Prospect Info: Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Where would Ralph go in this years draft?

I think he would be in first round discussion as well. He is big and can skate and he can actually play defense. He would have team USA and college on his resume. I would say he would be over Tretheway, Sasha and Dakota Rheume but not Hensler being a righty and longer resume.

 

[Brian39]

I think that’s a fair characterization. Lindstein is far closer to nhl.

And I still don’t understand how we took Ralph ahead of Fischer. Ralph is intriguing, but Fischer would be a mid-1st round pick this year if he were born a week later

Drafting isn't just about taking the guy you have ranked highest, especially when you have 2 picks pretty close to each other. We picked Ralph 48 and Fischer 56. If you have intel that a couple teams picking between those spots love Ralph, it could be worth the risk to pick him first to try to get both even if you have Fischer ranked higher. Scouts see each other at rinks throughout the year and they are going to talk. As tight lipped as NHL front offices can be, it's impossible to completely prevent other teams from having an idea about the guys you like.

Or maybe we simply liked Ralph more because we're talking about projecting 18 year olds for what they will become 4+ years down the road. Fischer wasn't a lock to take the jump that he's taken this year.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Drafting isn't just about taking the guy you have ranked highest, especially when you have 2 picks pretty close to each other. We picked Ralph 48 and Fischer 56. If you have intel that a couple teams picking between those spots love Ralph, it could be worth the risk to pick him first to try to get both even if you have Fischer ranked higher. Scouts see each other at rinks throughout the year and they are going to talk. As tight lipped as NHL front offices can be, it's impossible to completely prevent other teams from having an idea about the guys you like.

Or maybe we simply liked Ralph more because we're talking about projecting 18 year olds for what they will become 4+ years down the road. Fischer wasn't a lock to take the jump that he's taken this year.

Ralph is the youngest player on his team. Fischer is playing against some 16 year old kids in juniors. I think their position might be comparable. He’s having a better season than EJ Emery who was a first last year on a much better team.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Colten Ellis finally developing into a legitimate goalie prospect, really good season in the A for him.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Ellis has been a very pleasant surprise over the last two seasons. It's getting to the point where the Blues are going to have to think about making room for him.

 

[ezcreepin]

Binnington and Hofer have been and seem to be uncharacteristically healthy goalies for how much action they face on any given night. Obviously Ellis would be the first callup, but I think if he has another stellar year next year maybe sometime midway through, you gotta think about giving him some games. He didn't establish himself for a number of years and it seems like he's figured out the pro game from a minor league standpoint. Sometimes it takes these guys 8-10 years before they really figure it out and I think that sometime here soon they'll have to consider who they want to ride. Two young goalies playing 1A/1B or a 6 million starter and 2-3 mil backup in Hofer?

It seems like Hofer has established himself as a good option as a backup behind Binnington so I can't see them moving him, but is it realistic to expect him to start if we want to move cap? Ellis hasn't even played a game yet, so this is where the Blues should start thinking what their future plans will look like.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I wouldn’t be opposed to calling up Ellis for a game or two later in the season once rosters expand. There doesn’t even need to be an injury to either Binner or Hofer. Just tell them the guy deserves a reward for two years well done and as pros, they should get it. Let Ellis taste the NHL, collect an NHL paycheck for about a week and then send him back to the T-Birds for their playoff push.

Heck, with Zherenko playing better of late, one could argue he deserves the same type of reward/look at the NHL pace. But likely can’t do that with both.

And if not this season, then they definitely need to give at least one of these guys a look next season. PuckPedia lists both as RFAs with arbitration rights this summer. I’m not sure of the exact math but eventually they’ll be able to just walk as Group 6 UFAs here pretty soon I’d think so they either need to give them a look or likely lose them one way or the other.

 

[ezcreepin]

I wouldn’t be opposed to calling up Ellis for a game or two later in the season once rosters expand. There doesn’t even need to be an injury to either Binner or Hofer. Just tell them the guy deserves a reward for two years well done and as pros, they should get it. Let Ellis taste the NHL, collect an NHL paycheck for about a week and then send him back to the T-Birds for their playoff push.

Heck, with Zherenko playing better of late, one could argue he deserves the same type of reward/look at the NHL pace. But likely can’t do that with both.

And if not this season, then they definitely need to give at least one of these guys a look next season. PuckPedia lists both as RFAs with arbitration rights this summer. I’m not sure of the exact math but eventually they’ll be able to just walk as Group 6 UFAs here pretty soon I’d think so they either need to give them a look or likely lose them one way or the other.

To be honest, Zherenko would have been my choice to callup if he had a bounce-back year (or hovered at .905-.910). Instead, he's struggled A LOT since Ellis has been called up to the AHL. I'm not sure what's going on with his mental right now, but Zherenko looked like a sure fire backup just given his numbers overall, and that's including his play in Russia/Europe. I think that at this point with Ellis playing unbelievable in back to back years, he's definitely passed up Zherenko for a callup if they decide to reward one of the guys.

Don't get me wrong, I like Zherenko and am still hopeful that he can hit potential we saw in him, but he has to cleanup whatever mistakes he is making, whether that's moving way too far out of position, committing too hard, or the mental side of it. I'm sure it has to be hard being 1 of 2 guys who can speak Russian and probably doesn't have a great grasp of English(?)

 

[STL fan in MN]

To be honest, Zherenko would have been my choice to callup if he had a bounce-back year (or hovered at .905-.910). Instead, he's struggled A LOT since Ellis has been called up to the AHL. I'm not sure what's going on with his mental right now, but Zherenko looked like a sure fire backup just given his numbers overall, and that's including his play in Russia/Europe. I think that at this point with Ellis playing unbelievable in back to back years, he's definitely passed up Zherenko for a callup if they decide to reward one of the guys.

Don't get me wrong, I like Zherenko and am still hopeful that he can hit potential we saw in him, but he has to cleanup whatever mistakes he is making, whether that's moving way too far out of position, committing too hard, or the mental side of it. I'm sure it has to be hard being 1 of 2 guys who can speak Russian and probably doesn't have a great grasp of English(?)

Yes, Ellis has the superior record, SV% and GAA so if they were going to reward one of them, it’d almost certainly be him. But just noting that Zherenko has been better his last few starts and he’s been a good soldier too. Not sure what’s up with him though. Hopefully he can get back to being consistently good.

I suppose perhaps I just have a soft spot for Zherenko and am rooting for him. He showed lot of commitment to the Blues by hiding out in a hotel room in I think it was Belarus for a couple weeks trying to get a visa to come over. Eventually he was able to make it to Canada and then the US. Couldn’t come direct. Showed up rusty and with no equipment (obviously couldn’t get on the ice while hiding out trying to escape Russia and again, he didn’t have his equipment with him). So yeah, I’m rooting for the guy.

 

[joe galiba]

Yes, Ellis has the superior record, SV% and GAA so if they were going to reward one of them, it’d almost certainly be him. But just noting that Zherenko has been better his last few starts and he’s been a good soldier too. Not sure what’s up with him though. Hopefully he can get back to being consistently good.

I suppose perhaps I just have a soft spot for Zherenko and am rooting for him. He showed lot of commitment to the Blues by hiding out in a hotel room in I think it was Belarus for a couple weeks trying to get a visa to come over. Eventually he was able to make it to Canada and then the US. Couldn’t come direct. Showed up rusty and with no equipment (obviously couldn’t get on the ice while hiding out trying to escape Russia and again, he didn’t have his equipment with him). So yeah, I’m rooting for the guy.

his backstory coming here makes it easy to root for him

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Yes, Ellis has the superior record, SV% and GAA so if they were going to reward one of them, it’d almost certainly be him. But just noting that Zherenko has been better his last few starts and he’s been a good soldier too. Not sure what’s up with him though. Hopefully he can get back to being consistently good.

I suppose perhaps I just have a soft spot for Zherenko and am rooting for him. He showed lot of commitment to the Blues by hiding out in a hotel room in I think it was Belarus for a couple weeks trying to get a visa to come over. Eventually he was able to make it to Canada and then the US. Couldn’t come direct. Showed up rusty and with no equipment (obviously couldn’t get on the ice while hiding out trying to escape Russia and again, he didn’t have his equipment with him). So yeah, I’m rooting for the guy.

Does Zherenko have to clear waivers?

 

[MissouriMook]

Would like to see a mid-week call up for Ellis if we have an open roster at some point so he can get an NHL start without putting the T-Birds shorthanded. No way Hofer clears if we try to flip him and Ellis.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Does Zherenko have to clear waivers?

Pretty sure he’d be waiver exempt through the end of next season. Or he plays 60 NHL games. Whichever comes first.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Jiricek out again for Brantford. Not good. Only 15 games left in the season.

 

[Mike Liut]

Jiricek out again for Brantford. Not good. Only 15 games left in the season.

Just be ready for next year. He’s 3-4 years away from the nhl anyway.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Just a reminder that Zherenko had an injury last season that kept him out for awhile, and led to Ellis getting his shot. AFAICR it was a lower body injury, which as a goalie can mess with your mechanics. I’d be willing to bet that he’s either playing through the lingering effects of that, his mechanics were messed up from it, or he got in his head about it and lost some confidence in his athletic ability. He’ll be fine, it will likely just take some time. I doubt he stopped being a good goalie altogether.