Blues Prospect Jakub Stancl Gets Taste Of AHL Before Turning Pro

[TBone]

Blues prospect Jakub Stancl gets taste of AHL before turning pro in the fall

Matthew DeFranks
Aug 4, 2025

- clip -

Of the entire group, Stancl might own the most pro-ready frame of the bunch. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, Stancl has used his build to become one of the best players at the World Junior Championship across the past two seasons.

In the 2024 version of the event, Stancl had six points in seven games, but then he burst through last season with seven goals and 10 points. His seven goals led the entire tournament, and his 10 points were tied for second behind American defenseman Cole Hutson’s 11 points.

Stancl played with Kelowna of the Western Hockey League in 2024-25, arriving in North America after three years in Sweden, where he played when he left his native Czechia. He finished second on the team with 57 points in 58 games, behind Andrew Cristall’s 60 points in 28 games before his trade to Spokane.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... 481f4.html

[danno]

Isnt the AHL a professional league? So if you're playing there, aren't you already a pro?

[zamadoo]

Isnt the AHL a professional league? So if you're playing there, aren't you already a pro?

He, like others, only joined Springfield after his CHL season ended. Now, 20 years old, he is officially turning pro for the entire season.

We've got so many good ones, but he's definitely one of my favorites. I'm excited to see the lines in Springfield.

[Harry S Deals]

Isnt the AHL a professional league? So if you're playing there, aren't you already a pro?

He, like others, only joined Springfield after his CHL season ended. Now, 20 years old, he is officially turning pro for the entire season.

We've got so many good ones, but he's definitely one of my favorites. I'm excited to see the lines in Springfield.

Could be a very solid bottom 6 LW with some size and some skills. He may already be over 200 lbs, could even add some more weight

[seattleblue]

This is my favorite prospect. He isn't the very best prospect we have, but he is my favorite. I stuck with him through his 11-1 and 10-0 losses this past season, all the way to the bitter end to see if he scored in the final 3 minutes. I badly want him to overachieve his skating and become a 1st line player. I believe in this player. "Giddy up, Jakub. Giddy up and go-go!"

His games at the end in Springfield were good. If you're unfamiliar with the prospect and you look into it you'll find the reason he went mid round is his skating was an issue, but everything else was really good. Skating can be improved and it clearly has. But since it's a question it will remain a question until he looks in place with NHLers speed/skating. So it was a big deal going from Kelowna to Springfield for him. How fast is this player's first stride etc? If that does not look like a problem then the sky is the ceiling for Jakub Stancl.

[Sweetred95ta]

Thanks for posting. We have lots of prospects to be excited about. I hope we see a few of them over the next 1-2 seasons.

Sidebar...the Capitals have done a great job of staying relevant over the last decade and still landing some pretty darn good prospects. It only made me think of it since the other 2 players listed in the article (Cole Hutson and Andrew Cristall) are both property of the Capitals.

[zamadoo]

This is my favorite prospect. He isn't the very best prospect we have, but he is my favorite. I stuck with him through his 11-1 and 10-0 losses this past season, all the way to the bitter end to see if he scored in the final 3 minutes. I badly want him to overachieve his skating and become a 1st line player. I believe in this player. "Giddy up, Jakub. Giddy up and go-go!"

His games at the end in Springfield were good. If you're unfamiliar with the prospect and you look into it you'll find the reason he went mid round is his skating was an issue, but everything else was really good. Skating can be improved and it clearly has. But since it's a question it will remain a question until he looks in place with NHLers speed/skating. So it was a big deal going from Kelowna to Springfield for him. How fast is this player's first stride etc? If that does not look like a problem then the sky is the ceiling for Jakub Stancl.

Yeah Harry mentioned bottom-6 and I thought some more along the lines of what you're believing in. Just watching him at the WJC I could tell there was something special, and lack of speed was not something that ever occurred to me, but I think that's because he plays the game so fast vs his peers. Steal of a 4th rounder, and I would project him as a top-9 player no matter what his skating is like. If that's his only issue, then I'm with you.

Same with Pekarcik - top-9 guy who has maybe one real flaw to work on (as you have noted, his leverage/balance). I would rate Stancl higher despite being drafted later, but like the way both of these guys play and think they will be NHLers sooner than later. Add them to Stenberg and our forward group is going to be a force. The only question I have is whether either of these guys moves to center.

[EL Bandito]

Been a while but wanted to jump back in.

I really hope they legitimately try him out at C for an extended period of time. His awareness and positioning, especially seen in the wjc, just screams 2way power Center to me. In that sense he kind of gives me Bobby Holik vibes from his early days.

Then I got to thinking who could be a wing comparable if he stays there and I think I've got one. Remember Freddy Modin? Big winger, not overly physical, big slapper, not the fastest maybe average skating, etc. I could see Stancl being better on the defensive side, but I think this could be a realistic expectation of a higher comparable if his offense translates to the NHL, which would put him firmly in the middle 6 winger range.

Thoughts on the Modin comp, Seattle?

[seattleblue]

Been a while but wanted to jump back in.

I really hope they legitimately try him out at C for an extended period of time. His awareness and positioning, especially seen in the wjc, just screams 2way power Center to me. In that sense he kind of gives me Bobby Holik vibes from his early days.

Then I got to thinking who could be a wing comparable if he stays there and I think I've got one. Remember Freddy Modin? Big winger, not overly physical, big slapper, not the fastest maybe average skating, etc. I could see Stancl being better on the defensive side, but I think this could be a realistic expectation of a higher comparable if his offense translates to the NHL, which would put him firmly in the middle 6 winger range.

Thoughts on the Modin comp, Seattle?

Excellent comp Bandito!

Yes I think he thinks the game as well as a center thinks it and I'd love it if he stuck there, especially because he'd increase his own value to a hockey club. He has to get stronger faceoff numbers. He took a lot of faceoffs in January that he wasn't taking in Feb and March. But the whole team was out of sync. It's going to be interesting to see how they pull themselves together as one of the four Memorial Cup teams this year as the hosts. Hayden Paupenekis who the Canadiens drafted in the third round might move the needle this year.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

This is my favorite prospect. He isn't the very best prospect we have, but he is my favorite. I stuck with him through his 11-1 and 10-0 losses this past season, all the way to the bitter end to see if he scored in the final 3 minutes. I badly want him to overachieve his skating and become a 1st line player. I believe in this player. "Giddy up, Jakub. Giddy up and go-go!"

His games at the end in Springfield were good. If you're unfamiliar with the prospect and you look into it you'll find the reason he went mid round is his skating was an issue, but everything else was really good. Skating can be improved and it clearly has. But since it's a question it will remain a question until he looks in place with NHLers speed/skating. So it was a big deal going from Kelowna to Springfield for him. How fast is this player's first stride etc? If that does not look like a problem then the sky is the ceiling for Jakub Stancl.

I'm a Stancl fan too. I haven't seen much of him, but the confidence that he displayed this summer at prospect camp was obvious. I'll put it like this ... in a very good way Stancl believes he is as good or better than every prospect the Blues have. At least that's what I got from the way he carried himself and the way he played in the 3 on 3 on the first day of camp.

[ClassicO]

Highlight videos are impressive (usually are). What happened in the 10 games at Springfield? Only one assist, but the -1 on +/- is surface-troublesome.

[STL fan in MN]

Highlight videos are impressive (usually are). What happened in the 10 games at Springfield? Only one assist, but the -1 on +/- is surface-troublesome.

Seriously? He was a 19 year old playing spot minutes just to get a taste of a higher level to give him a better idea of what he needed to work on this summer to better prepare for next season. The actual stats in those 10 games is near meaningless.

[CupCrazySTL]

This is my favorite prospect. He isn't the very best prospect we have, but he is my favorite. I stuck with him through his 11-1 and 10-0 losses this past season, all the way to the bitter end to see if he scored in the final 3 minutes. I badly want him to overachieve his skating and become a 1st line player. I believe in this player. "Giddy up, Jakub. Giddy up and go-go!"

His games at the end in Springfield were good. If you're unfamiliar with the prospect and you look into it you'll find the reason he went mid round is his skating was an issue, but everything else was really good. Skating can be improved and it clearly has. But since it's a question it will remain a question until he looks in place with NHLers speed/skating. So it was a big deal going from Kelowna to Springfield for him. How fast is this player's first stride etc? If that does not look like a problem then the sky is the ceiling for Jakub Stancl.

Going to be a good one!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3v-YEfhps

[CupCrazySTL]

Highlight videos are impressive (usually are). What happened in the 10 games at Springfield? Only one assist, but the -1 on +/- is surface-troublesome.

Seriously? He was a 19 year old playing spot minutes just to get a taste of a higher level to give him a better idea of what he needed to work on this summer to better prepare for next season. The actual stats in those 10 games is near meaningless.

Blues scouts went heavy on Czech\European prospects over the past couple of years and I think will hit on quite a few making the NHL.

Czech
*Stancl
*Jiricek
*Jecho
Kos

Slovakia
*Dvorsky
*Pekarcik

Finland
*Kasikmaki

Sweden
*Stenberg - Alex Steen Jr.
*Lindstein
*Loof - Barret Jackman Comparison
*Harenstam

KHL
Fyodorov
Alexandrov
Korotky - Remeber this name being compared to Demidov (Drafted in the 7th Round)


Not to Mention

Canada
*Mrsic
*Carbonneau
*Burns

USA
*Ralph
*Fischer


All look EXTREMELY solid!! Our Scouting Staff is one of the BEST in the league!! They have done an amazing job of setting this team up for the future for years to come

[STL fan in MN]

Highlight videos are impressive (usually are). What happened in the 10 games at Springfield? Only one assist, but the -1 on +/- is surface-troublesome.

Seriously? He was a 19 year old playing spot minutes just to get a taste of a higher level to give him a better idea of what he needed to work on this summer to better prepare for next season. The actual stats in those 10 games is near meaningless.

Blues scouts went heavy on Czech\European prospects over the past couple of years and I think will hit on quite a few making the NHL.

Czech
*Stancl
*Jiricek
*Jecho
Kos

Slovakia
*Dvorsky
*Pekarcik

Finland
*Kasikmaki

Sweden
*Stenberg - Alex Steen Jr.
*Lindstein
*Loof - Barret Jackman Comparison
*Harenstam

KHL
Fyodorov
Alexandrov
Korotky - Remeber this name being compared to Demidov (Drafted in the 7th Round)


Not to Mention

Canada
*Mrsic
*Carbonneau
*Burns

USA
*Ralph
*Fischer


All look EXTREMELY solid!! Our Scouting Staff is one of the BEST in the league!! They have done an amazing job of setting this team up for the future for years to come

Agree the Blues have a lot of prospects that are looking good. So many they’ll likely need to trade some of them in the coming 2-3 years as there just won’t be enough roster spots for all of them. But I seriously doubt Loof is one of them.

[seattleblue]

This is my favorite prospect. He isn't the very best prospect we have, but he is my favorite. I stuck with him through his 11-1 and 10-0 losses this past season, all the way to the bitter end to see if he scored in the final 3 minutes. I badly want him to overachieve his skating and become a 1st line player. I believe in this player. "Giddy up, Jakub. Giddy up and go-go!"

His games at the end in Springfield were good. If you're unfamiliar with the prospect and you look into it you'll find the reason he went mid round is his skating was an issue, but everything else was really good. Skating can be improved and it clearly has. But since it's a question it will remain a question until he looks in place with NHLers speed/skating. So it was a big deal going from Kelowna to Springfield for him. How fast is this player's first stride etc? If that does not look like a problem then the sky is the ceiling for Jakub Stancl.

I'm a Stancl fan too. I haven't seen much of him, but the confidence that he displayed this summer at prospect camp was obvious. I'll put it like this ... in a very good way Stancl believes he is as good or better than every prospect the Blues have. At least that's what I got from the way he carried himself and the way he played in the 3 on 3 on the first day of camp.

Exactly, he is calm-confident. He expects himself to be able to execute. Stancl with a raft of confidence behind him is trouble for the opponent. When he is confident, you see it shift after shift after shift. The first game in mid Jan in Seattle not long after WJC, it was like an extension of that tournament. He was the offensive zone leader winning battles, backing down defenders, shoving Mrtka to the ice. Also don't sleep on how fun it is to insert an 'h' between the 'S' and 't' in his name and say it that way.