The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Read past 32 series stories here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/
Make sure to check out the St. Louis Blues team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/st-louis-blues/
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The St. Louis Blues entered the 2025-26 season hoping to take another step toward playoff contention, but the year ultimately fell short of expectations. A difficult first half left them with too much ground to make up, and despite a strong finish, the team ended the season with a 37-33-12 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
The disappointing result, however, did not tell the whole story. Several young players made meaningful progress, giving the organization reasons for optimism despite the team’s lack of success. Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud continued to impress, while other prospects put themselves in position for NHL opportunities.
The Blues also began reshaping their roster and prospect pool, signaling a willingness to accelerate the transition toward a younger core. With Alexander Steen taking over as general manager, the organization entered the season facing an important question: could it continue developing internally while making the additions necessary to return to the postseason? The answer would come through an active off-season that brought significant changes to the organization.
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NHL Draft Recap
First Round, 11th overall, Tynan Lawrence, C (NCAA + USHL)
Lawrence began the 2025-26 season in the USHL with Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he quickly established himself as one of the top draft-eligible forwards in the league. He recorded 17 points in only 13 games before joining Boston University in the NCAA midway through the season. The move gave him an opportunity to test himself against older and more experienced competition, but his offensive production declined significantly, as he finished with seven points in 18 games.
Despite the drop in production, the 6-1, 185 lbs left-shot center continued to show the skating, pace and two-way game that made him an intriguing first-round prospect. His strong work ethic and ability to contribute defensively allowed him to remain effective even when the offense wasn’t coming as easily. He also ended the season on a strong note at the U18 World Championship, recording six points in five games for Canada.
While his offensive consistency remains an area to monitor, Lawrence’s skating, competitiveness and defensive awareness provide a solid foundation for him to develop into a versatile NHL center.
25/26 Stats, Boston Univ. : GP: 18 | G: 2 | A: 5 | P: 7 | PPG: 0.39 |
25/26 Stats, Muskegon. : GP: 13 | G: 10 | A: 7 | P: 17 | PPG: 1.31 |
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First Round, 16th overall, Maddox Dagenais, C (QMJHL)
The St. Louis Blues acquired a second first-round selection in the trade that sent Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals a few days before and they used the pick to select Dagenais, a 6-4, 198 lbs left-shot center. Dagenais took a major step forward in his second QMJHL season with the Quebec Remparts, more than doubling his production from his rookie campaign. After recording 26 points in 43 games in 2024-25, he finished the 2025-26 season with 30 goals and 62 points in 62 games, ranking second on the team in scoring. His production was particularly impressive in the second half of the season, as he recorded 38 points in 32 games following the Christmas break.
The 16th overall pick also established himself as a significant power-play contributor leading the Remparts with 10 power-play goals and 25 power-play points. Dagenais carried his strong regular season into the playoffs, recording six points in 11 games. His performances earned him the QMJHL’s nominee for the CHL top Draft Prospect Award. He also represented Canada at the U18 World Championship, where he registered two goals and one assist in five games.
His combination of size, scoring ability, physicality and versatility gives him the tools to develop into a power forward capable of playing a significant role at the NHL level.
25/26 Stats, Quebec: GP: 62 | G: 30 | A: 32 | P: 62 | PPG: 1 |
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Third Round, 75th overall, Luke Schairer, D (NTDP)
Schairer spent the 2025-26 season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, recording 22 points in 62 games with the U18 team. He also gained experience against older competition in the USHL, adding nine points in 25 games. His season highlighted his mobility, defensive awareness and ability to move the puck effectively under pressure.
The 6-3, 194 lbs right-shot defenseman projects as a mobile, defensively reliable player with the potential to add more offensive impact as he matures. His skating and two-way ability provide a solid foundation for him to develop into a complete defenseman.
25/26 Stats, U.S. National U18 team: GP: 65 | G: 1 | A: 21 | P: 22 | PPG: 0.34 |
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Fourth Round, 107th overall, Landon Nycz, D (NCAA)
Last year, Nycz made the jump to NCAA among the youngest defensemen in the league, recording three points in 35 games with the University of Massachusetts. While his offensive production was limited, he showed steady improvement throughout the season, particularly in his defensive positioning and ability to handle the pace of college hockey. His elite skating remained his biggest asset, allowing him to close gaps quickly and move the puck effectively in transition.
Nycz is a 6-3, 216 lbs left-shot defenseman who offers intriguing upside as a mobile two-way blue liner. If he can turn his strong skating and puck-moving ability into more consistent offensive production, he could develop into a valuable NHL prospect.
25/26 Stats, UMass: GP: 35 | G: 1 | A: 2 | P: 3 | PPG: 0.09 |
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Fourth Round, 123th overall, Vladimir Proskurin, G (MHL)
Proskurin emerged as an intriguing goaltending prospect despite playing behind one of the weaker teams in the MHL. He recorded a .921 save percentage in 41 games with MHK Atlant Mytishchi, consistently relying on his elite athleticism, quick feet and strong puck tracking to keep his team in games. His positioning and rebound control also improved as the season progressed.
The 6-1, 185 lbs Russian netminder gives the Blues a raw but athletic goaltender prospect after being selected 123rd overall. Improving his rebound control and learning to better manage his aggressive style will be the key to his development, but his athleticism gives him promising long-term upside.
25/26 Stats, Mytishchi: GP: 41 | REC: 14-21-1 | GAA: 2.97 | SV%: .921 | SO: 2 |
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Fifth Round, 139th overall, Nick Bogas, D (NTDP)
Bogas had a limited 2025-26 season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, recording four points in 37 games after missing time with a fractured ankle. The 6-0, 187 lbs left-shot defenseman stood out for his physicality, competitiveness and defensive reliability, taking on a shutdown role for the United States at the U18 World Championship. The Blues are betting on his ability to develop into a hard-nosed physical defender, though his offensive game remains a work in progress. Bogas will spend the 2026-27 season with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL before making the jump to the NCAA in 2027-28.
25/26 Stats, NTDP + USHL: GP: 54 | G: 2 | A: 4 | P: 6 | PPG: 0.11 |
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Fifth Round, 150th overall, Carter Stevens, C (OHL)
Stevens had a strong second season with the Guelph Storm scoring 20 goals for 36 points in 53 games despite missing 14 games with injuries. The 6-2, 194 lbs forward combines size, competitiveness and a strong two-way game with a scoring touch around the net. Taken 150th overall, he will look to add more creativity to his offensive game. With Guelph hosting the 2027 Memorial Cup, Stevens will have a great opportunity to showcase his development throughout the season.
25/26 Stats, Guelph: GP: 53 | G: 20 | A: 16 | P: 36 | PPG: 0.68 |
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Sixth Round, 171th overall, Lars Steiner, RW (QMJHL)
A relentless competitor with a strong motor, Steiner plays an energetic, physical game and can make an impact at both ends of the ice. His skating allows him to pressure opponents effectively, while his shot gives him a reliable scoring weapon. The 5-10, 176 lbs right-shot winger backed up that scouting profile with 30 goals and 55 points in just 44 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last season. The Blues bet on his well-rounded game despite concerns about his size and one-on-one creativity. With his work ethic and versatility, Steiner has the tools to outperform his draft position.
25/26 Stats, Rouyn-Noranda: GP: 44 | G: 30 | A: 25 | P: 55 | PPG: 1.25 |
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Seventh Round, 203th overall, Colin Fitzgerald, C (OHL)
Fitzgerald is a big, physical forward with a heavy shot that showed flashes of power-forward potential during a 33-point season split between Peterborough and Sault Ste. Marie. The 6-2, 212 lbs right-shot center has been ranked significantly higher by several scouting services earlier in the year, but consistency and skating remained concerns. St. Louis took a late-round flyer on those raw tools, giving Fitzgerald an opportunity to develop his physical tools and scoring ability into a more consistent offensive game.
25/26 Stats, Peterborough + Sault Ste. Marie : GP: 63 | G: 15 | A: 18 | P: 33 | PPG: 0.52 |
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Off-Season Moves
Incoming: (Remaining Years, AAV)
Mason McTavish – 5 years, $7 Million
Milton Gastrin – 3 years, $0,974 Million
Ross Johnston – 3 years, $2 Million
Connor McMichael – 6 years, $6.75 Million
Brandon Carlo – 1 year, $4.1 Million
Outgoing
Hunter Skinner
Akil Thomas
Samuel Johannesson (RFA)
Jordan Kyrou
Leo Loof
Julien Gauthier
Justin Holl
Hugh McGing
Vadim Zherenko
Thomas Bordeleau
Matthew Kessel
Re-signed
Will Cranley – 1 year, $0,85 Million
Jonatan Berggren – 1 year, $2 Million
Dillon Dube – 1 year, $0.85 Million
Oskar Sundqvist – 1 year, $0.85 Million
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In The System
Risers
Justin Carbonneau, RW
Carbonneau continued his progression toward becoming a more complete offensive threat in 2025-26. While his point total dipped from 89 to 80, he scored a career-high 51 goals in 60 games and tied for the QMJHL lead, then added 20 points in 17 playoff games.
More importantly, his game began to show greater NHL projection. He improved his puck decisions, off-puck movement and backchecking, while becoming more effective at extending plays rather than forcing low-percentage passes. That progress helped him finish with a remarkable plus-31 rating, a significant improvement from plus-3 the previous year.
The Blues rewarded that development by sending him to Springfield for the AHL playoffs, giving him his first taste of professional hockey. With his goal-scoring ability intact and his defensive habits improving, Carbonneau enters the new season as the Blues’ second-ranked prospect and a legitimate candidate to push for a top-six NHL role.
Otto Stenberg, LW
Stenberg took the next step in his development by reaching the NHL sooner than expected in 2025-26, appearing in 32 games with the Blues after spending the previous year establishing himself in Springfield. His 10 points did not jump off the scoresheet, nor did his AHL production improve, as he again finished with 17 points, but his overall game continued to mature.
The crafty center/winger showed that his playmaking, hands and body positioning could translate against NHL competition, while his hockey IQ and work without the puck earned the trust of Jim Montgomery in different situations, including the penalty kill. That versatility gives the team a clearer picture of how he can contribute at the next level.
Rather than simply projecting him as a future NHL player, Stenberg has now demonstrated that he can already contribute at that level, giving the former first-round pick a much clearer path toward a full-time spot.
Theo Lindstein, D
Lindstein’s 2025-26 numbers do not immediately suggest a breakout but his first extended opportunity at the NHL level provided a more meaningful indication of his progress. After recording 14 points in 59 AHL games, the defenseman was recalled by St. Louis in March and quickly showed that his skating, positioning and poise could translate against NHL competition. Lindstein averaged 15:46 of ice time across 17 games, finishing with two goals. two assists and a plus-6 rating while often playing alongside Colton Parayko.
His ability to move the puck efficiently and use his feet to close space earned the trust of Jim Montgomery, turning an opportunity created by the Blues’ trade deadline moves into a legitimate push for a full-time role. The offensive upside remains uncertain, but Lindstein now looks much closer to establishing himself as an NHL defenseman than he did a year ago.
Love Härenstam, G
Few prospects in the Blues’ system saw their stock rise as sharply as Härenstam in 2025-26. The 19-year-old went from an inconsistent junior goaltender to becoming the HockeyAllsvenskan’s top goalie in his first full professional campaign, recording a 1.81 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 32 games with Södertälje. He carried that momentum into the World Championship, helping Sweden win gold while being named the tournament’s top goaltender.
Beyond the results, scouts noted improvements in his positioning, patience and ability to control the game, suggesting his development was not simply the product of favorable circumstances.
Selected 179th overall in 2025, Härenstam now looks like one of the Blues’ most intriguing late-round bets in goal. Another strong professional season could put the sixth-rounder firmly into the conversation as a legitimate NHL prospect.
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Fallers
Zach Dean, C
Dean’s development continues to trend in the wrong direction, with his offensive upside becoming increasingly difficult to project at the NHL level. After returning from an extended absence in January, the fast, competitive center recorded four goals and 14 points in 36 AHL games, then added two goals and three points in 12 playoff contests. His pace, work ethic and two-way engagement remain useful tools, but he has yet to translate those attributes into consistent offense against professional competition.
More concerning, he went the entire campaign without an NHL call-up, leaving him with only nine NHL games since being drafted 30th overall in 2021. Once viewed as a potential middle-six center, Dean now projects more as an energy or depth option, significantly limiting his fantasy appeal.
Tomas Mrsic, C
Mrsic’s transition from a 90-point WHL season to the NCAA proved far more challenging than expected. The 2024 fourth-round pick recorded just five goals and 10 points in 36 games with Colorado College, a significant drop from the 33 goals and 90 points he produced in Prince Albert the previous year. His 94 shots suggest that his offensive instincts and willingness to attack remain intact, while his powerful skating and shooting still provide intriguing tools. However, he struggled to translate those strengths into consistent production and at times found himself in a bottom-six role.
The move to college hockey and a reduced offensive role provide some context, but the lack of a meaningful step forward in other areas makes his NHL projection less certain. Mrsic needs to bounce back and stand out with a strong sophomore campaign in the NCAA to restore the momentum he had built in junior hockey.
Vadim Zherenko, G
Despite improving his regular-season numbers, Zherenko’s stock took a hit in 2025-26. The 6-4 goaltender recorded a 3.08 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage in 42 AHL games, but again failed to earn an NHL opportunity. His struggles intensified in the playoffs, where he posted a 7.16 goals-against average and a .774 save percentage in two appearances, while Georgii Romanov emerged as Springfield’s preferred option. St. Louis subsequently signed Romanov to a two-year deal allowing Zherenko to become an unrestricted free agent.
After four professional seasons without an NHL opportunity, his path to the league has become considerably less certain, significantly reducing his organizational and fantasy value.
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Likely to See NHL Action
Otto Stenberg
Justin Carbonneau
Theo Lindstein
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki
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Top 20 Fantasy Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the St. Louis Blues prospects whose current trajectory projects them to make the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Tynan Lawrence
- Justin Carbonneau
- Otto Stenberg
- Theo Lindstein
- Adam Jiricek
- Maddox Dagenais
- Dmitri Buchelnikov
- Colin Fitzgerald
- Simon Robertsson
- Aleksanteri Kaskimäki
- Zach Dean
- Milton Gastrin
- Adam Jecho
- Matvei Korotky
- Ondřej Kos
- Jakub Štancl
- Carter Stevens
- Michael Buchinger
- Landon Nycz
- Love Harenstam
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Make sure to check out the St. Louis Blues team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/st-louis-blues/
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Final Thoughts
The off-season has given the Blues a clearer picture of what their next phase will look like. Rather than committing to a full rebuild, the team used the off-season to add NHL-caliber talent in Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael and Brandon Carlo while continuing to create opportunities for its younger players. That balance will be important moving forward as St. Louis looks to turn its growing pool of young talent into a competitive NHL team.
Dvorsky, Snuggerud, Mailloux and several other young Blues will be expected to continue progressing, while prospects such as Stenberg and Lindstein could push for NHL roles. The organization now has a deeper group of young talent, but development alone will not be enough.
The next challenge is turning that potential into consistent team success. If the young core takes another step and the off-season additions provide the expected impact, the St. Louis Blues could find themselves back in the playoff picture sooner than anticipated. The 2026-27 season should provide a much clearer indication of whether this group is ready to make that leap.
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Thank you for reading and follow me on Twitter/X for AHL updates all season long!
Pat Bast
Follow on Twitter/X: @PBastien1980