good competition.

[somni]

I'm very excited for the draft class of 2023.
Looks like I'm subscribing to AHL-TV next year.

[Frank Underwood]

I still remember this goal at his first prospect camp. He was one of the youngest players in the 2023 draft, only 17 when the Blues drafted him. Then he does this on the first day of prospect camp back in 2023!

https://youtube.com/shorts/pMTHxbrB4xk? ... DmjlaqueUc

[Harry S Deals]

I am excited to see him develop. To me he is right up there with Snuggy, Devo, and now Carbaneau. Maybe even ahead of Otto Stenberg and Stancl

I really like Pekarcik but he’s simply not at that level.

He'll be in the mix, his NHL ceiling is a bit TBD but of course we will know more once we see what he can do in pro hockey may take a full season + to get a good read. Thats the beginning of the data meanwhile Dvorsky and Stenberg did very well in their first appearances this we know

[brianstlou2]

I’ve definitely seen what you’re talking about in terms of his high center of gravity, getting pushed around a bit more than you’d expect someone his size/height to be pushed around. You can never really tell when they’re wearing full equipment but I’ve simply assumed he hasn’t developed the typical tree trunk legs/hockey butt yet. Probably needs to focus on his lower body and core more in the gym. Build up that lower body strength. But he’s still only 19 so as long as he can make that transition with his body over the next 2-3 years, he should be fine IMO. He also has a bit of an awkward, hunched over skating stride. It’s not the most efficient stride but agree he gives maximum effort most of the time. High compete level. His standout strengths IMO are his playmaking ability and compete level.

And yep, with him, Stancl, Lindstein and Burns joining Dvorsky (assuming he’s not in STL), Stenberg, Dean, Ellis, Zherenko, Kaskimaki, Robertsson, Peterson, Buchinger, Loof etc in Springfield, we’ll have a lot of our prospects all at that level this season. Should be lots of good competition.

Sounds like he’d be an ideal pivot given his playmaking skills and the Blues need. What’s the reason he’s not at center?