Prospect Info: Blues 2023-2024 Prospect Thread

[Mike Liut]

Bolduc, Snuggs and Dean are all 20 years and Dvo is 18. And Neighbors is only 21. That’s crazy. They have so much development ahead of them.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Happy for Bolduc. Hopefully he makes a good impression. Nice little bonus that our next game is against the Isles and his former Jr coach. He’s looked pretty good the last month or two.

 

[TheOrganist]

Give me Bolduc any day over watching Kasperi f***ing Kapanen. Put him on a scoring line and give him a chance. Sometimes younger, skilled guys actually perform better in the show than in the minors when they are playing with more talented players.

 

[Majorityof1]

Bolduc, Snuggs and Dean are all 20 years and Dvo is 18. And Neighbors is only 21. That’s crazy. They have so much development ahead of them.

How is it crazy that the guy we drafted at 18 3 years ago is 21, the guys that were drafted 2 years ago at 18 are 20, and the guy we just drafted at 18 is 18? That's just math. Works the same for every team. It'd be crazy is Thomas was still 21

 

[Brian39]

Bolduc, Snuggs and Dean are all 20 years and Dvo is 18. And Neighbors is only 21. That’s crazy. They have so much development ahead of them.

Snuggs doesn't turn 20 until June. If he gets a look in the pros this year after his NCAA season is done, he will play those games as a teenager.

 

[Frenzy31]

How is it crazy that the guy we drafted at 18 3 years ago is 21, the guys that were drafted 2 years ago at 18 are 20, and the guy we just drafted at 18 is 18? That's just math. Works the same for every team. It'd be crazy is Thomas was still 21

Except that many players drafted when Neighbors was are 22. We have been drafting kids that tend to be younger then their peer in their draft year.

 

[stl76]

Article from Korac with some good quotes from Bannister, Schenn, and Bolduc:

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/latest-news/bolduc-set-to-make-nhl-debut-for-blues-on-thursday-against-islanders

 

[Frenzy31]

That is a very interesting article. At no point in the recent past have we moved a prospect up and given him top 6 minutes. Usually start on the bottom line and work you way up. But it shows how weak our 2nd line is that he is jumping in and moving up to top 6.

Not sure if I like it as he hasn't really had to earn it al la some of the other players. But... Now it is up to him.

 

[bleedblue1223]

That is a very interesting article. At no point in the recent past have we moved a prospect up and given him top 6 minutes. Usually start on the bottom line and work you way up. But it shows how weak our 2nd line is that he is jumping in and moving up to top 6.

Not sure if I like it as he hasn't really had to earn it al la some of the other players. But... Now it is up to him.

We should see what his actual minutes look like. While someone like Scwhartz genuinely started on the 4th line, Thomas and Kyrou started in the top 9.

Tage Thompson is the one where I see the similarities with, and that's the concerning part. Thompson made the team out of camp, and meant to be on a top 9 role. He flopped after 4 games, was decent, but not great in the minors, and called up because of injuries and ineffectiveness of other forwards.

Both Bolduc and Thompson are/were called up before they wanted and not because they were dominating the minors and ready, but because of conditions on the big club.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Blues prospects featured on the cover of The Hockey News:

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Speaking of...does anyone know where to purchase The Hockey News locally? I'd like to get my hands on one of those before the sell out.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Speaking of...does anyone know where to purchase The Hockey News locally? I'd like to get my hands on one of those before the sell out.

Not sure locally, the issue is sold out on their site, but if you really want it, you could subscribe and pick that as your free issue. 34.95

FREE GIFT ISSUE + 13 ISSUES + FREE SHIPPING + FREE ARCHIVE + NO TAXES

 

[Drubilly]

Speaking of...does anyone know where to purchase The Hockey News locally? I'd like to get my hands on one of those before the sell out.

Barnes and Noble still a thing?

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Barnes and Noble still a thing?

The one in West County still exists. I may drop by there soon and try to snag one.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Dean has 4 points in last 5 games.

 

[Kylester]

Dean has 4 points in last 5 games.

...including the game winner last night in 6-3 win over Hartford. Ellis made 35 saves out of 38 shots on goal.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

...including the game winner last night in 6-3 win over Hartford. Ellis made 35 saves out of 38 shots on goal.

Ellis is in Springfield? what are they doing with the goalies there? someone hurt?

 

[Kylester]

Dean has 4 points in last 5 games.

Click here for highlights: T-Birds 6, Hartford 3

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Ellis is in Springfield? what are they doing with the goalies there? someone hurt?

Zherenko is hurt. Not sure what injury is, but that is when Ellis got recalled. and Ellis has been (statistically, I haven’t watched) by far the best of the 3 goalies they have.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Ellis is in Springfield? what are they doing with the goalies there? someone hurt?

Zherenko is hurt.

I'm not sure what to think of Ellis, but if he pulls a Binnington and is a late bloomer, I'm good with that.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Zherenko is hurt.

I'm not sure what to think of Ellis, but if he pulls a Binnington and is a late bloomer, I'm good with that.

It’s not out of realm of possibility. There are similarities. Both were really good in juniors but a bit undersized. Neither was ever really expected to be the guy. Obviously not saying Ellis will be as good as binner or lead us to Cup, but he could well end up a good nhl goalie. Of course, it’s 4 game AHL hot streak, so it may just be a fluke and he settles back into an echl guy.

 

[Kylester]

It’s not out of realm of possibility. There are similarities. Both were really good in juniors but a bit undersized. Neither was ever really expected to be the guy. Obviously not saying Ellis will be as good as binner or lead us to Cup, but he could well end up a good nhl goalie. Of course, it’s 4 game AHL hot streak, so it may just be a fluke and he settles back into an echl guy

One other thing to consider: Isn't this the last season of Ellis' entry-level contract? If so and he continues playing well, do the Blues consider signing him to a two-way contract so he can stay in Springfield?

 

[STL fan in MN]

One other thing to consider: Isn't this the last season of Ellis' entry-level contract? If so and he continues playing well, do the Blues consider signing him to a two-way contract so he can stay in Springfield?

Yes, absolutely. Not only would they consider that, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t re-signed.

Binny and Hofer in STL
Zherenko and Ellis in Springfield
Cranley in Orlando (or whatever ECHL team we find for him)

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Zherenko is hurt.

I'm not sure what to think of Ellis, but if he pulls a Binnington and is a late bloomer, I'm good with that.

FWIW, Ellis had one of the best statistical freshman seasons in QMJHL history. It's very rare for a 16 year-old in that league to start 50+ games in net, post 5+ blank sheets, or have a sv% over .910, let alone all three. He's always had a lot of potential, and starting his pro career in the East Coast league has been more of a function of having a stacked stable of goalies and wanting to support them with vets in Springfield rather than him not being good enough. He's 23 now, so the clock is definitely ticking for him, but I definitely wouldn't count him out.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Yes, absolutely. Not only would they consider that, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t re-signed.

Binny and Hofer in STL
Zherenko and Ellis in Springfield
Cranley in Orlando (or whatever ECHL team we find for him)

Did I dream that the Blues were working on a deal with an ECHL affiliate for next season or is that actually happening?