Prospect Info: Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[MortiestOfMortys]

To be fair, the WJC is still a junior tournament. A much higher level of competition than major junior or the USHL, but junior nonetheless. I bring that up because one concern about older/bigger guys with junior success is that it won't translate in the pros when they are no longer the best physical specimen on the ice. I'm not saying that is the case with Stancl and my eyes don't see a guy who is only having success because he can use his man strength to bully younger/smaller guys. But the WJC is still full of guys with lots of room to grow physically. Being 6'3" and 200 pounds still gives you a much larger advantage in the WJC than in the pros.

FWIW, I was more impressed with Dvorsky than Stancl at the WJC. That's far from a knock on Stancl and the fact that he is in the conversation with our top tier prospects is incredible. Going from 4th round pick to a conversation about being near the top of our prospect pool in 18 months is amazing development. As a whole, I am overjoyed by the early returns of the last 2 Blues draft classes. But for Stancl and a lot of other guys, we are still talking about production/development in leagues/situations that are a very long way from the NHL.

The thing about the “big kid dominating just cause he’s big” concern is that they’re supposed to slow down as time goes on, not speed up. Stancl is struggling a bit now that he is the only dude on a team that traded everyone else of value (I believe he just had his first pointless week all year last week). But before the circumstances changed drastically, he was much better than he has been in previous years (injuries and personal tragedies aside).

I’m not as bullish on him as some are, but there’s cause for optimism. Dinging him for his size is the opposite reaction I have; I think it’s one of his best assets because it makes him versatile lineup-wise.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

The thing about the “big kid dominating just cause he’s big” concern is that they’re supposed to slow down as time goes on, not speed up. Stancl is struggling a bit now that he is the only dude on a team that traded everyone else of value (I believe he just had his first pointless week all year last week). But before the circumstances changed drastically, he was much better than he has been in previous years (injuries and personal tragedies aside).

I’m not as bullish on him as some are, but there’s cause for optimism. Dinging him for his size is the opposite reaction I have; I think it’s one of his best assets because it makes him versatile lineup-wise.

He also seems like someone whose game is better suited for NA style than over in Europe.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I appreciate P9s’ input on those prospects. It’s time consuming, but I’m sure it’s been fun for him.

This is what we come here for, so, all else aside, thank you!

 

[PocketNines]

You're welcome! Here is a vid of our prospect Quinton Burns making an awesome play shorthanded against Misa the other day.

I take them in mov and convert to mp4 which works for most but not all seemingly. If there's another file extension to convert to I can

 

[stl76]

Stancl's team is getting wrecked, since the WJC they are 2-7-2 since he returned. There was the 5 pt game in the win against Prince George and the win in Seattle I attended. He's back in Seattle next week. Tonight and tomorrow his team is in Victoria, who just beat them 11-1 in Kelowna. It was 11-0 at one point and it has been ugly to absorb. He is still getting 5 shots a game and he's ringing a crossbar almost nightly but he is playing an absolute f-ton of ugly minutes.

The Blues have hit big on some prospects who have late birthdays such as Robert Thomas, and Fischer is like that. I cannot imagine Aitcheson being drafted before him right now for example. Aitcheson is 12 days older than Fischer.

In this upcoming draft there's 6'5" D Peyton Kettles who is #26 on NA Central Scouting list and he is only two weeks from going in the 2026 draft. Swift Current, WHL, need to watch him more. I am not much a fan of Fiddler, here's an example of why:


View attachment 972234

Lindstein is steady eddie not flashy minute muncher but he's on total cruise control to the pros
Fischer is the exciting one, I mean this is the real wild card. Very young in his draft class,
Burns is a 4-6D man sheriff who just had a real nice game against Misa
Ralph is a project that seems on track now with a ways to go
Jiricek is a two-way defenseman who needs work and time and reps. You can see flashes but it's not all there yet. He is aggressive offensively sometimes & relying on his recovery speed to get back on defense. For example watch this clip.


View attachment 972236

I'm more than happy to feed this niche interest directly with people, and it could go either way. Right now it looks real doubtful.

You're welcome! Here is a vid of our prospect Quinton Burns making an awesome play shorthanded against Misa the other day.


View attachment 972348

I take them in mov and convert to mp4 which works for most but not all seemingly. If there's another file extension to convert to I can

Thank you for posting these clips, I hope you keep doing it.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

O'Brien vs Desnoyers? I suspect you prefer the latter

Desnoyers feels like the very Bluesy pick, 2way player, good at almost every thing, but elite at very little. I for once would prefer O'Brien and his more dynamic offensive skills, we need more game breakers in this core, im swinging for the upside. Its seeming more and more like we got quite a bit of depth middle 6 guys in our pool now, time to take some swings.

 

[Mike Liut]

Desnoyers feels like the very Bluesy pick, 2way player, good at almost every thing, but elite at very little. I for once would prefer O'Brien and his more dynamic offensive skills, we need more game breakers in this core, im swinging for the upside. Its seeming more and more like we got quite a bit of depth middle 6 guys in our pool now, time to take some swings.

That’s why I think Martone would be a great pick. He’s a bigger Matthew Tkachuk

 

[PocketNines]

Another player to watch is Will McIsaac. Very possible Memorial Cup player. This is a 6'3" 200lb RHD playing with Spokane. Spokane was good with Catton and is now a powerhouse with Cristall. He is playing with those guys a lot and as a result he is racking up assists and getting some opportunity to display his potential. His last game he had the GWG and was first star, the game before that he was second star with 4 assists. In the beginning of this season his involvement seemed a lot lower in the play and now #18 is out there involved a lot. A good time lately to see what the Blues saw in him when they got him in the 5th last summer

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

O'Brien vs Desnoyers? I suspect you prefer the latter

You are quite the detective! I’ve always said if I were to pick one player to start a team with, then it would be Steve Yzerman. Perhaps the most complete player I have had the pleasure of watching. Dashed our hopes with one dominate performance. Desnoyers is the most complete player and competitor I have seen in a long time. Not most talented or dynamic…. You win with players like him and he makes other players better around him.

Goes without saying that I have O’Brien very high as well. Over Martone as I see a Doug Weight clone.

I’m not as high on Martone as Malcom Spence has outplayed him against each other. I’m not convinced he will be anything more than a middle six. He will struggle to move up the pro chain in my opinion. One big season one big contract and one big goodbye in my opinion.

 

[PocketNines]

Desnoyers is the most complete player and competitor I have seen in a long time.

that's the headline for me, I want someone who has competitive force