Top 15 Prospects Preseason 2023/24

“Has established himself immediately at the college level. Primary ice comes at even strength and the power play. Provides reliable detail in all three zones. Competes. Sees the ice very well. His read/readt game is high end. Compliments other skilled players on his line. Can play the game fast. Top 6 NHL scoring line upside. Plus release. Good size. Sturdy.”

Trending - Up

Projection - Top Six

Compete/Consistency - 70

Defensive Zone Starts - 70

Hockey IQ - 80

Penalty Kill - 50

Power Play - 80

Physicality - 50

Puck Moving/ Passing - 80

Shot - 80

Skating - 80

Overall Composite - 75

Reasoning for Ranking:

One of the biggest issues while making this power rankings was who would be number 1. Would it be Snuggerud or would it be Dvorsky. Although Dvorsky had a better camp than Snugs, Dvorsky stats line in the SHL isn’t very amusing (as shown in his report). I also think Snugs brings something the Blues lack which is a willingness to shoot. Snugs bring that as seen in yesterday's game against Bemedji State where he shot 11 times. I would expect Snugs to be in the Blues system by next year and hopefully, with no Kniess and Cooley, Snugs can take a leading role in Golden Gopher hockey.

2: Dalibor Dvorsky

C - IK Oskarshamn

2023 Draft Round 1 Pick #10

Height - 6’1’’ , Weight - 201lbs, 18 y/o

Previous Rank - n/a

23/24 Stats

SHL: 8GP 0G 0A -8 +/-

Capfriendly Report:

“Splitting time with the men’s team and the J20 group. Excels offensively when playing with his peer group. Especially dangerous on the PP from his weak side flank. Quick accurate release. Makes quick decisions with the puck - ability to be a play driver. Defensive detail has room to grow but he competes in all three zones”

Trending: Up

Projection: Top Six

Compete/Consistency - 70

Defensive Zone Starts - 70

Hockey IQ - 80

Penalty Kill - 50

Power Play - 80

Physicality - 53

Puck Moving/Passing - 70

Shot - 80

Skating - 80

Overall Composite 74

Reasoning for Ranking:

Dvorsky looked better in camp there’s no question about it. There are two main reasons why he's at 2. My main concern is that he has struggled in the SHL so far not putting up any points. I also have concerns with his defense. However, this is Dvorsky first year in the system and he has a lot to improve upon. It is also important to note he’s only 18 so he still has time to grow. Hopefully, in a few years, we will see Dvorsky on the same line as Snugs.

3: Jake Neighbours

LW - St. Louis Blues

2020 Draft Round 1 Pick #26

Height 6’0’’, Weight 195 lbs, 21 y/o

Previous Rank: 3

22/23 Stats

NHL stats - 43 GP, 6G, 4A, -19 +/-

IIHF Stats - 10 GP, 1G, 4A, 5 +/-

EliteProspects Report:

“He boasts playmaking ability, especially off the boards, has a decent motor with solid defensive fundamentals, and is sturdier than a refrigerator. Opposition defenders step up on him, then crumble to the ice. He’s a brick wall. And a brick wall who can set-up teammates with some pace and deception have value.

Reasoning for Ranking:

Jake Neighbours is still at three from my previous rankings but actually jumped my previous number two (Scotty P) from Predraft. I think by far the best preseason performer was Jake Neighbours. He contributed greatly with his line, made some hard hits, and scored some great goals. Not to mention Neighbours was also a contributor on the first power play line something the Blues desperately need to improve on. Neighbours will slot into the bottom 6 for this season and this will probably be his last time on my prospect list. However by the end of the year with these consistent improvements he’s made, I could see Neighbours getting selective top 6 minutes.

4: Zachary Bolduc

C - Springfield Thunderbirds

2021 Draft Round 1 Pick 17

Height 6’ 1’’, Weight 175 lbs, 20 y/o

Previous Rankings - 4

22/23 Stats

QMJHL Stats - 61 GP, 50G, 60A, 52 +/-

Q Playoff Stats - 18 GP, 11G, 8A, 6 +/-

EliteProspects Report:

“Bolduc’s tools give him the upper hand in downhill battles. When defenders stand flatfooted or rush him, he dangles through them with rapid stickhandling motions. And when given an open shooting lane, he can take a couple of steps, kick a leg back, and sling pucks past the goalie.”

Reasoning for Ranking:

One of the biggest questions for this preseason was could Zach Bolduc do enough to make the Blues opening night roster and the answer was no. Although players like Neighbours did excel during camp, it's important to note Bolduc wasn’t consistent. He looked great during the prospect camp in Minnesota but the last few playoff games, he became a non-factor. The reasoning for this was almost certainly that he wasn’t used to NHL quality defenders especially playing in the Q. Bolduc will begin the year in Springfield and hopefully, he will make the necessary improvements and be a midseason call-up later in the season.

5: Scott Perunovich

LD - Springfield Thunderbirds

2018 Draft Round 2 Pick 45

Height 5’ 9’’, Weight - 172 lbs, 24 y/o

Previous Ranking - 2

22/23 Stats

AHL Stats - 22 GP, 2G, 18A, 3 +/-

IIHF Stats - 10 GP, 1G, 7A, 8 +/-

No Summary Found

Reasoning for the Ranking:

Oh Scotty P, you had so much potential. The former Hobey Baker winner looked to be having an extended role this year with Krug possibly being traded to Philly. Unfortunately for Scotty P, Krug used his NTC meaning the defensive point man role is already taken and the Blues can’t send him down since Perunovich is no longer waiver-exempt meaning he will certainly almost be stuck in the suites watching and not playing much. This’ll be Scotty P last time being on this prospect list due to his age but he still has potential, he just needs playing time which Krug prevents him from getting.

6: Joel Hofer

G - St. Louis Blues

2018 Draft Round 4 Pick 107

Height 6’ 3’’, Weight 161 lbs, 22 y/o

Previous Ranked - 5

22/23 Stats

AHL Stats - 47 GP, 2.5 GAA, .921 SV%

NHL Stats - 6 GP, 3.22 GAA, .905 SV%

No Summary Found

Reason for Ranking:

It’s official, Hofer is the new backup of the St. Louis Blues. There can be debate as to whether or not Hofer and Subban actually had a backup competition but either way, Hofer is staying up. Hofer biggest attribute, being an oversized goalie, something the Blues haven’t had this century. The key to the Hofer experiment is patient. I do not see Hofer passing Binnington for the starter spot this year. I am also expecting a fair amount of awfully poor outings from Hofer like the end of his time with the Blues last year. However, if Husso can just be more consistent and maintain a solid string of performances he might be able to take the job in 2024.

7: Otto Stenberg

C - Frolunda HC

2023 Draft Round 1 Pick #25

Height 5’10’’, Weight 185lbs, 18 y/o

Previous Ranking - n/a

23/24 Stats

SHL 5GP 1G 1A 0+/-

CapFriendly Report

“Highly Skilled forward. Plays quick and fast. A threat off the rush. He has the ability to escape pressure and traffic in small areas to make plays. Competes - plays with energy - His 200ft game is reliable - he could be used in all situations if required - elements are speed, compete, offense, energy.”

Trending: Up

Projection: Top Six

Compete/Consistency - 60

Defensive Zone Starts -60

Hockey IQ - 80

Penalty Kill - 50

Power Play: 80

Physicality - 47

Puck Moving/Passing - 80

Shot - 80

Skating - 80

Overall Composite - 72

Reasoning for Ranking:

I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about Stenberg this is just the area I think he would fall if I knew more about him. I do like his 2 way game though as that fits the Berube style. Physicality could be better but still time to improve. The biggest thing I want to point out with Stenberg is that he was the captain of the Swedish junior team. That shows he has leadership skills something every franchise should want in a play. I expect Stenberg to stay in Sweden for 2 years and we will see if he makes the NHL or AHL in 2025/26.

8: Zach Dean

C - Springfield Thunderbirds

2021 Draft Round 1 Pick 30 (VGK)

Height 6’ 0’’, Weight 176 lbs, 20 y/o

Previous Ranking: 6

22/23 Stats

QMJHL Stats - 50 GP, 33G, 37A, 39 +/-

Q Playoff Stats - 13 GP, 10G, 16A, 4 +/-

EliteProspects Analysis

“Dean plays at a breakneck pace, stacking his skill as a handler and a passer on top of his skating ability to make plays without a moment’s hesitation. His hands work independent of his feet, with his top arm free from his side, pushed out well in front of him to grant him as much manoeuvrability as possible. If you get open, he’ll get you the puck. It’s just that simple.

Reasoning for Ranking:

Just like his other namesake, my report on Dean will be very similar to the one for Bolduc. Dean looked good at prospect camp but when it came time to actually play preseason hockey he was a non-factor. The reason Bolduc is higher is because Bolduc actually showed up with some assists on the stat sheet which Dean did far less of. I’ll attribute the same thing for Dean as I did Bolduc, the Q is great for stats but at the end of the day, it does not show you how to play against NHL level defenders. I expect Dean to absolutely tear up the AHL, especially when he figures out the de and I expect him to also make the NHL roster by the end of the year.

9: Theo Lindstein

LD - Brynas IF

2023 Draft Round 1 Pick 29

Height: 6’0’’, Weight 185lbs, 18 y/o

Previous Ranking: n/a

23/24 Stats

HockeyAllsvenskan - 4GP 2A +1 +/-

Capfriendly Analysis:

“Has spent the majority of his year at the SHL level playing pro. Primary ice comes at ES and (very occasionally) the PK vs the men. When playing in his own age group his deployed in all situations. Sound skater. Reads the ice well. Fronts opponents in the defensive zone. Head on a swivel. Reliable three zone IQ. Recognizes his limitations in the SHL and plays a safe 2-way game. With his age group, he takes more risk. Rushes more pucks, jumps to open spack more in the offensive zone. Produces offense. 2-way NHL D on the horizon. Potential to contribute some offense as he matures.”

Trending: Up

Projection: Second Pair

Compete/Consistency - 70

Defensive Zone Starts - 70

Hockey IQ - 77

Penalty Kill - 50

Power Play - 60

Physicality -40

Puck Moving/Passing - 60

Shot - 60

Skating - 80

Overall Composite - 69

Reasoning for Rankings:

The second Swede and the second defenseman on my list. Out of all the guys on here, Lindstein is by far the biggest project. Theo played most of his time last year in the SHL and sadly for him, he just couldn’t compete because of the size and experience (just look at Otto and DD currently). Luckily for Theo, Swedish relegation has sent him to the second tier hockey giving him more of an opportunity to develop. I expect Theo to spend as much time in Sweden as possible especially developing that offensive game.

10: Leo Loof

LD - Springfield Thunderbirds

2020 Draft Round 3 Pick 88

Height 6’2’’, Weight 176lbs, 21 y/o

Previous Rank: Unranked

22/23 Stats

Liga 55gp 4G 12A 22+/-

Champions HL: 6GP 1+/-

EliteProspects Analysis:

“He was among the best players for Farjestad when they reached the J18 Finals in 2019 and was selected as the league’s best defenseman. Loof is a technically refined stickhandler, with poise and a sound mechanical base. He’s tough as nails along the boards and in front of his own net, dominating his opponents with strong reads and heavy hits”

Reasoning for Ranking:

Last ranking I remember debating whether I should put Loof or Buchinger inside the top 10 and I came to the conclusion that Buchinger was the better pick as he had more upside in his offensive game. I would like to say I was dead wrong with the previous ranking after watching Loof in camp. Loof is an extremely talented defensive defenseman and shoved around numerous players during camp. It’s also important to note how Loof played in the Finish league and exceeded there. Loof will get an opportunity to play in Springfield this year and I see him being a heavy contributor. I don’t see him cracking the NHL this year but with the departure of Bortuzzo next season, I expect we will get our first taste of Loof.

11: Micheal Buchinger

LD - Guelph Storm

2022 Draft Round 3 Pick 88

Height 6’0’’, Weight 187 lbs, Age 19

Previous Ranking: 8

23/24 Stats

OHL: 4 GP, 2G, 1A, 2+/-

Capfriendly Analysis

“A valuable player who plays a steady 2-way game and provides three zone effort and detail. A “glue guy”. The kind of player coaches trust. Moves well. Sound IQ. He’s agile. Used in all situations at the OHL level. Doesn’t project to be a PP candidate as a pro. Size is not an issue. Added strength and weight in time. He’s aware and his read/react game speaks to his hockey IQ.”

Trending: Up

Projection: Third Pair

Compete/Consistency - 70

Defensive Zone Starts - 70

Hockey IQ - 70

Penalty Kill - 70

Physicality - 40

Puck Moving/Passing - 60

Shot - 20

Skating - 73

Overall Composite - 63

Reasoning for Ranking:

Take out this year's first-round picks, Buchinger is still my 8th-best prospect but that doesn’t mean he impressed in camp far from it. I had the expectation Buchinger would play in Springfield this year but he was so mediocre that the Blues slid him back to Guelph. In the OHL he’s performing great but the OHL forwards are just not to the same standard as the Q or the AHL. The St. Louis Dispatch called Buchinger the next Vince Dunn which he definitely still can be (he’s a prospect for a reason). However, I would like to see a big leap in his offensive performance in Guelph this year and hopefully next year, he’ll be the main prospect d-man on the Thunderbirds.

12: Juraj Pekarcik

LW - Dubuque Fighting Saints

2023 Draft Round 3 Pick #76

Height 6’2’’, Weight 183lbs, 18 y/o

Previous Rankings: n/a

23/24 Stats

USHL 6GP 2G 4A -1 +/-

Elite Prospects Analysis:

“Pekarcik’s hockey sense is legitimate. He can see when a play is closed and when he needs to switch to a new lane or a different option and he does that at quite a high pace. He’s also involved away from the puck, and he understands attacking layers, that it’s better for the offense if players aren’t clogged but taking more space on the ice. He drives inside, passes quickly, and can dangle through sticks.”

Reasoning for Ranking

I can’t make it more simple than this, all aboard the Pekarcik hype train! After putting up some insane numbers in Europe with DD (7GP 3G 7A in the WJC-18), Pekarcik decided to head over to North America. In July he was selected 2nd overall in the CHL Import Draft going to Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL. If he would’ve just stayed in the Q I would’ve put him in my top 10. However, a week later, Pekarcik decided to join Dubuque in the USHL a league usually used as a launching off point for college. Pekarcik has been getting a point per game in the USHL but I expected slightly more. Also, uncertainty about where he’s going next leads me to put him outside the top 12. However, I think his offensive game will continue to improve so expect him in the top 10 midseason.

13: Matthew Kessel

RD - Springfield Thunderbirds

2020 Draft Round 5 Pick #150

Height 6’2’’, Weight 205lbs, Age 23

Previous Rankings: Unranked

22/23 Stats

NHL 2GP 0G 0A -1 +/-

AHL 71GP 5G 28A -1 +/-

CapFriendly Analysis:

“A solid all round prospect who is used in all situations at the college level. Outlets well. Sees the ice. Has the ability to spin off pressure and make plays. In the offensive zone he can distribute and release pucks to the net from range. When playing his off-side he struggles to clear pucks on his back hand. Overall he is a reliable 2-way defender who manages the game well. Additionally, he brings good size and range. Not likely to produce high rate of offense as a pro.”

Compete/Consistency - 70

Defensive Zone Starts - 70

Hockey IQ - 70

Penalty Kill - 70

Power Play - 60

Physicality - 23

Puck Moving/Passing - 70

Shot - 70

Skating - 70

Overall Composite - 63

Reasoning for Rankings:

It has taken 5 defensemen but I finally found one that primarily plays on the right. Kessel is probably the most NHL-ready defenseman mentioned in this minus Scotty P. His defense is fairly good but his offense is the issue. Because of this, I don’t see Kessel ever cracking into the top 4. However, I do see him being a bottom 2/7th de his entire career which there’s nothing wrong with. I expect Kessel will play his role for the Blues and be a solid tape guy whenever future injuries occur.

14: Nikita Alexandrov

C - St. Louis Blues

2019 Draft Round 2 Pick 62

Height 6’0’’, Weight 190 lbs, 23 y/o

Previously Ranked: 9

NHL Stats - 28 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 0 +/-

AHL Stats - 41 GP, 19G, 19A, 11+/-

Elite Prospects Analysis

“A smart two-way forward with quick feet and fast speed”

Reasoning for Ranking

I’ve already said I thought Neighbours performed the best during training camp but if I had to give a second-place award, I have to give it to Alexandrov. Alexandrov was an impact player every game it seemed. I doubt Alexandrov was going to make the team at the beginning of the preseason but because of his effort, he’s made the team. Alexandrov is a great bottom 6 guy who can be solid both ways. Along with being a fan favorite, he’s also a bit of a leader in the locker room being named captain for the prospect showcase. Hopefully, Alexandrov will learn from Sundqvist this season. If he does, I could see Alexandrov being our future 4th line star.

15: Simon Robertsson

RW - Skelleftea AIK

2021 Draft Round 3 Pick #71

Height 6’0’’, Weight 190lbs, 20 y/o

Previous Ranking: Unranked

2023/24 Stats

SHL 2GP 0G 0A

Elite Prospects Analysis

“He pushes his top hand from his body and fully engages the lever-motion downforce on his stick for a mechanically clean shot with plenty of zip and accuracy. Robertsson couples that shot with savvy off-the-puck timing to make him a consistent scoring threat in the offensive zone”

“A dangerous winger with a good shot, Robertsson plays a smart forechecking game”

“His best asset is his release. He shoots as hard as a horse kicks”

Reasoning for Rankings:

Might as well end this rankings with the same trend the Blues followed this offseason, the more Swedes the better. Robertsson is one of those players in which he will either be really good in the pros or really stink. His shot is great without question the question is the rest of the game. He’s playing in the SHL with DD and Otto this year so I’m interested to see how he compares with them. Hopefully, though, this is Robertsson last year in Sweden and he can start his development in Springfield next year.

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