Prospect Info: 2024 Blues Prospect Poll #8

[STL fan in MN]

Pekarcik takes our closest poll to date, besting Kessel by 2 votes to take the 7th spot.

1. Dalibor Dvorsky (89.8%)
2. Jimmy Snuggerud (48.8%)
3. Theo Lindstein (73.1%)
4. Adam Jiricek (41.2%)
5. Zack Bolduc (65.2%)
6. Otto Stenberg (94.4%)
7. Juraj Pekarcik (35.5%)
8. ?

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[Blanick]

I am actually pretty high on Pekarcik but believe that Kessel should have gone last round. After that I am going Dean, Zherenko and Lukas Fischer

 

[Brian39]

Voting Kessel for the 2nd straight poll. He doesn't really meet my personal definition of a prospect at this point, but he is in the poll and I'm not holding it against him that I have a different opinion of 'who is a prospect' than the site's.

He showed me last year that he is legitimately an NHL D man. And while we are talking about a very limited sample size, he looked surprisingly adequate when we put him in a legit top 4 role. I see a guy who is very likely to play a few hundred NHL games and has the potential to be a legit 2nd pair guy.

 

[Beauterham]

It was Kessel versus Dean. Went for the higher floor in Kessel versus higher ceiling in Dean.

For the next poll, add Mrsic BTW.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

It was Kessel versus Dean. Went for the higher floor in Kessel versus higher ceiling in Dean.

For the next poll, add Mrsic BTW.

I'm very intrigued after watching some clips of Mrsic.

 

[Beauterham]

I'm very intrigued after watching some clips of Mrsic.

I expect 'we' will probably put him around #15 on the Blues prospect poll. He has the potential to be a huge riser next year.

If we actually put him somewhere around #15, that would show how good our prospect pool has grown in depth compared to just a couple of years ago.

 

[Mike Liut]

Damn, we have a nice prospect pool

 

[Memento]

Voting for Susuyev again. I like Mrsic, but personally, I'd put Koromyslov above him. Just my opinion, of course; I've got nothing against Mrsic being the next prospect added.

Buchinger isn't getting nearly enough love, though, in my opinion; he's our best offensive defenseman prospect in the system, and definitely in the tier of Susuyev, Dean, Kessel, and Pekarcik. I could see him get to our NHL roster easily if Perunovich falters or if we need a spark, given Krug's status.

 

[LGB]

Awesome depth, I still believe Dean has a good chance to be an impactful middle six forward and he'll go 9th. After him my prospect knowledge isn't as deep, but I do like what I've seen from Buchinger and would have him next.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Voting for Susuyev again. I like Mrsic, but personally, I'd put Koromyslov above him. Just my opinion, of course; I've got nothing against Mrsic being the next prospect added.

Buchinger isn't getting nearly enough love, though, in my opinion; he's our best offensive defenseman prospect in the system, and definitely in the tier of Susuyev, Dean, Kessel, and Pekarcik. I could see him get to our NHL roster easily if Perunovich falters or if we need a spark, given Krug's status.

I think the Buchinger has the highest ceiling left of all players, but he is also the biggest boom/bust. I would not be in any way surprised to see him become a #3 Dman and prime PPQB in the NHL. But. He could easily end up being a #6/7 as well.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I think the Buchinger has the highest ceiling left of all players, but he is also the biggest boom/bust. I would not be in any way surprised to see him become a #3 Dman and prime PPQB in the NHL. But. He could easily end up being a #6/7 as well.

Agree with his ceiling and that he is perhaps being a bit underrated here. Or at least should be a bit more in the discussion. But I’d say his floor is a fair amount lower than #6-7 d-man. It’s more than possible he is just a decent AHL PP QB.

I’ll be interested to see how he adapts to pro hockey this season.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Agree with his ceiling and that he is perhaps being a bit underrated here. Or at least should be a bit more in the discussion. But I’d say his floor is a fair amount lower than #6-7 d-man. It’s more than possible he is just a decent AHL PP QB.

I’ll be interested to see how he adapts to pro hockey this season.

100% agree. Everything with Buchinger depends on if his offense translates to pro. I absolutely think it will and he'll be the first Defenseman in our prospect pool that makes the jump from AHL to NHL. Without Kessel I put him higher than Pekarcik and Dean at #7 on my list.

 

[stl76]

IDK about Buchinger...caught a couple Guelph games this past year and he just did not stand out at all. Good player for sure, but doesn't have any outstanding physical qualities and his offense isn't elite. Would love to be wrong about him, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he makes a significant impact in the NHL.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

IDK about Buchinger...caught a couple Guelph games this past year and he just did not stand out at all. Good player for sure, but doesn't have any outstanding physical qualities and his offense isn't elite. Would love to be wrong about him, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he makes a significant impact in the NHL.

Probably didn't help Guelph Storm wasn't the greatest team last year and he got injured at the end of the season.

Also doesn't help that Guelph's defense outside of Buchinger was absolutely terrible last season.

 

[Beauterham]

Agree with his ceiling and that he is perhaps being a bit underrated here. Or at least should be a bit more in the discussion. But I’d say his floor is a fair amount lower than #6-7 d-man. It’s more than possible he is just a decent AHL PP QB.

I’ll be interested to see how he adapts to pro hockey this season.

I don't understand the sentiment that Buchinger is underrated at all. I expect he will probably be chosen 10th-12th in the poll and that's really not a knock on him but more a statement that our prospect depth hasn't been this good for ages.

In the past I felt we constantly had 10-ish prospects who could eventually turn into decent NHLers, it almost feels like we have 20 guys now. Not saying that all of them will make the NHL, but the potential is there.

 

[Frenzy31]

100% agree. Everything with Buchinger depends on if his offense translates to pro. I absolutely think it will and he'll be the first Defenseman in our prospect pool that makes the jump from AHL to NHL. Without Kessel I put him higher than Pekarcik and Dean at #7 on my list.

I think Loof gets the shot before Buchinger. Sounds like he really needs to focus on the defensive side of things.

 

[simon IC]

I am not as high on Buchinger as some. He needs to learn to play defense. Period. His offense is not good enough for him to rely on that alone.

 

[LogosBlue]

If you're voting most NHL ready I'm sure Kessel wins. If your voting for most offensive talent I can see voting Dean / Jecho (who some saw being taken in the first round and we stole). I voted Lukas Fischer because I think he has the highest floor of all remaining candidates. He's got great genes / pedigree from his dad. At 17 he seems to be so focused, mentally acute and aware, purpose driven thinker/player. I don't know and I can't really put my finger on why to be honest. I don't think he will ever light up the league offensively but I see a solid 2nd line shut down defender (at worst) that eventually will be able to put up big minutes and counted on every shift of every game day in and day out. Defensively consistent with some speed and outlet passing.

This being said, i can't say I've seen much video at all of Colin Ralph either. He's kind of a wild card that Blues brass must have seen something they liked in him. I really don't know where to place him in prospect rankings because of this. I can't get out of my head that we didn't pick Stian Solberg (and really liked him) so this was our 2nd best option in that same style of player.

Then again, i could be completely full of crap.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I expect 'we' will probably put him around #15 on the Blues prospect poll. He has the potential to be a huge riser next year.

If we actually put him somewhere around #15, that would show how good our prospect pool has grown in depth compared to just a couple of years ago.

Definitely. He feels like a guy that would've been around 10 for us a few seasons ago.

 

[SirPaste]

Damn, we have a nice prospect pool

It really is miles ahead of where it was just a couple years ago. Maybe a little lacking on top end talent but the depth is fantastic, just looking at all these guys that have legitimate shots of becoming NHL players is awesome.