DobberProspects

August 32-in-32: St. Louis Blues

Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

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Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the DobberProspects 32-in-32 Series. This month, we are diving into the depth of each organization, looking at their recent graduates, risers, fallers, and top-20 prospects.

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For the first time since 2007-08, the Blues finished below a .500 points percentage. The disappointing season brought changes. Big pieces, such as Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko, were traded. Young prospects acquired through these trades added depth to the organization’s improving prospect pool.

Graduates

Graduating to the NHL

Joel Hofer 
The Blues’ decision not to re-sign Thomas Greiss has opened an opportunity for Hofer in the NHL. If he can replicate his strong performance from the past two seasons in the AHL, it could help the Blues become more competitive and even make a playoff push.   

Graduating from Junior 

Zachary Bolduc 
After ending his junior career on the highest note, winning the Memorial Cup, Bolduc will now have a chance at training camp to make the Blues lineup. He will most likely start the year in the AHL but receive a call-up soon since he can be sent down afterwards without having to clear waivers.  

Zach Dean 
This will not only be the first year in the AHL for Dean, but it will also be his first full season in the Blues’ organization. Like Bolduc, he will most likely start the year in the AHL and then be called up if he plays well with the Thunderbirds. 

Marc-Andre Gaudet 
After an amazing season in the QMJHL, the fifth-round pick will have a great opportunity this season to prove that he can still be productive even in a less offensive-minded league.  

Risers 

Nikita Alexandrov 
Alexandrov was nearly a point per game in the AHL last season. Despite having difficulty in the NHL, it was still a significant step in his development.  

Matt Kessel 
Arguably the best right-handed prospect in the Blues’ organization. Kessel did extremely well last season in his first full season in the AHL.  

Marc-Andre Gaudet 
After scoring 0.55 points a game his previous season, Gaudet jumped to a point-a-game defender last season. This is a major improvement and one that definitively elevated his ranking. 

Joel Hofer 
The best goalie in the Blues’ organization last season, Hofer was dominant in the AHL. In 47 games, he only allowed three or more goals in consecutive games four times. His consistency throughout the season is one reason the Blues will try him has their backup for Binnington this season.

Fallers

Wyatt Kalynuk
Kalynuk’s age and lack of progression landed him on this list. He was just average in all the AHL games he played last season, and he didn’t play any NHL games for the first time since signing his first contract.

Colton Ellis
Since finishing his junior career two seasons ago. Ellis’ performance has steadily regressed. Last season was without a doubt his worst season. In the ECHL, he finished in 25 games with a .888 Save Percentage (SV%) and a 3.46 Goals Against Average (GAA).

Prospect Depth Chart

A combination of NHL readiness and upside.

LWCRW
Zachary BolducDalibor DvorskyJimmy Snuggerud
Otto StenbergZach DeanSimon Robertsson
Jake NeighboursKeean WashkurakMathias Laferriere
Hugh McGingAleksanteri KaskimakiAlexei Toropchenko
Nikita Alexandrov
Dylan Peterson
Mikhail Abramov
Tanner Dickinson
LHDRHD
Scott PerunovichMatt Kessel
Michael BuchingerHunter Skinner
Marc-Andre GaudetJosh Jacobs
Theo Lindstein
Tyler Tucker
Quinton Burns
Wyatt Kalynuk
Arseni Koromyslov
Noah Beck
Leo Loof
Goaltenders
Joel Hofer
Vadim Zherenko
Colten Ellis
Will Cranley

Top 20 Prospects

As with the depth chart, I have taken NHL readiness into consideration. But a player’s potential upside was the key factor in determining the list.

  1. Jimmy Snuggerud 
  2. Scott Perunovich
  3. Dalibor Dvorsky 
  4. Zachary Bolduc 
  5. Zach Dean
  6. Joel Hofer
  7. Otto Stenberg 
  8. Michael Buchinger
  9. Jake Neighbours
  10. Marc-Andre Gaudet
  11. Theo Lindstein
  12. Simon Robertsson
  13. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
  14. Vadim Zherenko
  15. Mathias Laferriere
  16. Tyler Tucker
  17. Quinton Burns
  18. Keean Washkurak
  19. Nikita Alexandrov
  20.  Matt Kessel 

If you missed last month’s 32, here it is: https://dobberprospects.com/2023/07/26/70434/ 

Thanks for reading, follow me on twitter: @cbturcotte17

Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

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