Blues Prospects Thread 2019-2020

[EastonBlues22]

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[BleedBlueForever]

Do we know which prospects are headed to the Rampage or ECHL yet? Just curious if Noel, McGing, Torpedo, Krag, Helt, Perunovich if any will be turning pro?

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Do we know which prospects are headed to the Rampage or ECHL yet? Just curious if Noel, McGing, Torpedo, Krag, Helt, Perunovich if any will be turning pro?

Toropchenko should be going to San Antonio in the fall. Noel was not given an ELC (neither was Bourque), and as such is now a free agent. Krag and Helt are back for prospect camp for what feels like the 8th year in a row, and Krag has done some interesting things in Europe but Helt has just flat out not been good outside of a few weeks here and there. I could see them maybe giving Krag a contract, but this may be both of their last year’s to prove themselves. McGing and Perunovich I believe are both returning to school in the fall, and Perunovich should be a Hobey Baker favorite going into the season.

We signed Robby Jackson out of St Cloud State to a minor league SPC earlier this spring, so he will be going back to San Antonio in the fall. He’s a very talented player I could see making some noise. Also look out for Hrabik, Balmas, and Hancock to compete for pro contracts this summer, I believe they could all make an argument for themselves. Plus the Norse goalie invite Jonas Arntzen, he’s been good-to-very good in Sweden for a few years now.

Other than that, Kevin McDonald is going to have to remake the San Antonio squad through free agency. It’s a thin crop of prospects coming through this year.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Toropchenko should be going to San Antonio in the fall. Noel was not given an ELC (neither was Bourque), and as such is now a free agent. Krag and Helt are back for prospect camp for what feels like the 8th year in a row, and Krag has done some interesting things in Europe but Helt has just flat out not been good outside of a few weeks here and there. I could see them maybe giving Krag a contract, but this may be both of their last year’s to prove themselves. McGing and Perunovich I believe are both returning to school in the fall, and Perunovich should be a Hobey Baker favorite going into the season.

We signed Robby Jackson out of St Cloud State to a minor league SPC earlier this spring, so he will be going back to San Antonio in the fall. He’s a very talented player I could see making some noise. Also look out for Hrabik, Balmas, and Hancock to compete for pro contracts this summer, I believe they could all make an argument for themselves. Plus the Norse goalie invite Jonas Arntzen, he’s been good-to-very good in Sweden for a few years now.

Other than that, Kevin McDonald is going to have to remake the San Antonio squad through free agency. It’s a thin crop of prospects coming through this year.

Noel and Bourque I believe both went back in draft this year and were not selected.

 

[Ranksu]

Liked a lot of Adam Musil's games at WJC in 3-years ago. Looks Mike he hasnt progress? Or is he long way to become 4th liner?

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

@Ranksu jinxed it: Musil on unconditional waivers today. Not a great sign. He played very well in his first stint with Chicago a few years back, but could never seem to replicate it. I wish him well!

 

[Beauterham]

@Ranksu jinxed it: Musil on unconditional waivers today. Not a great sign. He played very well in his first stint with Chicago a few years back, but could never seem to replicate it. I wish him well!

So we can scratch Musil from the list. Probably going back to Europe I guess. Didn't the Rampage send him away last year due to mentality issues?

Still a lot of holes in the Rampage' roster for next year. I hope Foley will be back in that case...

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

So we can scratch Musil from the list. Probably going back to Europe I guess. Didn't the Rampage send him away last year due to mentality issues?

Still a lot of holes in the Rampage' roster for next year. I hope Foley will be back in that case...

Well he’s from British Columbia, but I would imagine there’s an opportunity for him in the Czech leagues if that’s where he wants to go.

And if he got “sent away,” it’s not a story I remember seeing. He went away for a World Cup tryout for a bit if that’s what you’re referring to.

 

[Beauterham]

And if he got “sent away,” it’s not a story I remember seeing. He went away for a World Cup tryout for a bit if that’s what you’re referring to.

I'm fairly certain I've read somewhere that there where some issues with Musil. If I remember correctly the Rampage let him go for the WC try-out due to these issues. This was in 2018 when we shared the Rampage with Colorado. Don't remember what these issues where precisely, maybe it was just that the Rampage couldn't find him a spot and had to play a Colorado prospect. I can't really remember the whole story. Maybe @RampageNate knows more?

 

[David Dennison]

Dwyer!

 

[542365]

Dwyer!

He scored 9 goals in the ECHL last year. That’s honestly amazing to me. Far and away the worst player I’ve ever seen at a Blues prospect camp.

EDIT:Our boy Hannu Toivonen was on that squad as well for a bit last year.

 

[Renard]

So we can scratch Musil from the list. Probably going back to Europe I guess. Didn't the Rampage send him away last year due to mentality issues?

Still a lot of holes in the Rampage' roster for next year. I hope Foley will be back in that case...

The release of Musil is disappointing news. He looked like a decent prospect a couple of years ago.

 

[ezcreepin]

Is anyone worried about Perunovich considering free agency once college is finished? He said he wants to 3-peat, but what happens if they do that? Would he want to 4-peat? I want the Blues to be aggressive in signing him, otherwise we are getting reeaaal low on LD.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Is anyone worried about Perunovich considering free agency once college is finished? He said he wants to 3-peat, but what happens if they do that? Would he want to 4-peat? I want the Blues to be aggressive in signing him, otherwise we are getting reeaaal low on LD.

Not really. He’s small and still has plenty of improving to do on his D game. Might as well work on that in college while also developing as a team leader.

Now if he goes back for his Sr season a year from now I’ll be a little concerned but no, I’m not concerned as of today.

 

[ezcreepin]

Not really. He’s small and still has plenty of improving to do on his D game. Might as well work on that in college while also developing as a team leader.

Now if he goes back for his Sr season a year from now I’ll be a little concerned but no, I’m not concerned as of today.

I wouldn't normally be worried about it, but he made it seem like he wasn't interested in signing. Hopefully he just sees it as an opportunity to work on his game further, but seeing as he's one of the few good LD prospects we have, it's a bit more worrisome. I don't think I would be nearly this hyper-focused on it if he were a forward, but I guess we'll see.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Not really. He’s small and still has plenty of improving to do on his D game. Might as well work on that in college while also developing as a team leader.

Now if he goes back for his Sr season a year from now I’ll be a little concerned but no, I’m not concerned as of today.

You are back with a vengeance! We missed your insight this season.

 

[Novacain]

So, out of curiosity and because we haven’t had need to talk about this in a while: How does everyone view our top prospects if you had to rank the top 10? My crack at it:

1. Kyrou
2. Bokk
3. Perunovich
4. Mikkola
5. Husso
6. Alexandrov
7. Reinke
8. Toropchenko
9. Kostin
10. Ellis

I worry I have Reinke too low.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I wouldn't normally be worried about it, but he made it seem like he wasn't interested in signing. Hopefully he just sees it as an opportunity to work on his game further, but seeing as he's one of the few good LD prospects we have, it's a bit more worrisome. I don't think I would be nearly this hyper-focused on it if he were a forward, but I guess we'll see.

All I’ve seen on it is what JR posted on twitter about an hour ago, which included this:

Perunovich on it being a tough decision: "It was definitely difficult and a lot of thought went into it. It worked out well for (the Blues) winning the Cup, but I'm happy we're I'm at right now and we'll see what happens. That's the plan right now, junior year going back."

I mean, obviously the kid’s not going to say it was an easy decision to return to UMD but it does sound to me that he pretty strongly considered turning pro.

I guess we’ll see. I’m not too worried about it but it’s not like I have any special insight on his thinking or anything.

 

[ezcreepin]

So, out of curiosity and because we haven’t had need to talk about this in a while: How does everyone view our top prospects if you had to rank the top 10? My crack at it:

1. Kyrou
2. Bokk
3. Perunovich
4. Mikkola
5. Husso
6. Alexandrov
7. Reinke
8. Toropchenko
9. Kostin
10. Ellis

I worry I have Reinke too low.

I think tiers a better suited for this comparison of prospects

Tier 1: No one
Tier 2: Kyrou, Bokk
Tier 3: Perunovich, Alexandrov, Reinke, Husso, Mikkola, Ellis (idk about this one)
Tier 4: Kostin, Toropchenko, Tucker, Laferriere, McGing
Tier 5: Everyone else

Some of these guys could go either way in tier 3 and 4, but I think tier 2 is set and tier 1 is obvious.

 

[Novacain]

I would bump up Chenko up a tier and maybe Ellis down one, but otherwise I approve.

 

[Beauterham]

So, out of curiosity and because we haven’t had need to talk about this in a while: How does everyone view our top prospects if you had to rank the top 10?

Probably something like this... but this might be totally different at the start of the season.

1. Kyrou
2. Bokk
3. Reinke
4. Perunovich
5. Alexandrov
6. Kostin
7. Husso
8. Mikkola
9. Toropchenko
10. Tucker

 

[STL fan in MN]

Came across this on twitter. Mark Seidel, Head of NACS scouting, graded each team on the draft and wrote a little something on his favorite pick from each team. Appears he absolutely loves Washkurak.

NA Central Scouting
@MarkSeidel

DT: St. Louis - Grade B - 3 of 5 were on our Top 170 Favorite Pick: Keean Washkurak; Mississauga – The best value pick in the draft & it isn’t close. This kid will find a way & will make every team better. Tough, character, sneaky IQ that never cheats on the ice. I love him.

I then looked at the full NACS rankings and they had Washkurak 38th overall.

https://thepuckauthority.com/wp-con...NACS-2019-NHL-Draft-List-FINAL-RANKINGS-2.pdf

Other Blues draftees on their list are:
Alexandrov - 91st
Ellis - 108th
They didn’t have Michel or Zherenko on their list of 170.

 

[Frenzy31]

I would bump up Chenko up a tier and maybe Ellis down one, but otherwise I approve.

I don’t think you can put Chenko over Kostin. Chenko didn’t exactly set the world on fire until the playoffs. He had 43 points and was well under a ppg pace. Which is what should be expected of a CHL draft +2. He really tops out as a 4th liner,

Laferriere our produced him, granted in the Q. But still and he is a year younger.

I put Chenko on the same tier as Nolan, Mac Mac and poganski.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

It’s easy because they’re so young and we won’t see them for several years, but people are sleeping on Hofer and Ellis. They are really, really good goalies to have in our system. Hofer faced more rubber than just about anybody else in the CHL or USHL last season until he got traded to Portland, and kept his sv% above .900 throughout most of it. Ellis was the best goalie in the QMJHL two years ago and it wasn’t particularly close. He was 16.

Fitzpatrick has every bit as much talent, but needs to find consistency and learn how to keep the bad games from piling up. Seems like once he gets in his head he’s in there for quite awhile.

And Zherenko is the best of them all!*

*He says, knowing absolutely nothing about him

 

[Celtic Note]

Prospect pool starting to look thin...hottest of takes