Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[MortiestOfMortys]

Jiricek was such a bullheaded dumb pick. They got their mind set on him and then wouldn’t budge. He has bust stamped on his forehead already in my opinion. His brother not progressing either.

I've said this before, but I'll do it again.

When a hockey player severely injures their lower body like Jiricek last December, it makes training very difficult. They lose muscle mass in their lower body. This makes "boomerang" injuries more likely when they do eventually get back on the ice. The issue is compounded when they are in leagues (like in Czechia) which don't prioritize athletic development in the first place.

Jiricek plays an A+ skill game with a physical edge. This requires a level of physical fitness and durability he simply does not have and hasn't had time to develop. When he has played this year, my opinion is that his skill level is undeniable even despite his physical limitations. I've seen it in both Brantford and in the WJCs. If he can get his body to catch up to the game he wants to play, he'll be a monster.

Which is why this summer is going to be important for him. He will have access to more athletic resources than he ever has before. His body will have a chance to recover. He'll have an opportunity to hit the gym, and eat like 10 meals a day. Those are things you don't get a lot of time for during a CHL season.

Calling him a "bust" before that has transpired is premature at best. He is 18 until June. He has a super long runway, and a very translatable game. If the only thing holding him back is physical fitness, I'm personally not worried at all. It is of course possible that he just never stays healthy and the pick is a bust. For my money though, the flashes he's shown while playing half-healthy all season are enough to have at least some degree of confidence and extend a bit of patience in his development.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I've said this before, but I'll do it again.

When a hockey player severely injures their lower body like Jiricek last December, it makes training very difficult. They lose muscle mass in their lower body. This makes "boomerang" injuries more likely when they do eventually get back on the ice. The issue is compounded when they are in leagues (like in Czechia) which don't prioritize athletic development in the first place.

Jiricek plays an A+ skill game with a physical edge. This requires a level of physical fitness and durability he simply does not have and hasn't had time to develop. When he has played this year, my opinion is that his skill level is undeniable even despite his physical limitations. I've seen it in both Brantford and in the WJCs. If he can get his body to catch up to the game he wants to play, he'll be a monster.

Which is why this summer is going to be important for him. He will have access to more athletic resources than he ever has before. His body will have a chance to recover. He'll have an opportunity to hit the gym, and eat like 10 meals a day. Those are things you don't get a lot of time for during a CHL season.

Calling him a "bust" before that has transpired is premature at best. He is 18 until June. He has a super long runway, and a very translatable game. If the only thing holding him back is physical fitness, I'm personally not worried at all. It is of course possible that he just never stays healthy and the pick is a bust. For my money though, the flashes he's shown while playing half-healthy all season are enough to have at least some degree of confidence and extend a bit of patience in his development.

While I 100% agree with the sentiment here and agree it’s way too premature to call him a bust already, has his flashes really been that good this season? I’m admittedly mostly stat watching here but he has 12 pts in 27 games.

Here’s my main concern with him besides the injuries and lack of meat on his bones: he’s supposed to be an offensive d-man with high hockey IQ but he hasn’t been putting up overly impressive numbers. Ok, so then he could still be a defensive d-man. But the main knock on his game seems to be his D play - defending the rush, missing assignments etc. And this is at the Jr level. It’d be one thing if he was playing over his head play pros over in Europe but this is against his peers. So what exactly does he excel at? Where’s he going to make his mark to be a valuable asset at the NHL level?

 

[bleedblue1223]

While I 100% agree with the sentiment here and agree it’s way too premature to call him a bust already, has his flashes really been that good this season? I’m admittedly mostly stat watching here but he has 12 pts in 27 games.

Here’s my main concern with him besides the injuries and lack of meat on his bones: he’s supposed to be an offensive d-man with high hockey IQ but he hasn’t been putting up overly impressive numbers. Ok, so then he could still be a defensive d-man. But the main knock on his game seems to be his D play - defending the rush, missing assignments etc. And this is at the Jr level. It’d be one thing if he was playing over his head play pros over in Europe but this is against his peers. So what exactly does he excel at? Where’s he going to make his mark to be a valuable asset at the NHL level?

I haven't really watched him either, and I do feel part of it is, he's never been able to get into a real rhythm with how many games he's missed, and that'll partly explain his stats. You can obviously see some raw potential in his game, but he needs a full season of hockey.

 

[joe galiba]

That’s good. Hopefully he can stay healthy this time.

I’m usually the first to say that fans just need to give teenagers time to put on muscle but this kid is continually getting knocked out of games. He really needs to put on some muscle and add some strength this summer. He’s just soo skinny.

View attachment 1011185

I was 6'2 and 165 lbs at the end of my senior year of high school when I was 18
at the end of my freshman year of college I was 190 lbs with absolutely no fat on me and I didn't do anything except get a year older while playing random intramural sports

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I haven't really watched him either, and I do feel part of it is, he's never been able to get into a real rhythm with how many games he's missed, and that'll partly explain his stats. You can obviously see some raw potential in his game, but he needs a full season of hockey.

Which is exactly my concern with Jiricek. He’s missed so much time at a critical point in his development. And it’s really hard to make that ground up.

 

[ToastedRavioli]

I'm not super high on Jiricek but if you want a prospect with dynamic, game-breaking top 4 potential at 16th overall, you'll probably also have to accept some serious flaws, low floors, small size, or injury issues. Blues Have Lindstein, Ralph, and Fischer who can more safely project into NHL defenseman. I don't mind taking a homerun swing at a guy with some serious issues if he has a game-breaking ceiling. Obviously it would have been better if we were able to get Buium but they did attempt to trade up, it simply wasn't in the cards.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Which is exactly my concern with Jiricek. He’s missed so much time at a critical point in his development. And it’s really hard to make that ground up.

I'm basically at the point where he's somewhat off my radar, not that I think he's a bust, but until he has a full season, there's no point in much of an evaluation. Back in my athlete days, and I tore my ACL that was right when I was able to start putting on muscle after a pretty significant growth spurt. Recovery for that was a pain because it wasn't just the initial injury, but then it was playing catch up on the rest of my body and getting it ready for the next level of competition. I do think that's a pretty significant factor for him.

I'm not too worried about him developing the hockey skills aspect of his game and reads and all that, the injuries might just mean he has a longer timeline than a typical 1st round pick, but getting a more mature body and staying healthy is what he needs more than anything.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I was 6'2 and 165 lbs at the end of my senior year of high school when I was 18
at the end of my freshman year of college I was 190 lbs with absolutely no fat on me and I didn't do anything except get a year older while playing random intramural sports

Yeah, but you weren't burning the same amount of calories as a junior hockey player. Putting on weight is a prevalent problem for junior hockey players, Jiriceck isn't unique in that.

While I 100% agree with the sentiment here and agree it’s way too premature to call him a bust already, has his flashes really been that good this season? I’m admittedly mostly stat watching here but he has 12 pts in 27 games.

Here’s my main concern with him besides the injuries and lack of meat on his bones: he’s supposed to be an offensive d-man with high hockey IQ but he hasn’t been putting up overly impressive numbers. Ok, so then he could still be a defensive d-man. But the main knock on his game seems to be his D play - defending the rush, missing assignments etc. And this is at the Jr level. It’d be one thing if he was playing over his head play pros over in Europe but this is against his peers. So what exactly does he excel at? Where’s he going to make his mark to be a valuable asset at the NHL level?

I mean, that's why they're called "flashes". bleedblue already called it out, but it's awfully hard to be at the top of your game when you're in and out of the lineup, missing weeks between games, and then playing "safe" to avoid hurting yourself again when you get back.

The WJCs were a pretty good glimpse of Jiricek playing confidently. He has tremendous vision in the offensive zone, and is very good at manipulating defenses to move guys in/out of spaces. He has very active feet, he's always skating to gain / take away space. Lots of subtle little moves. He had some brain farts defensively for sure, but I thought he was decent at clearing the crease and making the first pass in transition.

 

[joe galiba]

Yeah, but you weren't burning the same amount of calories as a junior hockey player. Putting on weight is a prevalent problem for junior hockey players, Jiriceck isn't unique in that.

I mean, that's why they're called "flashes". bleedblue already called it out, but it's awfully hard to be at the top of your game when you're in and out of the lineup, missing weeks between games, and then playing "safe" to avoid hurting yourself again when you get back.

The WJCs were a pretty good glimpse of Jiricek playing confidently. He has tremendous vision in the offensive zone, and is very good at manipulating defenses to move guys in/out of spaces. He has very active feet, he's always skating to gain / take away space. Lots of subtle little moves. He had some brain farts defensively for sure, but I thought he was decent at clearing the crease and making the first pass in transition.

my point was I was able to put the weight on naturally with a similar frame, working with professional strength coaches he will have no problems at all putting the weight on, he may struggle keeping all the weight on in season at first, but by the time he is 21 or 22 when he should be starting to push for a NHL spot, I don't see his weight and strength being any kind of issue, unless he doesn't put in the work

 

[greybush314]

Cayden Lindstrom, last year’s 4th overall pick, is leaving the WHL for Michigan State too. He’s missed this entire season to his back injury.

Their top player, Isaac Howard, hasn’t signed with the Lightning yet either. Apparently it’s not because he’s not sure if he wants to turn pro but because TB simply doesn’t have the cap space to be able to add him to his roster and he’s not interested in going to the AHL. He wants to burn a year off his contract.
MSU hockey star Isaac Howard reportedly in 'staring contest' with Tampa Bay Lightning

Would be funny if Howard returns to Mich St just to spurn the Lightning and then sign with whoever he wants next summer. I doubt that happens though. He’ll eventually sign with the Lightning.

Howard would make much more in NIL going back to college than he'd make playing in the AHL next year. If Tampa won't let him burn a elc year this year then why sign?

BTW college hockey is about to get super competitive. Foreign born players are going to start coming over and going to college to get NIL money and gain leverage over the team that drafts them.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I was 6'2 and 165 lbs at the end of my senior year of high school when I was 18
at the end of my freshman year of college I was 190 lbs with absolutely no fat on me and I didn't do anything except get a year older while playing random intramural sports

While true, I’ll add that if Jiricek was in school, he’d be finishing up his freshman year in college in a couple weeks. Think he’ll be 190 lbs by then?

So yes, many teenagers are typical skinny and eventually put on the weight. But even given that context, he’s still behind the curve. And I’m sure the injuries aren’t helping him make gains in the gym. But the problem is the inverse is also likely true - his frail frame is likely a factor in making him more injury prone.

 

[execwrite1]

Jiricek will be a top-pair Blues d-man in 4 years.

Book it.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Howard would make much more in NIL going back to college than he'd make playing in the AHL next year. If Tampa won't let him burn a elc year this year then why sign?

BTW college hockey is about to get super competitive. Foreign born players are going to start coming over and going to college to get NIL money and gain leverage over the team that drafts them.

How much NIL money do you think he’ll make? I’ve been reading lately that he could get as much as $100k in NIL money. But that still doesn’t match playing in the AHL. In the AHL he’d make $95k as a signing bonus and then probably $83k in salary. And that’s with 0 NHL games. He’d be paid at his NHL rate ($950k/year) for any days he’s on the NHL roster (about $5000/day). So the way I see it, he’d need to make at least $200k in NIL money to make more than playing in the AHL. Will he be able to make that much at Mich St? The amounts these kids make is still pretty unknown but I doubt it’s that much.

IMO, the NIL money is enough to justify delaying his career a year to give him the leverage to try to get TB to blink. And if they don’t blink, then the NIL money is enough to justify him being able to pick his destination in a year as a UFA, be the big man on campus and have one more year of his pick of coeds as the big man on campus. Oh, and go for a Natty on a stacked team.

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

I've said this before, but I'll do it again.

When a hockey player severely injures their lower body like Jiricek last December, it makes training very difficult. They lose muscle mass in their lower body. This makes "boomerang" injuries more likely when they do eventually get back on the ice. The issue is compounded when they are in leagues (like in Czechia) which don't prioritize athletic development in the first place.

Jiricek plays an A+ skill game with a physical edge. This requires a level of physical fitness and durability he simply does not have and hasn't had time to develop. When he has played this year, my opinion is that his skill level is undeniable even despite his physical limitations. I've seen it in both Brantford and in the WJCs. If he can get his body to catch up to the game he wants to play, he'll be a monster.

Which is why this summer is going to be important for him. He will have access to more athletic resources than he ever has before. His body will have a chance to recover. He'll have an opportunity to hit the gym, and eat like 10 meals a day. Those are things you don't get a lot of time for during a CHL season.

Calling him a "bust" before that has transpired is premature at best. He is 18 until June. He has a super long runway, and a very translatable game. If the only thing holding him back is physical fitness, I'm personally not worried at all. It is of course possible that he just never stays healthy and the pick is a bust. For my money though, the flashes he's shown while playing half-healthy all season are enough to have at least some degree of confidence and extend a bit of patience in his development.

I get it, nobody likes to say the word bust. And frankly, we all have our opinions, right or wrong. I called Perunovich a bust 3 years ago and pretty safe to say he is. Now granted, he was a 2nd rounder, so they are hit or miss anyway. I just don’t see it with Jiricek and add in all the injuries, and my gut tells me he doesn’t pan out. Here’s to hoping I’m 10000% wrong and he turns into a top 4 beast. But saying I’m wrong is no more accurate than me saying you are wrong. Both are just respectful opinions. Now Fischer, that’s the guy I think turns into a helluva an NHL player, just like his dad.

 

[BlueMed]

While I 100% agree with the sentiment here and agree it’s way too premature to call him a bust already, has his flashes really been that good this season? I’m admittedly mostly stat watching here but he has 12 pts in 27 games.

Here’s my main concern with him besides the injuries and lack of meat on his bones: he’s supposed to be an offensive d-man with high hockey IQ but he hasn’t been putting up overly impressive numbers. Ok, so then he could still be a defensive d-man. But the main knock on his game seems to be his D play - defending the rush, missing assignments etc. And this is at the Jr level. It’d be one thing if he was playing over his head play pros over in Europe but this is against his peers. So what exactly does he excel at? Where’s he going to make his mark to be a valuable asset at the NHL level?

12 points in 27 games is the same exact stat line Brock Faber had in his D+1 season. Although the Big-10 and the OHL are different leagues, it speaks to the type of player Jiricek is: a 2-way all-situations defensemen with a physical edge. Give him all the time he needs.

 

[Mike Liut]

Do you guys remember Petro’s first call up? He looked like a complete bust. I have zero concerns about Juricek at this point. The only thing I care about is him staying healthy and developing.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Fischer made his Springfield debut tonight. Looked good defending the rush, erasing guys along the board. Made an overly aggressive pinch which led to goal against, but from what I saw he didn’t look out of place even as 18 year old in tough men’s league. Definitely one to watch.

FWIW, Stenberg made beautiful steal and pass to set up 1st goal.

 

[stl76]

Fischer made his Springfield debut tonight. Looked good defending the rush, erasing guys along the board. Made an overly aggressive pinch which led to goal against, but from what I saw he didn’t look out of place even as 18 year old in tough men’s league. Definitely one to watch.

FWIW, Stenberg made beautiful steal and pass to set up 1st goal.

Has Stancl been getting much ice time?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Has Stancl been getting much ice time?

@PerryTurnbullfan is probably best person to ask. My feed tonight kept freezing so I didn’t watch for that long.

 

[STL fan in MN]

12 points in 27 games is the same exact stat line Brock Faber had in his D+1 season. Although the Big-10 and the OHL are different leagues, it speaks to the type of player Jiricek is: a 2-way all-situations defensemen with a physical edge. Give him all the time he needs.

First off, kudos for finding a quality d-man that has the exact same pts and games played in their D+1 season.

But I’m going to have to point out that Faber only played 27 games that year due to it being the fubar covid year, not bc he was in and out of the lineup with 5ish separate injuries.

But yes, give Jiricek all the time he needs. I’m in no way in favor of rushing him. I wasn’t a huge fan of the pick but he’s a Blue now so I’m rooting for him. Specifically this summer, I’m rooting for him to be a gym beast and consume as many calories as he can.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

@PerryTurnbullfan is probably best person to ask. My feed tonight kept freezing so I didn’t watch for that long.

He’s been getting his share plus some 2nd PP. I think he needs to finish his checks and get stronger. For a big guy, he has good deception with the puck. A couple years in the AHL and he will be a good prospect. Much like Dvo, he has some things to improve on and work on. Keep in mind for linemates in the AHL, some serious stonehanded players that shoot the puck in the goalies chest. So guys like Stancl, Stenberg, Kaski, etc., look for how many chances or turnovers they create. Hugh McGings are in the AHL for a reason.
There are teams full of Scott Walkers and Tyler Tuckers that these young kids need to learn to outplay, outhustle, and outsmart. I like this development plan.

Fischer looked really good out there taking angles away and making safe plays. Had a play to show off his speed and caught someone on a breakaway. That was impressive closing speed. We have something here. Potential top 4 if he continues to get stronger and grow his game.

 

[Mike Liut]

He’s been getting his share plus some 2nd PP. I think he needs to finish his checks and get stronger. For a big guy, he has good deception with the puck. A couple years in the AHL and he will be a good prospect. Much like Dvo, he has some things to improve on and work on. Keep in mind for linemates in the AHL, some serious stonehanded players that shoot the puck in the goalies chest. So guys like Stancl, Stenberg, Kaski, etc., look for how many chances or turnovers they create. Hugh McGings are in the AHL for a reason.
There are teams full of Scott Walkers and Tyler Tuckers that these young kids need to learn to outplay, outhustle, and outsmart. I like this development plan.

Fischer looked really good out there taking angles away and making safe plays. Had a play to show off his speed and caught someone on a breakaway. That was impressive closing speed. We have something here. Potential top 4 if he continues to get stronger and grow his game.

If Army makes a blockbuster for a 2C, I’m really hoping Fischer isn’t involved. I have a good feeling about him.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

If Army makes a blockbuster for a 2C, I’m really hoping Fischer isn’t involved. I have a good feeling about him.

If he makes a blockbuster trade for a 2C or a top 4 rhd man, then the Blues better be ready to trade Bolduc, Neighbors, and a 1st. I'm not. They are not that easy to come by. Holloway can be a 2C and we have plenty of LHD that play the right side. I'm not ready to sell the fort for someone that some other team wants a drastic over payment for or doesn't want in their pool anymore and we find out why that is. Just my thoughts anyway.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Has anyone heard anything about Jecho reporting to Springfield?

 

[bleedblue1223]

Let's not play mental gymnastics in convincing ourselves Jiriceks's stats this season have been good. He has not had a good statistical season for a prospect of his caliber in the league that he plays in. It's been a borderline lost season for him.