Blues 2025-2026 Prospect Thread

[STL fan in MN]

I had him 19. While that may have been optimistic, I’m not sure I see huge difference between him and guy like command.

I had him at 25 so I liked him too. He had a decent year in the Allsvenskan too - 14th best season ever in that league by a player 18 or younger:
HockeyAllsvenskan All Time Stats

He’s a solid center prospect. I see more of a 3C though. I rate Command as having middle-6 C potential so I’d rank him a little higher than Gastrin. But interested to see how Gastrin looks in Springfield next season. A little surprised he joined Hershey late this season. They would’ve been no harm in him sticking in Sweden another year.

As for where he’d place in our prospect rankings, probably at the same level as Kaskimaki? Somewhere around there IMO. Those rankings are going to likely get blown up and totally rearranged in a few days though.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I had him at 25 so I liked him too. He had a decent year in the Allsvenskan too - 14th best season ever in that league by a player 18 or younger:
HockeyAllsvenskan All Time Stats

He’s a solid center prospect. I see more of a 3C though. I rate Command as having middle-6 C potential so I’d rank him a little higher than Gastrin. But interested to see how Gastrin looks in Springfield next season. A little surprised he joined Hershey late this season. They would’ve been no harm in him sticking in Sweden another year.

As for where he’d place in our prospect rankings, probably at the same level as Kaskimaki? Somewhere around there IMO. Those rankings are going to likely get blown up and totally rearranged in a few days though.

I'd put him a tad higher with Ralph and Fischer, but that just might depend on personal rankings.

This list is already flawed with graduates that I'd remove, but if we use this as a base, he'd be in that tier 3/4 for me.

St. Louis Blues are No. 10 in Scott Wheeler’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankings

The Blues' pool is missing a truly elite prospect, but they have high-end players at every position.

www.nytimes.com

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Another Gastrin comp I like: Antoine Vermette.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Since Gastrin came over for one AHL playoff game does that mean he will play for our AHL affiliate this next season? Or can he go back overseas?

 

[Frenzy31]

Since Gastrin came over for one AHL playoff game does that mean he will play for our AHL affiliate this next season? Or can he go back overseas?

Would he be better served playing in the CHL and developing his offensive game?

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Would he be better served playing in the CHL and developing his offensive game?

I have no clue when it comes to all the rules for junior players. I was just curious if there are multiple options for him, or if he all but has to play in the AHL now since he came over end of last season?

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I have no clue when it comes to all the rules for junior players. I was just curious if there are multiple options for him, or if he all but has to play in the AHL now since he came over end of last season?

He would have to be drafted in the CHL import draft, and he hasn't been yet. Technically some CHL team could take him next Tuesday (June 30), but I doubt anyone is going to use a pick on a double-overage player. I also doubt he's going to want to go from the Swedish 1st league to playing a bunch of 17 year olds. I think he's Springfield bound. Which is good, let Otter work his magic on him.

 

[STLegend]

Gastrin seems like the perfect center to have Stenberg develop chemistry next to, both are defensively sound and hard backcheckers. Throw Kaskimaki in with them and that's a really annoying 3rd line to play against.