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The St. Louis Blues aren’t off to an amazing begin within the preseason. They dropped their first recreation in opposition to the Dallas Stars 2-1 in what was a low-event affair and adopted it up with a 5-3 loss to the Utah Hockey Membership.
The Blues break up up their rosters in each video games, that includes a great mixture of NHL gamers and prospects. Beneath are three prospects within the group that followers ought to keep watch over through the preseason.
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St. Louis’ high prospects Dalibor Dvorsky and Zachary Bolduc usually are not included on this record. Our three gamers on the record focus extra on the “beneath the radar” kind of prospects within the group who might push for an NHL spot in a single to 2 years, and even be callup choices for the crew this season.
Dvorsky and Bolduc already are on each Blues fan’s radar. The 2 are in fierce competitors to make the opening evening roster, and each have already got gotten the chance to play alongside NHL-caliber gamers of their preseason video games.
Listed below are the three “beneath the radar” prospects Blues followers ought to key in on:
Zach Dean
Zach Dean is a participant I’ve watched since his U16 season within the GTHL (Higher Toronto Hockey League) with the Toronto Nationals AAA crew. He clearly was his crew’s finest participant and one of many high prospects popping out of the GTHL.
St. Louis made a somewhat uncommon commerce after they acquired Dean from the Vegas Golden Knights. As an alternative of buying and selling Ivan Barbashev for a number of draft picks, the crew dealt him for the 2021 thirtieth general decide.
After three seasons within the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques, Dean graduated to the skilled stage final season, scoring 9 objectives and 14 factors in 49 video games with the Springfield Thunderbirds within the AHL, and acquired a nine-game stint with the Blues.
Dean did not have a standout rookie season within the AHL, however he was a standout on the latest Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase event and is placing his identify on the map as a participant who could problem among the veterans for a spot within the opening evening lineup.
Dean is not a giant ahead, listed at six toes and 179 kilos. However he is sneaky sturdy on his stick and nice at stealing pucks in board battles. He is an agile and fast skater who pressures defenders into making errors with the puck. Watch him be a daily top-six contributor in Springfield this season.
Samuel Johannesson
Samuel Johannesson was picked 176th general within the sixth spherical of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is an older prospect who turns 24 on Dec. 27.
The 5-foot-11 right-shot defenseman performed alongside Pierre-Olivier Joseph in St. Louis’ preseason opener in opposition to Dallas and didn’t look misplaced in his first little bit of NHL motion.
Johannesson has loads of expertise enjoying on the skilled stage. He is performed 239 video games within the SHL in Sweden and received the Champions Hockey League with Rogle BK in 2021-22. He recorded 59 factors in 95 video games in his final two seasons and can play in North America for the primary time in his profession within the AHL with Springfield this season.
What we noticed from the Swedish defenseman is that he is a easy, calm, environment friendly puck-moving defenseman. He would not panic beneath strain up alongside the offensive blueline or when dealing with the puck in his personal zone. His passes had been delivered with crisp accuracy. He’ll have the chance to run the powerplay in Springfield and be a go-to offensive defenseman for the crew.
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Simon Robertsson
Simon Robertsson performed on a line with Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Tanner Dickinson the opposite evening in opposition to Utah and bought on the scoresheet when he deposited the puck into the online off a fairly backhand feed by Juraj Pekarcik.
Robertsson has been an fascinating prospect to observe since he was chosen 71st general within the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He was rated as a late first-rounder/early second-rounder however slipped to St. Louis within the third spherical.
He struggled to realize footing within the SHL and vault himself up the lineup within the Skelleftea group. Nevertheless, he did win the SHL Championship with them final season, recording two factors in 15 playoff video games.
Robertsson is the kind of prospect who is not flashy however has quite a lot of NHL-like qualities. He is a robust skater and powerful on his skates and he has a handy guide a rough fast launch and a goal-scorer shot.
The Swedish winger signed his entry-level contract again in Might and is anticipated to report back to Springfield and get amassed with the North American play type.
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