2025-26 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: St. Louis Blues’ Top 10

[TBone]

2025-26 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: St. Louis Blues’ Top 10

Steven Ellis
Aug 8, 2025, 08:00 CDT

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they need to be 25 or under, have played under 15 games in the past season or have not spent significant time in the NHL as a whole over a three-year period.

- clip -

3. Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)
Acquired: Drafted 19th overall, first round in 2025

Do the Blues have a future first-line goal-scorer on their hands? Carbonneau scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. He’s known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesn’t engage much physically. With the right set-up guy beside him – Dvorsky, perhaps? – I could see Carbonneau becoming a 30-goal scorer in the NHL.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025- ... carbonneau

[noted]

2025-26 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: St. Louis Blues’ Top 10

Steven Ellis
Aug 8, 2025, 08:00 CDT

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they need to be 25 or under, have played under 15 games in the past season or have not spent significant time in the NHL as a whole over a three-year period.

- clip -

3. Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)
Acquired: Drafted 19th overall, first round in 2025

Do the Blues have a future first-line goal-scorer on their hands? Carbonneau scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. He’s known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesn’t engage much physically. With the right set-up guy beside him – Dvorsky, perhaps? – I could see Carbonneau becoming a 30-goal scorer in the NHL.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025- ... carbonneau

I admittedly did not really watch Carbonneau in juniors but from the prospect camp got the vibe that he engages physically plenty…

Writer lost credibility with me when he called Stenberg a center. Guy hasn’t really played center since being drafted in Sweden, World Juniors, or AHL.

[dhsux]

Assuming good move by Ralph changing schools to Michigan State.

Any one know what's up with Korotky? Appears he bounced from KHL and is playing MHL this year.

[seattleblue]

This is a bad list tbh.

Snuggerud is not our top prospect, Dvorsky is. Lindstein at 6 is failure. Jecho in the top 10 and some bizarre decision that he projects better than a host of prospects including Stancl, Fischer and Burns, not one of whom is in this very weak attempt at a Blues top 10. I grade this list D to D-

[Old_Goat]

This is a bad list tbh.

Snuggerud is not our top prospect, Dvorsky is. Lindstein at 6 is failure. Jecho in the top 10 and some bizarre decision that he projects better than a host of prospects including Stancl, Fischer and Burns, not one of whom is in this very weak attempt at a Blues top 10. I grade this list D to D-

Agree.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Not saying who is right or wrong, but Ellis, Fischer, and Kaskimaki are 8, 9, and 10 on the current poll on HFboards. ... instead of Ralph, Pekarcik and Jecho.

[seattleblue]

Not saying who is right or wrong, but Ellis, Fischer, and Kaskimaki are 8, 9, and 10 on the current poll on HFboards. ... instead of Ralph, Pekarcik and Jecho.

The single funniest thing is Madge quitting being a Blues fan over Mailloux. That is perfection. I haven't looked over there more than three times in six months, it's been great actually. Fischer and Kaskimaki should be ahead of Ralph Pekarcik and Jecho so sounds like they got that right (I pull goalies out of a skater list).

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Not saying who is right or wrong, but Ellis, Fischer, and Kaskimaki are 8, 9, and 10 on the current poll on HFboards. ... instead of Ralph, Pekarcik and Jecho.

The single funniest thing is Madge quitting being a Blues fan over Mailloux. That is perfection. I haven't looked over there more than three times in six months, it's been great actually. Fischer and Kaskimaki should be ahead of Ralph Pekarcik and Jecho so sounds like they got that right (I pull goalies out of a skater list).

I feel like more of those guys have actually seen the prospects play several games, so I find some of those guys more credible.
I voted for Fischer and Kaskimaki ahead of those other 3 also. I also liked the glimpse I had of Koromyslov, but can't put him very high because not enough to go on and the possibility that he doesn't come over to NA. And ya know of course I had Stancl ahead of those other 3 at the bottom of the list in this OP.

[kimzey59]

This is a bad list tbh.

Snuggerud is not our top prospect, Dvorsky is. Lindstein at 6 is failure. Jecho in the top 10 and some bizarre decision that he projects better than a host of prospects including Stancl, Fischer and Burns, not one of whom is in this very weak attempt at a Blues top 10. I grade this list D to D-

I don’t have that much of an issue going Snuggerud over Dvorsky. Dvorsky has a lot more positional value, but Snuggles is closer to “ready” and I’m not sure the scoring upside is that far apart. I at least get the argument on those 2.

I have plenty of other issues with the list, but that isn’t one of them.

[STL fan in MN]

I actually ran into Steven at the WJSS here in Minnesota last week. Wasn’t really familiar with his work but seemed like a nice enough guy. Agree this isn’t a great list though. But these guys that try to rank all 32 teams are going to be pretty surface level observers. They just are.

Not going to argue with Snuggy at #1. I still have Dvorsky at 1 but those 2 are close and in a tier of their own IMO. And Snuggy is more NHL ready so I can see why many would have him ahead of Dvorsky. But he’s also a year older so it makes sense he’s about a year ahead in development.

The OP focused on Carbonneau so I’ll comment on him as well. Very talented obviously. Was a bit of a disappointment at the WJSS last week if I’m being honest though. That said, most of the Canadian team looked like garbage so maybe they were all just disjointed and disorganized. I expect them to be much better in December/Jan for the actual WJC but as of today, I’d be surprised if Carbonneau made the team based on what I saw last week. Reschny and Hage were the top 2 Canadians there IMO.

Here’s how I’d rank the Blues prospects. I’ll note the top 2 are very close. And I hardly see any separation between 3-6 either tbh.

1. Dvorsky
2. Snuggerud

3. Lindstein
4. Mailloux
5. Stenberg
6. Carbonneau

7. Jiricek

8. Fischer
9. Dean
10. Kaskimaki
11. Ellis
12. Stancl
13. Pekarcik

14. Burns
15. Ralph
16. Koromyslov
17. Peterson
18. Korotky

I feel even the 8-18 guys all have at least a decent shot of becoming NHLers. Obviously some won’t as it’ll eventually be a numbers game and some may end up making it in other orgs but the Blues have A LOT of quality depth.

19. Mrsic
20. McIsaac
21. Robertsson
22. Zherenko
23. Jecho
24. Kos

25-30: Buchinger, Fyodorov, Harenstam, Loof, Susuyev, Vorobyov

31-33: Dorian, Cranley, Gaudet

Not included: Alexandrov, Skinner, Johannesson and Abramov. Oh and of course no Tucker, Kessel, Scheuneman, McGing etc either.

[callitwhatyouwant]

This is a bad list tbh.

Snuggerud is not our top prospect, Dvorsky is. Lindstein at 6 is failure. Jecho in the top 10 and some bizarre decision that he projects better than a host of prospects including Stancl, Fischer and Burns, not one of whom is in this very weak attempt at a Blues top 10. I grade this list D to D-

Isn't Lindstein talked about among the hockey guys in the org as possibly the best player? Just waiting for him to get his game NHL ready meaning weight and everything? For instance, our current starting 6 defenders of Parayko/Fowler Broberg/Faulk Tucker/Mailloux has Tucker being the lightest guy at 205. Lindstein still has a listed weight of 192 on elite prospects.

[a smell of green grass]

The Author is believing that Stenberg will be a C, likely a 3C. Hmmm. I haven't heard that claim since the day that we drafted him. I'm pretty sure he hasn't played C for 2 years now.

I hope the guy is right and that Stenberg is great at whatever position.

[82birds]

The Author is believing that Stenberg will be a C, likely a 3C. Hmmm. I haven't heard that claim since the day that we drafted him. I'm pretty sure he hasn't played C for 2 years now.

I hope the guy is right and that Stenberg is great at whatever position.

there's always hope

[NE Blues Fan]

The Author is believing that Stenberg will be a C, likely a 3C. Hmmm. I haven't heard that claim since the day that we drafted him. I'm pretty sure he hasn't played C for 2 years now.

I hope the guy is right and that Stenberg is great at whatever position.

there's always hope

Rebellions are built on hope.

[seattleblue]

When you think of Stenberg and what he's going to be able to do, ask yourself, what was Alex Steen able to do.

Now you have your answer

[Harry S Deals]

I actually ran into Steven at the WJSS here in Minnesota last week. Wasn’t really familiar with his work but seemed like a nice enough guy. Agree this isn’t a great list though. But these guys that try to rank all 32 teams are going to be pretty surface level observers. They just are.

Not going to argue with Snuggy at #1. I still have Dvorsky at 1 but those 2 are close and in a tier of their own IMO. And Snuggy is more NHL ready so I can see why many would have him ahead of Dvorsky. But he’s also a year older so it makes sense he’s about a year ahead in development.

The OP focused on Carbonneau so I’ll comment on him as well. Very talented obviously. Was a bit of a disappointment at the WJSS last week if I’m being honest though. That said, most of the Canadian team looked like garbage so maybe they were all just disjointed and disorganized. I expect them to be much better in December/Jan for the actual WJC but as of today, I’d be surprised if Carbonneau made the team based on what I saw last week. Reschny and Hage were the top 2 Canadians there IMO.

Here’s how I’d rank the Blues prospects. I’ll note the top 2 are very close. And I hardly see any separation between 3-6 either tbh.

1. Dvorsky
2. Snuggerud

3. Lindstein
4. Mailloux
5. Stenberg
6. Carbonneau

7. Jiricek

8. Fischer
9. Dean
10. Kaskimaki
11. Ellis
12. Stancl
13. Pekarcik

14. Burns
15. Ralph
16. Koromyslov
17. Peterson
18. Korotky

I feel even the 8-18 guys all have at least a decent shot of becoming NHLers. Obviously some won’t as it’ll eventually be a numbers game and some may end up making it in other orgs but the Blues have A LOT of quality depth.

19. Mrsic
20. McIsaac
21. Robertsson
22. Zherenko
23. Jecho
24. Kos

25-30: Buchinger, Fyodorov, Harenstam, Loof, Susuyev, Vorobyov

31-33: Dorian, Cranley, Gaudet

Not included: Alexandrov, Skinner, Johannesson and Abramov. Oh and of course no Tucker, Kessel, Scheuneman, McGing etc either.

Im wondering, after this season if we arent ranking Robertsson a bit higher the other wild card for me is Dean. In both cases they need to put in a solid, healthy AHL season to justify my thought