Prospect Info: Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[MortiestOfMortys]

Did they ever specify what the injury was?

 

[Beauterham]

ahh i didn't realize that, are we at 48 still?

47 According to Puckpedia. One additional contract slot is probably reserved for Snuggerud.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Seven Blues prospects still alive in the WJC and each will play two more games.

On the two that are out.

Pekarcik is decent but he's somewhere around #10 in our prospect pool maybe even lower. (I might like Jecho a little more, Jecho seems a smidge faster to pucks. Kos is there in the same grouping.)

Dvorsky is the top prospect we have. It feels like momentum will bring him up to the big club sooner than I want, because I don't think it's ready to consistently translate. I remain super confused by the idea that a 19 year old in a professional league isn't using a year of his ELC but I accept it. I am not attached either way to "burning a year" since less production before the next deal helps the team. That part isn't a factor, I just want him to be full time NHL next year and he doesn't seem quite fast enough yet. He'll likely get called up, get some quick production pop in limited minutes then a few games will go by and we'll think, "needs more time." It's just that he has lots of translatable NHL skills but the one that isn't quite there yet is actually limiting - the skating

I see the end-of-season call-up for Dvorsky (however late in the season that occurs) as a positive for his development even if what you describe is the case (that the game is too fast for him). He then gets the off-season and training camp to prepare himself for a KNOWN (what the NHL is actually like as a center). It wouldn't be out of the realm for him to start next season in the AHL again if necessary, but just to get him rolling with an eye to an earlier call-up. But hopefully he'd seize the opportunity in training camp and force the big club to keep him.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I think he helps Springfield in their playoff run. I don’t think he’ll be called up.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I think he helps Springfield in their playoff run. I don’t think he’ll be called up.

I’m on board with this. Let Dvo parlay this WJC experience to a great second half of the AHL season. No call-up unless the Blues make the playoffs and go on a run, which is unlikely to happen.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Snuggy has 1 goal and 1 assist so far tonight.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Snuggy has 1 goal and 1 assist so far tonight.

5 GOALS OR BUST

 

[BlueMed]

Snuggy has 1 goal and 1 assist so far tonight.

It will be very interesting to see who is better next season between Snuggerud and Bolduc.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I feel like regardless of what happens this season, the odds of Dvorsky playing in STL next season are pretty good. That said, a selfish part of me wants to see him stay in SPR and get time with Pekarcik, Stancl, Snuggerud, Dean, Kaskimaki, Robertsson, etc. I feel like having our “youth movement” mature together on the same team would be a good time. Especially if the Swedes come over too.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

It will be very interesting to see who is better next season between Snuggerud and Bolduc.

I want to see Snuggerud take charge of his team. Jimmy needs to take charge and not look back. I'm expecting a heavy, determined last 15 regular season games from him.

 

[bleedblue1223]

He has been. He also leads Big 10 in points during conference play, so it's not like its just production against bad teams.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

 

[ChicagoBlues]

He has been. He also leads Big 10 in points during conference play, so it's not like its just production against bad teams.

He's warmed up. The points are there. Let's see even more leadership come through. However, I think my expectations are a little misplaced when it comes to Snuggerud.

 

[PocketNines]

Great piece, thanks for posting. There is a worthy section worth underlining, which is how much confidence Liindstein got from playing so well in the previous WJC and how when he got back to his team it boosted him. This is why teams like having prospects who aren't already full time NHLers go there, it can level them up.

Lindstein went on to register eight points in seven games as an 18-year-old with the Swedes, helping them to the gold-medal game and a silver medal on a pairing with Canucks first-rounder Tom Willander. He was named to the tournament All-Star Team.​

​

And when he got back to Brynäs, he was a “totally different guy and player in a better way” according to Gallstedt and assistant coach Anders Carlsson.​

​

“He played more solid (and) I know what I get from him every day,” Gallstedt said. “Last year, after New Year, when he came home from the worlds, he was great — really, really good.”​

​

In the latter half of the year, he was paired primarily with former NHLer Jordie Benn and Carlsson said he really settled in nicely alongside him.​

​

“He had a lot of self-confidence when he came back. He was good before too but after the World Juniors last year, he took that all the way to the end. In the playoffs last year he was tremendous,” Carlsson said.​

​

By year’s end, Carlsson said he was a “top-three defenseman” for Brynäs in their run to promotion from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan into the top-flight SHL.​

This year I am looking squarely at Stancl, Ralph, and Jecho to see how they play after this tourney and whether it boosts them

 

[STL fan in MN]

When I watched him his draft year the comparable that came to mind was Jonas Brodin. But I can see Forsling too. Those are two pretty high caliber d-men though. It’s absolutely possible Lindstein gets to that level but I’m not sure we should downright expect it to happen. Even a decent #3-4 d-man would be a boon with the 29th overall pick.

But his skating and hockey sense are both way up there. ASP is the star of this Swedish defense but it’s the Lindstein-Willander taking the tougher defensive assignments. I’m hoping both USA and Sweden win today. The ‘05s from both countries have been the top two teams in their age group for 2-3 years now with the US consistently being a smidge better. But I’d like to see them match up one last time and wouldn’t be disappointed if Sweden finally got the monkey off their backs and claimed Gold.

I’d like to see Lindstein with Soringfield next season but if we have to wait another year then so be it. He’s not going to put up a ton of offense but he’s not an offensive black hole either. A very solid two-way d-man and exceptionally smart defensively. If he can continue on his trajectory, I could definitely see him being in the range of Brodin, Forsling, Slavin etc.

 

[Quaz]

When I watched him his draft year the comparable that came to mind was Jonas Brodin. But I can see Forsling too. Those are two pretty high caliber d-men though. It’s absolutely possible Lindstein gets to that level but I’m not sure we should downright expect it to happen. Even a decent #3-4 d-man would be a boon with the 29th overall pick.

But his skating and hockey sense are both way up there. ASP is the star of this Swedish defense but it’s the Lindstein-Willander taking the tougher defensive assignments. I’m hoping both USA and Sweden win today. The ‘05s from both countries have been the top two teams in their age group for 2-3 years now with the US consistently being a smidge better. But I’d like to see them match up one last time and wouldn’t be disappointed if Sweden finally got the monkey off their backs and claimed Gold.

I’d like to see Lindstein with Soringfield next season but if we have to wait another year then so be it. He’s not going to put up a ton of offense but he’s not an offensive black hole either. A very solid two-way d-man and exceptionally smart defensively. If he can continue on his trajectory, I could definitely see him being in the range of Brodin, Forsling, Slavin etc.

I would like to see him come over and play in Springfield next year as well. They could have Buchinger (who has impressed this year), Lindstein, and Jiricek in Springfield next year. Maybe they are worried they don’t have space for him there next year. I don’t know if it makes sense to keep Jiricek in Jrs next year. Plus they may have Burns moving up as well. They are loaded up with D within the organization. Maybe they will make some moves with Perunovich, Tucker, Leddy, and Suter.

 

[PocketNines]

When I watched him his draft year the comparable that came to mind was Jonas Brodin. But I can see Forsling too. Those are two pretty high caliber d-men though. It’s absolutely possible Lindstein gets to that level but I’m not sure we should downright expect it to happen. Even a decent #3-4 d-man would be a boon with the 29th overall pick.

But his skating and hockey sense are both way up there. ASP is the star of this Swedish defense but it’s the Lindstein-Willander taking the tougher defensive assignments. I’m hoping both USA and Sweden win today. The ‘05s from both countries have been the top two teams in their age group for 2-3 years now with the US consistently being a smidge better. But I’d like to see them match up one last time and wouldn’t be disappointed if Sweden finally got the monkey off their backs and claimed Gold.

I’d like to see Lindstein with Soringfield next season but if we have to wait another year then so be it. He’s not going to put up a ton of offense but he’s not an offensive black hole either. A very solid two-way d-man and exceptionally smart defensively. If he can continue on his trajectory, I could definitely see him being in the range of Brodin, Forsling, Slavin etc.

On my future imagined Blues Cup contender team

Lindstein-TBD
Broberg-Parayko
plenty of options including NHL veterans, or prospects like Ralph and L. Fischer

is TBD Jiricek? It's what they were hoping. But he has injury and production concerns for that imagined projection which is why I'm not making it

They need a John Carlson more than a Slavin, I was saying the other day

 

[Reality Czech]

I would like to see him come over and play in Springfield next year as well. They could have Buchinger (who has impressed this year), Lindstein, and Jiricek in Springfield next year. Maybe they are worried they don’t have space for him there next year. I don’t know if it makes sense to keep Jiricek in Jrs next year. Plus they may have Burns moving up as well. They are loaded up with D within the organization. Maybe they will make some moves with Perunovich, Tucker, Leddy, and Suter.

I'd say the decision is more on Lindstein's side than ours. Would you rather stay close to home and play in a men's league where you are already comfortable, or fly to a new country to play in a second-rate league with a tough travel schedule while earning a low salary? It's no surprise why Swedes and Finns often prefer to develop in their own home leagues rather than come over to the AHL, and the CHL for that matter.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I would like to see him come over and play in Springfield next year as well. They could have Buchinger (who has impressed this year), Lindstein, and Jiricek in Springfield next year. Maybe they are worried they don’t have space for him there next year. I don’t know if it makes sense to keep Jiricek in Jrs next year. Plus they may have Burns moving up as well. They are loaded up with D within the organization. Maybe they will make some moves with Perunovich, Tucker, Leddy, and Suter.

With his development stalled due to injury, I’d much rather Jiricek stay in Jrs. And as you point out, we’ll already have a log jam in Springfield so that’s another reason to keep him in Jrs.

Burns and Mayich will be 20 so ready to turn pro. Mayich may have to start in the ECHL if there’s not a spot for him in Springfield.

 

[Majorityof1]

I'd say the decision is more on Lindstein's side than ours. Would you rather stay close to home and play in a men's league where you are already comfortable, or fly to a new country to play in a second-rate league with a tough travel schedule while earning a low salary? It's no surprise why Swedes and Finns often prefer to develop in their own home leagues rather than come over to the AHL, and the CHL for that matter.

1. He's under contract for the Blues. We paid and he accepted his signing bonus. Its not all his decision
2. Ahl is the 2nd or 3rd best league in the world. Only the KHL has a claim to be better. Not SEL or Liiga.
3. Lindstein is not making too much more in SHL than he would in the AHL given he is a young kid, and it is a much lower paying league than the NHL. Especially when you factor in the aforementioned signing bonus we already paid him. Plus he has the option for call ups in the NHL which he does not in SHL. Those call ups are worth a lot. Thousands of dollars a day. A couple weeks in the NHL would more than make up the difference.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I'd say the decision is more on Lindstein's side than ours. Would you rather stay close to home and play in a men's league where you are already comfortable, or fly to a new country to play in a second-rate league with a tough travel schedule while earning a low salary? It's no surprise why Swedes and Finns often prefer to develop in their own home leagues rather than come over to the AHL, and the CHL for that matter.

The article makes it sound like he wants to come over next year and we are saying likely following year. What is left unsaid is that seems like there is hope he may be able to skip AHL, especially if he waits the extra year.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I would like to see him come over and play in Springfield next year as well. They could have Buchinger (who has impressed this year), Lindstein, and Jiricek in Springfield next year. Maybe they are worried they don’t have space for him there next year. I don’t know if it makes sense to keep Jiricek in Jrs next year. Plus they may have Burns moving up as well. They are loaded up with D within the organization. Maybe they will make some moves with Perunovich, Tucker, Leddy, and Suter.

If the system gets too jammed up, DA will probably loan at least one D prospect to another AHL team.

With his development stalled due to injury, I’d much rather Jiricek stay in Jrs. And as you point out, we’ll already have a log jam in Springfield so that’s another reason to keep him in Jrs.

Burns and Mayich will be 20 so ready to turn pro. Mayich may have to start in the ECHL if there’s not a spot for him in Springfield.

Keeping Jiricek in juniors is the right move.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

The article makes it sound like he wants to come over next year and we are saying likely following year. What is left unsaid is that seems like there is hope he may be able to skip AHL, especially if he waits the extra year.

Yea I got the vibe that they were basically saying, ya he's staying in Sweden for one more season, and if things go well, we're going to bring him straight to the NHL. It also lines up pretty well with our roster construction, Leddy and Fowler's deals are expiring after next year.

 

[PocketNines]

Yea I got the vibe that they were basically saying, ya he's staying in Sweden for one more season, and if things go well, we're going to bring him straight to the NHL. It also lines up pretty well with our roster construction, Leddy and Fowler's deals are expiring after next year.

the SHL does have excellent coaching and excellent team structure and the development against man strength opposition & well coached structure is the most critical element at the pre-NHL level IMO. There are only so many top minutes to go around just below the NHL level. I can see why they're very comfortable with him staying there projected an additional year. We also know that public comments are often used as motivation for prospects like this, where they're publicly conservative and the player burns inside to make it, like Dvorsky right now.

Blues are also leaving the door open that if he is part of a significant playoff run this year it will accelerate his timetable where they're comfortable letting him break into the NHL faster than they expect.

Blues are saying: this guy has a very high ceiling, very high comparables, and they're confident in him but they think it will start a little later than he might want inside, so it leaves him room to be confident in himself and also overachieve

 

[taylord22]

Jiricek in juniors is a must - assuming the Blues are prioritizing and giving him direct access to their nutrition and strength/conditioning teams. The way I understand it, most team prospects have some level of contact throughout the year, but some have more than others. I hope/assume Jiricek is at the top of the list.

As P9s points out, and I agree with, he needs to develop a more productive/offensive game. Strength is going to be a big part of that, IMO.

The article makes it sound like he wants to come over next year and we are saying likely following year. What is left unsaid is that seems like there is hope he may be able to skip AHL, especially if he waits the extra year.

100% agree