Top Prospects: The NHL System Rankings

#11: St Louis Blues

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Number of Ranked Prospects: 36

Number of Forwards in the Top 50: 2

Number of Defensemen in the Top 50: 1

Average Rank of Top 10 Prospects in Pool: 55th

Top Forward Prospect in The System: Dalibor Dvorsky (11th)

Top Defenseman Prospect in The System: Adam Jiricek (8th)

System Score: 4

The St Louis Blues retained only six first- or second-round draft picks during the five years from 2018-2022, and was able to extract only one true full-time NHLer with those six picks (Jake Neighbours, the forward drafted 26th overall in 2020). The team and long-time general manager Doug Armstrong was trying desperately to stay relevant as a Stanley Cup contender after their surprising run to the 2019 championship. However, by midway through the 2022 season all the signs of decay were too obvious to deny, and the team dived deep into rebuild mode. They traded NHL starters and started collecting draft picks, and by the end of the season they had three first-round picks in hand, and the team as a total has made six first- and second-round picks in just the last two seasons. With those picks the Blues were able to fortify their prospect pool with several high-quality young players to join some of their solid prospects already in the system. Two of those first-round picks allowed the Blues to grab two of the best hockey prospects--one forward and one defender--in the prospect world.

The Top of The Pool:

St Louis selected Dalibor Dvorsky tenth overall in the 2023 draft, and although he has yet to make his NHL debut, the 6'1, 203-pound Slovakian center will not be waiting long before he pulls on a Blues sweater. Dvorsky is already playing in Springfield with the Blues' AHL affiliate (as a European player when he was drafted, he can play in the AHL before the age of 20) after coming to North America to play one post-draft season in the OHL where he put up 45 goals and 43 assists in just 52 games. In his first ten AHL games this season he has scored 5 goals with 2 assists. Despite some flaws in his game (he is not the fastest skater, nor is he a high-vision playmaker), Dvorsky has the nearly single-minded focus of getting pucks to the net. He drives play up ice, hustling through transition, constantly moving his feet and pushing his teammates into the offensive zone. He is a player who seemingly wants his team to score more than anything else he could imagine, and he looks willing to do whatever takes to accomplish that feat. Every NHL team wants and needs a player like Dvorsky, and the Blues and their fan base will soon be enjoying that tremendous scoring drive. 

Adam Jiricek is the best defender in the Blues system. The younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner David Jiricek, Adam was drafted 16th overall in 2024 and is currently playing for the OHL's Brampton Bulldogs. He made his North American debut just a few days ago after missing the early part of the season recovery from a knee injury. Jiricek is a 6'2, 180-pound defender who can play a ton of mistake-free minutes at both ends of the ice, using his easy four-way mobility and positional awareness to shut down opponent attacks, and then activate up ice. After a promising offensive season in the Czech U20 league as a 17 year old (he put up 29 points in 41 games), Jiricek has struggled to provide offensive counting stats. He scored just one point in 19 games in the top Czech men's league before injuring his knee at the World Juniors. He is scoreless so far in his first three games in the OHL, as well. Being held off of the scoresheet, however, is not indicative of his offensive ability. He is quick up ice, a good passer when established in the zone, and he has a bomb of slap shot. He can put hard shots on net with one-time slapshots from the point, or he will pinch in and drive the net when the opportunity arises.

Zachary Bolduc and Jimmy Snuggerud are ranked 50th and 57th overall in the Hockey Prophets Top Forwards prospect rankings. Bolduc was drafted 17th overall in 2021 as a point-per-game player in 27 games in the post-Covid season. In two post-draft seasons, Bolduc scored 105 goals and added 104 assists for 209 points in just 126 QMJHL games. Bolduc is already playing for the St Louis Blues, and is on the cusp of graduating from the prospect ranks as a full time NHLer. He is currently getting only ten to twelve minutes of ice time per game, but he brings offensive flair and solid work ethic, and should eventually work his way into a consistent middle-six role.

Jimmy Snuggerud is a sniper power forward playing for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He is a tough-nosed player who might lack top speed, but he makes up for that with gritty hard work and a dynamite shot. He plays a hard physical game and grinds out cycle play until a scoring chance appears. His 93 points (including 45 goals) in 87 Big Ten NCAA games proves that he can take advantage of those opportunities.

Colin Ralph is a massive defenseman (6'5, 227 pounds) selected 48th overall out of the Shattuck St Mary's program by the Blues in 2024. He is currently showing off his excellent skating and defensive prowess at St Cloud State in the NCAA, where he has two points in his first nine games. He uses his size and fluid movement so well to take away lanes and to eliminate rushing attackers. It is rare to see even the fastest forwards turn Ralph, and he should be able to transition that ability to the NHL level. 

The Blues also have a few other prospects ranked in the top 100 of the Hockey Prophets' forward and defensemen prospect rankings.

Adam Jecho (a 6'5, 201-pound center/winger) has fast, capable puck and shooter skills, and for a player that big and that young, he shows decent skating and agility. His production is progressing nicely in the WHL, and he is above a point-per-game through the first 13 games of the 2024-2025 season. He should be among the leaders of the Czechia squad at the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Theo Lindstein was drafted 29th overall in 2023, and the efficient, safe defender playing for Brynas in the SHL. He is well-rounded and smart, and looks like a quality, two-way middle pair who will be reliable at both ends of the ice. The Blues have a similar, albeit larger and more offensive-minded defender that they drafted 74th overall in 2023 in Quinton Burns. He is a 6'2, 198-pound blueliner playing in Kingston of the OHL. He is strong and  intense and as such he spends quite a bit of time in the penalty box. He is a presence in all three zones and was named captain of the Frontenacs this season. 

Return to the Team System Rankings

Below is the full list of the St Louis Blues' ranked prospects.

Top Forwards 

Top Defensemen