Prospect Info: Blues 2021-2022 Prospects Thread Part 2

[Bye Bye Blueston]

UMass and Kessel are going into OT against Minnesota right now on ESPNU if you can tune in

EDIT: aaaaaaaand game over, Minnesota wins. UMass' bottom pairing got abused in OT leading to the goal against. Only saw a couple shifts of Kessel, but he and Ufko (perds draft pick) looked very solid. Curious to see if/when Kessel signs and joins the Thunderbirds.

Kessel looks intriguing. Like the size and skating and shows some skill. His turbojet led to tying gopher goal, so it wasn’t all roses but lots to like. Probably a couple years away but he certainly could be future NHLer.

 

[tfriede2]

Bolduc 1+1 in 3-2 win tonight.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Bolduc 1+1 in 3-2 win tonight.

His goal and celly. (2nd goal of the night)

It was country music night.

Not shown in the highlights, his huge hit on 6’5 Noah Warren.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I wonder if Bolduc can move tot he wing? Or if he is a winger down in the Q?

 

[stl76]

Kessel looks intriguing. Like the size and skating and shows some skill. His turbojet led to tying gopher goal, so it wasn’t all roses but lots to like. Probably a couple years away but he certainly could be future NHLer.

I read about the bad turnover that lead to the goal against, but didn't catch it live (was only able to tune in for OT unfortunately). Kessel still has a ton to prove, but I think he is on a very good development trajectory to be a solid NHL bottom pairing puck moving defenseman with good size. Maybe more if things break the right direction for him, but who knows. First things first, I'm excited to see if he can translate his game to the AHL!

I wonder if Bolduc can move tot he wing? Or if he is a winger down in the Q?

Peut etre Serge can confirm, but my understanding is that he plays primarily LW in juniors and very likely projects as a winger in the future.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I read about the bad turnover that lead to the goal against, but didn't catch it live (was only able to tune in for OT unfortunately). Kessel still has a ton to prove, but I think he is on a very good development trajectory to be a solid NHL bottom pairing puck moving defenseman with good size. Maybe more if things break the right direction for him, but who knows. First things first, I'm excited to see if he can translate his game to the AHL!


Peut etre Serge can confirm, but my understanding is that he plays primarily LW in juniors and very likely projects as a winger in the future.

If him and Neighbors can reach their potential they could become nice complementary pieces on the Schenn line going forward. (When they are ready that is)

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Did I miss some news about Neighbours being injured? It seems like he hasn’t played in like a month.

 

[Celtic Note]

Did I miss some news about Neighbours being injured? It seems like he hasn’t played in like a month.

I believe someone here mentioned he was injured.

I feel like it is a concussion if I am not mistaken

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Peut etre Serge can confirm, but my understanding is that he plays primarily LW in juniors and very likely projects as a winger in the future.

I confirm. He has barely played center in juniors. Not at all this season, 7 games last season and the first two months in his rookie season.

He scored two goals tonight, including the game winner in OT in a 4-3 score. He was named 3rd star.

 

[Frenzy31]

Kessel signed his entry level deal. He will play ina try out contract in the AHL for the rest of the year. His 3 year deal begins next season.

 

[AVictoryDive]

Kessel signed his entry level deal. He will play ina try out contract in the AHL for the rest of the year. His 3 year deal begins next season.

It’s actually a 2 yr elc which is typical with overage college draftees.

 

[Frenzy31]

It’s actually a 2 yr elc which is typical with overage college draftees.

Oh. I thought all entry level deals were 3 years.

 

[stl76]

Kessel signed his entry level deal. He will play ina try out contract in the AHL for the rest of the year. His 3 year deal begins next season.

You love to see it!

Blues sign Kessel to two-year entry-level contract | St. Louis Blues

Prospect will report to Springfield on tryout; contract begins in 2022-23 season

www.nhl.com

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has signed defenseman Matt Kessel to a two-year entry-level contract that will begin with the 2022-23 season.

Kessel, who was drafted by the Blues in the fifth round (No. 150 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, will report to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, on a tryout and remain with the team for the remainder of the season.

Kessel, 21, has spent the past three seasons at UMass-Amherst. This season, the 6-foot-3, 203-pound defenseman dressed in 37 regular-season games, collecting 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and 22 penalty minutes. In 2020-21, Kessel logged 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 29 regular-season games and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team after helping Amherst capture the 2021 NCAA Championship.

Prior to his collegiate career, Kessel spent two seasons in the USHL, including 2018-19 when he led the Sioux Falls Stampede to the Clark Cup championship.

 

[Majorityof1]

Oh. I thought all entry level deals were 3 years.

It depends on how old the player is when they sign the deal. Young kids (18-19ish) are 3 years, college age kids are 2 years and 24ish+ age players coming from over seas can be 1 year. I don't know the exact break down off-hand of exactly what age equates to what contract, but its outlined in the CBA.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Brady Lyle, hell yeah. He’s a great project dman to get for basically free. Loved him in juniors

 

[Celtic Note]

Brady Lyle, hell yeah. He’s a great project dman to get for basically free. Loved him in juniors

I know nothing about the guy. What do you like about him?

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I know nothing about the guy. What do you like about him?

Former Shattuck St Mary standout (Crosby's school), ended up on some bad North Bay Battalion squads but had really nice age- and league-adjusted scoring rates, and then when he got traded to Owen Sound he really took off, imo, and his counting stats started to reflect all of the projections. Scored over PPG in his overage year, which isn't nothing. Sucks for him that his first pro year was the pandemic year, but 14 pts in 25 games is nothing to scoff at in the AHL as a rookie. But yeah, big RHD with a little physicality (nothing like Tucker, but he's not shy), and a nice scoring touch. Can move the puck. Skating, as with most undrafted guys, is gonna be the big thing to work on for him. But I like the lottery ticket a lot.

 

[execwrite1]

Interesting write-up on Lyle -

Granted, even with the concerns surrounding Lyle’s viability as minutes-eating regular at the next level, it’s not as though the youngster didn’t build quite a resume for himself in juniors — racking up 140 points over his final three seasons in the OHL (193 games).

And yet, even after the North Bay, Ontario, native was tabbed 48th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting leading into the 2017 NHL Draft — he never did hear his name called.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Goals #37-38-39 tonight for Bolduc. He also added an assist and was named first star in a 8-2 win.

His 39th

 

[Beauterham]

Something I wonder about Lyle: I couldn't find the info on Capfriendly, but is he still waiver exempt next season? AKA can we send him to Springfield without the chance of losing him on waivers?

 

[SergeConstantin74]

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Bolduc's 40th goal of the season

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Bolduc could write his name in the Quebec Remparts' history book if he keeps up the same pace he has since February. It would give him around 54 goals in the regular season and he would be 3rd in team's history behind Alexander Radulov (61 in 05-06) and Eric Chouinard (57 in 99-00). Both were a year older and the QMJHL overall was scoring a lot more goals back then.

 

[08SeaBass08]

I've seen a ton of UMass hockey the last three years and Kessel took a massive step forward this year. Showed a lot of poise, moved the puck really well and seems to have grown into his height and isn't quite so lanky anymore. He's definitely going to play in the NHL, but needs at least a full AHL season. I went last night for his pro debut against the P Bruins. He was fine. A little shaky on a few breakouts, but I think that's an adjustment to the speed of the AHL vs. NCAA. I'd certainly rather he was a Bruins prospect, but I want to see Kessel, Lopina and Trivigno all do well after UMass.

 

[stl76]

I've seen a ton of UMass hockey the last three years and Kessel took a massive step forward this year. Showed a lot of poise, moved the puck really well and seems to have grown into his height and isn't quite so lanky anymore. He's definitely going to play in the NHL, but needs at least a full AHL season. I went last night for his pro debut against the P Bruins. He was fine. A little shaky on a few breakouts, but I think that's an adjustment to the speed of the AHL vs. NCAA. I'd certainly rather he was a Bruins prospect, but I want to see Kessel, Lopina and Trivigno all do well after UMass.

Didn’t get to see any UMass games other then the OT in their final game (I would apologize for jinxing them, but that L was all on their bottom pairing, not me haha). Glad to hear Kessel has developed his game this year! I think some folks saw his scoring go down and worried that he had stagnated. Sounds like Morrow just got some of the more offensive minutes while Kessel had to step into a bigger all around role.

I’m excited to see how his game translates to higher levels! Please keep us updated if you get to see any more of his AHL games or have any other thoughts on his development. Always appreciate hearing/reading first hand reports.