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.

 

[STL fan in MN]

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?

I would guess that indicates he will most likely be playing for the T-birds next season. He’ll only be 19 though so we’ll have to keep that in mind when evaluating his performance. That’s a tough league for a teenager.

Going back to Sweden is an option but only if the Blues would agree to loan him back to a team there. Considering Gastrin played a game for Hershey, that tells me the Caps already paid the transfer fee to MoDo/the SHL ($125k last time I knew but maybe it’s more now. Just the cost of doing business) so it would be odd for him to go back over there but it’s certainly possible if that’s what the Blues feel is best and they can find a good SHL opportunity to loan him for a year.

The CHL would also be an option but he just played a year of pro hockey so that’d seem like a step back to me. It’s not a bad idea as that may help develop his offensive game but I just don’t see it as likely. And yeah, he’d have to be taking in the import draft. And that’ll only happen now if the Blues basically go to a select few CHL teams and say “take Gastrin and you’ll have him for 1 year.” But I also find that scenario to be unlikely as well.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I just listened to DA's conference today and he sounded like he expects Gastrin to head back over to Sweden. Says they will do what's best for the player and his development, but that was the most likely outcome at this point which the organization backs.

 

[STL fan in MN]

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

I have Kaski ranked just above both Ralph and Fischer so…yeah, that’s about where I’d place Gastrin as well.

I see all of those guys about the same tier though. Probably include Harenstam, Pekarcik and maybe Stancl in the same tier too but a bit lower.

Buchelnikov could be placed that group too but he’s more of a wildcard to me until I hear more of a concrete plan of him coming over here to play.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I have Kaski ranked just above both Ralph and Fischer so…yeah, that’s about where I’d place Gastrin as well.

I see all of those guys about the same tier though. Probably include Harenstam, Pekarcik and maybe Stancl in the same tier too but a bit lower.

Buchelnikov could be placed that group too but he’s more of a wildcard to me until I hear more of a concrete plan of him coming over here to play.

DA sounded optimistic today and said he expects Buchelnikov to most likely be in NA next season

 

[STL fan in MN]

DA sounded optimistic today and said he expects Buchelnikov to most likely be in NA next season

Link to this interview?

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Link to this interview?

I prolly should have said they are hoping to have him over next season, but regardless, this is a welcomed timeline.

 

[Frenzy31]

DA sounded optimistic today and said he expects Buchelnikov to most likely be in NA next season

2026 - 2027 or 2027 - 2028? I thought he resigned with his team at the end of this past season for 1 year.

 

[barriers]

2026 - 2027 or 2027 - 2028? I thought he resigned with his team at the end of this past season for 1 year.

His CSKA contract expires May 30, 2027. I assumed Armstromg meant 2027/28 as 'next season'