Blues Prospects Thread 2020-2021

[Frenzy31]

I thought Brown looked better in his first game. Much more engaged physically (not checking anyone, but battling for the puck and going to the front of the net). He clearly has the skill, maybe the drive will come as he gets more time with the team.

 

[Quaz]

Neighbours on Team Canada preliminary roster, but Bolduc isn’t.

Here is some info from an article regarding Bolduc not being invited:
F Zachary Bolduc, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)
Bolduc may seem like an under-the-radar omission but the talented Remparts forward has done enough and has a good enough track record that his lack of a camp invite seems odd. He is an outstanding complementary player who has a skill set that allows him to play a variety of roles on a line. He does an excellent job of finding space off the puck and his hands help him create space when he has it on his stick. When he is skating downhill at a defender, Bolduc will attack on the inside or outside based on what the defender gives him. As a passer, Bolduc will find teammates cross-ice or in pockets of space. Bolduc is a good skater who can push the pace when he gets his feet moving. Having a speed element lower in the lineup is a good idea and Bolduc could have provided that.
The concern with Bolduc seems to be that he hasn’t ever truly followed through on the potential that he possesses. While a valid concern, the Canadian camp roster is filled with players who have the same issue. Canada has routinely, at all levels of international play, found a way to leave off talent for players who fit a role which isn’t really the best way of going about things. Bolduc not even being a camp invite seems to be evidence of that case. Tony Ferrari

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Here is some info from an article regarding Bolduc not being invited:
F Zachary Bolduc, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)
Bolduc may seem like an under-the-radar omission but the talented Remparts forward has done enough and has a good enough track record that his lack of a camp invite seems odd. He is an outstanding complementary player who has a skill set that allows him to play a variety of roles on a line. He does an excellent job of finding space off the puck and his hands help him create space when he has it on his stick. When he is skating downhill at a defender, Bolduc will attack on the inside or outside based on what the defender gives him. As a passer, Bolduc will find teammates cross-ice or in pockets of space. Bolduc is a good skater who can push the pace when he gets his feet moving. Having a speed element lower in the lineup is a good idea and Bolduc could have provided that.
The concern with Bolduc seems to be that he hasn’t ever truly followed through on the potential that he possesses. While a valid concern, the Canadian camp roster is filled with players who have the same issue. Canada has routinely, at all levels of international play, found a way to leave off talent for players who fit a role which isn’t really the best way of going about things. Bolduc not even being a camp invite seems to be evidence of that case. Tony Ferrari

Maybe this will be wake up call for him. He needs to decide whether he wants to be impact player.

 

[Stealth JD]

Rundblad, Bokk...Bolduc?

It was a curious pick at the time, and certainly hasn't gotten any more appealing since the draft. It would be cool seeing him blossom as Perron's protégé someday, but is the omission from camp an indictment of his play (vs. expectations), or confirmation that he's behind the best of his class? Making Team Canada isn't the end-all-be-all for a top prospect's chances of becoming a 'good' pro, and he could certainly still make the team next year as a 19 year old, but man, you certainly hope for more from your top pick than to get a 'thanks but no thanks' on even a camp invite.

 

[Frenzy31]

Rundblad, Bokk...Bolduc?

It was a curious pick at the time, and certainly hasn't gotten any more appealing since the draft. It would be cool seeing him blossom as Perron's protégé someday, but is the omission from camp an indictment of his play (vs. expectations), or confirmation that he's behind the best of his class of peers? Making Team Canada isn't the end-all-be-all for a top prospect's chances of becoming a 'good' pro, and he could certainly still make the team next year as a 19 year old, but man, you certainly hope for more from your top pick than to get a 'thanks but no thanks' on even a camp invite.

He is also 18 and is eligible next years team. But he clearly hasn't established himself as a go to guy - even on his stacked team. He flat out needs to produce. I hope he gets moving, but who knows.

 

[Quaz]

He is also 18 and is eligible next years team. But he clearly hasn't established himself as a go to guy - even on his stacked team. He flat out needs to produce. I hope he gets moving, but who knows.

He did get invited to the summer camp and it was reported that he played well in that camp. He also looked good in the preseason game he played for the Blues. Neighbors didn't make the team last year and looks like a lock for this years team, so maybe Bolduc will follow the same path.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Rundblad, Bokk...Bolduc?

It was a curious pick at the time, and certainly hasn't gotten any more appealing since the draft. It would be cool seeing him blossom as Perron's protégé someday, but is the omission from camp an indictment of his play (vs. expectations), or confirmation that he's behind the best of his class? Making Team Canada isn't the end-all-be-all for a top prospect's chances of becoming a 'good' pro, and he could certainly still make the team next year as a 19 year old, but man, you certainly hope for more from your top pick than to get a 'thanks but no thanks' on even a camp invite.

Considering what we got for rundblad and Bokk, would be great to get that type of guy if we deal bolduc.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Rundblad, Bokk...Bolduc?

It was a curious pick at the time, and certainly hasn't gotten any more appealing since the draft. It would be cool seeing him blossom as Perron's protégé someday, but is the omission from camp an indictment of his play (vs. expectations), or confirmation that he's behind the best of his class? Making Team Canada isn't the end-all-be-all for a top prospect's chances of becoming a 'good' pro, and he could certainly still make the team next year as a 19 year old, but man, you certainly hope for more from your top pick than to get a 'thanks but no thanks' on even a camp invite.

And it’s not as bad as it sounds. Canada isn’t likely to have that many 18 year olds on team, certainly not many who were drafted after him.

 

[Frenzy31]

Dylan Peterson had a goal in last weekend game and an assist today.

 

[Frenzy31]

Neighbors added two more goals and one assist last night.

He had the highlight of the night. McDavid would be proud.

 

[Beauterham]

Neighbors added two more goals and one assist last night.

He had the highlight of the night. McDavid would be proud.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Nice moves by Jake to take advantage of that shitty defense.

 

[Frenzy31]

Dickenson 2g, 1a. First star…

2020 draft class isn’t too bad.

 

[Robb_K]

Rundblad, Bokk...Bolduc?

It was a curious pick at the time, and certainly hasn't gotten any more appealing since the draft. It would be cool seeing him blossom as Perron's protégé someday, but is the omission from camp an indictment of his play (vs. expectations), or confirmation that he's behind the best of his class? Making Team Canada isn't the end-all-be-all for a top prospect's chances of becoming a 'good' pro, and he could certainly still make the team next year as a 19 year old, but man, you certainly hope for more from your top pick than to get a 'thanks but no thanks' on even a camp invite.

It seems to me that the problem with Bolduc is that he doesn't seem to be improving in his areas of weakness (like puck control, for example). Most players who move to the highest levels progress in the areas of hockey fundamentals reasonably steadily, as they gain experience, especially as their deficiencies are pointed out by their coaches. Bolduc has already reached a higher plateau of play than some of his fundamental weaknesses would normally indicate, because of his constant motor on full blast, willingness to go to the tough areas, and quickness. But he has some weaknesses in his fundamental skills that need steady work, and progress to develop to where he should be overall as a solid NHL Top 6 prospect, at his age and level of experience. Picking him where he was taken, looked like a bit of a reach at the time. But now, it looks even moreso. He was a boom/bust type to start, and the boom reward was predicated on him bringing his fundamentals weak areas up to standard (which should be the easier part), and why, given his other skills and natural talents, he could end up as a great bargain pick, at where he was taken. I'm guessing that his not been moving much in that direction was a major reason he's been left off Canada's team. And as that's my team, it's tough for me to choose to complain about it.

 

[Robb_K]

Neighbors with 2g, 1a
Dickerson 1g, 1a.
Alexandrov had a goal in the last game.
Brown, wish he would figure out the physical end of the game. He has 17 points in 19 games. Great offensive talent, but…..

He's looked decent in that regard in his 2 NHL Blues' games, so far. And given he's played so few, that's a good sign. He's held his own. As he gets more comfortable in The NHL game, he should be using that big frame of his to his advantage. He certainly did a great job winning and holding his position in the crease, to allow him to get that state-of-the-art tip-in goal. It was a thing of beauty! A big guy like him, with his great (soft) hands, stationed regularly in front of the opponent's goal, is just what The Blues need.

 

[Frenzy31]

It seems to me that the problem with Bolduc is that he doesn't seem to be improving in his areas of weakness (like puck control, for example). Most players who move to the highest levels progress in the areas of hockey fundamentals reasonably steadily, as they gain experience, especially as their deficiencies are pointed out by their coaches. Bolduc has already reached a higher plateau of play than some of his fundamental weaknesses would normally indicate, because of his constant motor on full blast, willingness to go to the tough areas, and quickness. But he has some weaknesses in his fundamental skills that need steady work, and progress to develop to where he should be overall as a solid NHL Top 6 prospect, at his age and level of experience. Picking him where he was taken, looked like a bit of a reach at the time. But now, it looks even moreso. He was a boom/bust type to start, and the boom reward was predicated on him bringing his fundamentals weak areas up to standard (which should be the easier part), and why, given his other skills and natural talents, he could end up as a great bargain pick, at where he was taken. I'm guessing that his not been moving much in that direction was a major reason he's been left off Canada's team. And as that's my team, it's tough for me to choose to complain about it.

Bolduc was also injured in the traverse city camp. I m not convinced he really healed up after the camp and prior to the season.

 

[jjniner]

Man those uniforms are hideous. I thought at first Jake had crapped his pants..

 

[Frenzy31]

Just a quick couple of notes.

DP has doubled his production from last year. Last season he has 6 points in 16 games. This season he has 12 in 16. That is a good jump.

Robertssom has produced very well with his Jr team. 8 goals in 9 games. Then it looks like he has played with both the senior team and maybe a 2nd tier team. His team is listed twice with stats. One has 8 games and one has 24.

Kessel’s production has dropped. This has more to do with Morrows arrival then anything else. I wonder what kind of icetime he is seeing. Wish college kept that information and it was available.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Just based on the random articles I quickly skimmed, it sounds like Kessel is still getting good minutes and one of their top players. Likely just natural regression to mean for someone that was never meant to be an offensive defenseman.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Just based on the random articles I quickly skimmed, it sounds like Kessel is still getting good minutes and one of their top players. Likely just natural regression to mean for someone that was never meant to be an offensive defenseman.

Yeah, can’t imagine morrow getting substantially more minutes than Jones did.

 

[Frenzy31]

Yeah, can’t imagine morrow getting substantially more minutes than Jones did.

I was thinking more being on the 1st PP unit and PP time.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Found this tweet, so he's probably on the first pair and the #1 guy during ES. Morrow and Ufko are more their offensive D now.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Leo Lööf made the world junior team for Sweden.

 

[joe galiba]

Loofah the front of the net

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Lööf is gonna be the next Parayko. Just shorter.