Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I'm excited to see him in a Blue Note, but I think I'd rather see him in the Frozen Four, then join after.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I want Snuggy to win so he doesn't have anything holding him back when he comes up.

 

[Spektre]

I want Snuggy to win so he doesn't have anything holding him back when he comes up.

I hope Snuggerud gets bounced the first round for a couple of reasons.
1. Selfishly want to see him in the NHL
2. I think it might be the best possible outcome. If he gets bounced in the first round, he'll obviously be disappointed/upset. I think most competitive people find it easier to get motivated by a disappointment rather than achieving the ultimate goal. If by some miracle his team wins the entire tournament, he would be emotionally more drained. It seems like it would be harder mentally, after achieving what is to him the ultimate success with his current team, to then get to the next level in the NHL.

Just my thoughts anyway

 

[MissouriMook]

I'm excited to see him in a Blue Note, but I think I'd rather see him in the Frozen Four, then join after.

If Minnesota makes the championship game, win or lose, there will only be one regular season game left on the Blues’ schedule when his college season ends. If Minnesota wins it all, he’s 100% going back to school for a few days to celebrate before he even thinks about going pro. Not sure what the rules are anymore to know if he could even join the team for the playoffs.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

If Minnesota makes the championship game, win or lose, there will only be one regular season game left on the Blues’ schedule when his college season ends. If Minnesota wins it all, he’s 100% going back to school for a few days to celebrate before he even thinks about going pro. Not sure what the rules are anymore to know if he could even join the team for the playoffs.

They ain't gonna win. I'd be surprised if they even make Frozen Four.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Snuggerud and the Gophers have to get through #3 seed UMass and (presumably) #1 seed Western Michigan next weekend to make it to the Frozen Four in St. Louis. If they don’t make it through, we could see him in the Note as soon as April 1 at home against the Red Wings.

Minny should win against UMass but it depends on what teams show up. Both these teams have been pretty inconsistent this team. UMass beat #1 BC but also has losses to Sacred Heart, Vermont, Northeastern and Merrimack. Minnesota has losses against Bemidji St, Notre Dame etc and didn’t beat any teams ranked above them (2 ties and 2 losses against the Spartans).

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

I hope Snuggerud gets bounced the first round for a couple of reasons.
1. Selfishly want to see him in the NHL
2. I think it might be the best possible outcome. If he gets bounced in the first round, he'll obviously be disappointed/upset. I think most competitive people find it easier to get motivated by a disappointment rather than achieving the ultimate goal. If by some miracle his team wins the entire tournament, he would be emotionally more drained. It seems like it would be harder mentally, after achieving what is to him the ultimate success with his current team, to then get to the next level in the NHL.

Just my thoughts anyway

Ill say it--You aren't selfish. He was for going back. I really hope we see him at some point as a Blue. I'm having my doubts.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Blues signed Fisher and Jecho this morning. No word on whether Fisher will join Springfield for playoff push (Jecho’s Edmonton team actually plays Mrsic’s team in playoffs).

 

[Mike Liut]

Blues signed Fisher and Jecho this morning. No word on whether Fisher will join Springfield for playoff push (Jecho’s Edmonton team actually plays Mrsic’s team in playoffs).

Really looking forward to seeing these guys in Springfield soon. Stancl, Pekarcik, Ralph, McIsaac and Kos too.

 

[Beauterham]

Really looking forward to seeing these guys in Springfield soon. Stancl, Pekarcik, Ralph, McIsaac and Kos too.

Stancl: will probably join Springfield soon.

Pekarcik, Burns: can join AHL after their team is eliminated from the playoffs, will play in AHL next season.

Fischer: can join AHL immediatly untill end of season, will start new season in OHL.

Jiricek: can join AHL after his team is eliminated untill end of season, STL have a choice to start him either in the OHL or AHL next season.

Mayich: if STL decide to give him an ELC (?), he can join AHL immediatly. STL will lose his rights after this season.

McIsaac, Mrsic, Jecho, Dorion: can join AHL after their team is eliminated untill end of season, will start new season in WHL (McIsaac, Mrsic, Jecho) or QMJHL (Dorion).

Ralph: will finish his season in the NCAA, will start next season in NCAA. ETA to AHL is end of next season or year after that.

Snuggerud: will finish his season in the NCAA, then very likely to STL.

Kos: will finish his season in Finland, will likely play next season in Liiga again (the Kaskimaki route) but can also go to the OHL (Kitchener).

Lindstein: will finish his season in Sweden, 50/50 if he will start in SHL or AHL next season.

Korotky, (26/27) Vorobyev (24/25), Susuyev (26/27) Koromyslov (25/26): will finish season in Russia. Can come over as soon as their contracts end or is bought out. (Unless Vorobyev resigns in Russia he could come over as soon as his season ends).


To play in the AHL, players need to either have an ELC or ATO (or both, so ELC starts next season.

All players can start in the NHL as soon as they've signed an ELC at the start of the season or the end of the season of their respective youth leagues.

 

[Mike Liut]

Stancl: will probably join Springfield soon.

Pekarcik, Burns: can join AHL after their team is eliminated from the playoffs, will play in AHL next season.

Fischer: can join AHL immediatly untill end of season, will start new season in OHL.

Jiricek: can join AHL after his team is eliminated untill end of season, STL have a choice to start him either in the OHL or AHL next season.

Mayich: if STL decide to give him an ELC (?), he can join AHL immediatly. STL will lose his rights after this season.

McIsaac, Mrsic, Jecho, Dorion: can join AHL after their team is eliminated untill end of season, will start new season in WHL (McIsaac, Mrsic, Jecho) or QMJHL (Dorion).

Ralph: will finish his season in the NCAA, will start next season in NCAA. ETA to AHL is end of next season or year after that.

Snuggerud: will finish his season in the NCAA, then very likely to STL.

Kos: will finish his season in Finland, will likely play next season in Liiga again (the Kaskimaki route) but can also go to the OHL (Kitchener).

Lindstein: will finish his season in Sweden, 50/50 if he will start in SHL or AHL next season.

Korotky, (26/27) Vorobyev (24/25), Susuyev (26/27) Koromyslov (25/26): will finish season in Russia. Can come over as soon as their contracts end or is bought out.


All players can start in the NHL as soon as they've signed an ELC at the start of the season or the end of the season of their respective youth leagues.

Great info. Thanks. I’m not sure I see any top line forwards or top pairing Dman I’m our pool, but we have a plethora of really good players with size, physicality and tenacity. (Add in Stenberg and Dvorsky too who are both in Springfield)

 

[Beauterham]

Great info. Thanks. I’m not sure I see any top line forwards or top pairing Dman I’m our pool, but we have a plethora of really good players with size, physicality and tenacity. (Add in Stenberg and Dvorsky too who are both in Springfield)

Lindstein has a chance of being a supplementary top pairing D-man and I'm not ready to give up on Jiricek yet, although he really needs to find a way to stay fit. Fischer and Burns could still turn into second pairing guys. Koromyslov is a bit of an enigma to me.

On Forward Snuggerud, Dvorsky and Stenberg have top-6 potential. I see Stancl, Pekarcik, Kaskimaki as guys with middle-6 upside. Korotky and Mrsic are 2 huge boom/bust prospects who could either end up as middle-6 forwards, albeit unlikely, or nothing at all.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Antoine Dorion is on a bad Quebec Remparts team, but he's 11th in scoring on that bad team. There is not a world in which that is deserving of an ELC. It's hard to get too mad about a 7th round pick, but we picked Korotky two picks later and he's turned out to be "something." The Dorion pick seemed to be an obvious throw-away from the get-go.

 

[SirPaste]

Antoine Dorion is on a bad Quebec Remparts team, but he's 11th in scoring on that bad team. There is not a world in which that is deserving of an ELC. It's hard to get too mad about a 7th round pick, but we picked Korotky two picks later and he's turned out to be "something." The Dorion pick seemed to be an obvious throw-away from the get-go.

Wasn't it speculated that it was a favor to his dad?

 

[Frenzy31]

Ill say it--You aren't selfish. He was for going back. I really hope we see him at some point as a Blue. I'm having my doubts.

He wasn't selfish for going back. He had unfinished business and wanted to do so - He was chosing to turn down money (I don't think hockey NIL money makes up the lost contract and contract year).. I know fans think the players owe them something or owe the team that drafted them something, but they don't. Players should honor their contracts, play hard, but beyond that.. If you are able to leave or sign an offer sheet - the rules say you can do so. Yes, that is frustrating and we can boo them, but they really don't "owe it to the fans."

I am not having any doubts about him coming to St. Louis and I think we would have moved on from him if Armstrong did feel that way. Granted we have seen team USA players force things multiple times (usually off of Canadian teams, but).

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Ill say it--You aren't selfish. He was for going back. I really hope we see him at some point as a Blue. I'm having my doubts.

He wasn't ready for the NHL this season and this was very important to him and his family that he go back to try and win a National Championship. Ridiculous how much hate he's getting for going back for a final season.

By all accounts in the know he's signing after the season. Not sure why anyone is concerned at this point. It never had anything to do with not wanting to play for the Blues.

 

[Mike Liut]

Lindstein has a chance of being a supplementary top pairing D-man and I'm not ready to give up on Jiricek yet, although he really needs to find a way to stay fit. Fischer and Burns could still turn into second pairing guys. Koromyslov is a bit of an enigma to me.

On Forward Snuggerud, Dvorsky and Stenberg have top-6 potential. I see Stancl, Pekarcik, Kaskimaki as guys with middle-6 upside. Korotky and Mrsic are 2 huge boom/bust prospects who could either end up as middle-6 forwards, albeit unlikely, or nothing at all.

Agree

 

[LGB]

He wasn't ready for the NHL this season and this was very important to him and his family that he go back to try and win a National Championship. Ridiculous how much hate he's getting for going back for a final season.

By all accounts in the know he's signing after the season. Not sure why anyone is concerned at this point. It never had anything to do with not wanting to play for the Blues.

I agree, but I do get why people are concerned.

 

[Stelmacki]

Ill say it--You aren't selfish. He was for going back. I really hope we see him at some point as a Blue. I'm having my doubts.

Just want to clear up one thing. He was NOT selfish for going back.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Wasn't it speculated that it was a favor to his dad?

It probably was, but it would have been purely a personal favor rather than one with any material benefits to us. Pierre was fired in like 2023. Like I said before, nothing worth getting too worked up about given the draft position we're talking about, but it does feel a bit silly in hindsight. Hopefully, it just doesn't go any further than getting a warm body for camp and rookie tournament rosters.

 

[Beauterham]

Former Blues prospect Noah Beck signs with San Jose. Went from Clarkson to Arizona and had a really decent bounce back season.

 

[ezcreepin]

Great info. Thanks. I’m not sure I see any top line forwards or top pairing Dman I’m our pool, but we have a plethora of really good players with size, physicality and tenacity. (Add in Stenberg and Dvorsky too who are both in Springfield)

Top line forwards, maybe not, but I do see top 6 potential in a few players. Snuggerud is the obvious choice as one of those, but I think Pekarcik and Mrsic have a chance to develop into top 6 players if everything goes according to plan. Of the two, I think Pekarcik has the higher floor and higher likelihood to become a top 6 player just based on his play style and size, but Mrsic has a Kyrou-like trajectory if he can continue to progress. If I were making predictions on projection, I think Pekarcik has a maybe 20-25% chance to become a top 6 player, but probably an 80% chance to be a 3rd liner (wouldn't want him as a 4th liner but I think he would easily be that caliber of player). Mrsic however probably has a 10% chance at being a top 6 player, MAYBE 50-ish% to be a 3rd liner, and I don't think his skillset is tailored to the 4th line. Mrsic could end up being a Kyrou, Donato, or a Gaudette type player - skilled high point contributor, serviceable 3rd liner who can put up 35-40 points, or massive AHL tweener.

Defenseman are more sus for me, but I think there are some candidates, though your assessment in my opinion is more accurate. I don't see anyone who screams top pairing defender. As far as the Russians, they're so hard to project, but I think Korotky might be the best of the forward bunch, but that doesn't say too much about him. Koromyslov has been playing well on each of the teams he's been on so *shrug*

 

[ToastedRavioli]

Minnesota plays UMass tomorrow for their first game of the tournament. This is not a particularly amazing Minnesota team. Decent chance they are out within the first two rounds. I think Snuggerud genuinely has a chance to be an upgrade at 3RW over Joseph. Here are how many games in the regular season we will have left depending on when Minnesota loses:

Round one loss (3/27): 8 games remaining
Round two loss (3/29): 7 games remaining
Frozen Four loss (4/10): 2 games remaining
Finals win/loss (4/12): 1 game remaining

I am somewhat worried on how losing another NCAA tournament will weigh on Snuggerud's decision to sign with the Blues, but I trust that Armstrong likely has some assurances that he will sign, or I suspect we might have moved him already or at least heard rumblings. If there are no issues with signing him, Minnesota losing in the first two rounds would be ideal. It would mean we would not have to rush him into the lineup or debut him in the playoffs.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I expect him to be here regardless of what happens. I'm not sure Monty puts him into the lineup until a playoff spot is locked up, and I think that's a pretty fair decision too. I'm now to the point that I hope he scores a ton and the Gophers win the championship.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I expect him to be here regardless of what happens. I'm not sure Monty puts him into the lineup until a playoff spot is locked up, and I think that's a pretty fair decision too. I'm now to the point that I hope he scores a ton and the Gophers win the championship.

We’ve seen players make their NHL debut in the postseason before. It’s not out of the realm of possibility he could do that, but it would probably mean a long playoff run with some wear and tear on the starters.

Ironically, since I’ve been supportive of them competing for a playoff spot - it’s still about the future. I have no problem subbing in a rookie to improve his development, even if it risks some uneven play. My argument has always been that the competitive games have more value to the team (and players’ development) than the incremental improvement in playoff standing. That’s especially true when you only really have a first this year.

However Montgomery has talked about dancing with the one that brought you, to the effect that I think he will respect the veteran players who fought their way back into the mix, and won’t easily give ice time to a rookie.