Although the Blues have picked in the first round the last three years, they haven’t picked excessively high or often in recent seasons. That, coupled with their great 2017 draft graduating, leads to a pipeline that doesn’t look that deep overall, even if their first-round picks should help their club.
Key graduates: Robert Thomas, Klim Kostin, Alexei Toropchenko
Key additions: Jimmy Snuggerud, Arseni Koromyslov
2021 ranking: No. 24
2022 NHL Draft grade: B
Full 2022-23 NHL Pipeline Rankings
Player Ranking
1. Zachary Bolduc, LW
19 years old | 6-foot-1 | 175 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 17 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Bolduc started off the season slow akin to his draft season, but went on an absolute tear in the second half, ending the season with 55 goals in 65 QMJHL games. He’s a highly talented forward. Bolduc has great skill and creativity and can make skilled plays at a pro pace. He used his teammates more consistently this season, showing legit playmaking ability to go with his fantastic shot. He’s a scoring threat from the dots due to his big one-timer and a great wrist shot. Bolduc can stick to the perimeter too much and doesn’t have much physicality in his game. I think he projects as a top-six forward, likely on the wing, but I’m guessing he at least gets a cup of coffee at center.
2. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW
18 years old | 6-foot-1 | 188 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 23 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Snuggerud’s a talented winger who can be dangerous with the puck on his stick. He has one-on-one skill, good vision and his best asset is his shot. He is a long-range shooting threat with a one-timer you can build a power-play unit around. Snuggerud has good size, competes well and is responsible defensively. The only issue is that he has heavy feet, which could impede him as he advances levels. The rest of his game is strong enough though that I think he could be a top-nine forward.
Jimmy Snuggerud. (Eric Bolte/USA Today)
3. Jake Neighbors, LW
20 years old | 6 feet | 195 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 26 in 2020
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Neighbors made the Blues out of camp and after nine games was sent back to junior. He didn’t put up the huge numbers I thought he would, but he was still a top WHL forward. Neighbors has legit NHL skill and vision, but it’s his work ethic combined with that skill that gets scouts excited about his future. He wins a lot of battles and projects as a reliable two-way player in the NHL despite a lack of great speed. I’d like to see a more consistent scoring touch from him, but I’ve seen enough of it over the years that I think it’s in there. Neighbors projects as a top-nine winger.
4. Dylan Peterson, RW
20 years old | 6-foot-4 | 192 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 86 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Peterson didn’t take a big step forward but he was still a productive sophomore. The bet on him is less what he’s done and a lot of projection as a big winger who skates well and has at least some offense. He lacks playmaking instincts, but he has good hands and can finish plays while also displaying a solid compete level. I think Peterson can be a bottom-six winger.
5. Arseny Koromyslov, D
18 years old | 6-foot-3 | 180 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 120 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Koromyslov is a big left-shot defenseman who is a strong skater. Due to his reach and mobility, he kills a lot of rushes. He’s a smart defender who anticipates plays well and uses his skating to jump up and pressure opponents. He also doesn’t shy away from the physical play with his big frame. With the puck, Koromyslov won’t dazzle. He has good flashes of stickhandling and passing but it’s not consistent. I think there’s just enough offense to be a third-pair defenseman given his physical tools.
6. Joel Hofer, G
21 years old | 6-foot-3 | 161 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 107 in 2018
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Analysis: Hofer was up and down in his second pro season, but he went on a tear in the AHL playoffs. He’s a good-sized netminder who shows great sense and poise in net. He moves efficiently around the crease tracking the play and never seems to be scrambling. Hofer has trouble getting to the quick lateral plays across the crease, but he’s big enough to be able to absorb enough of those shots. He projects as a full-time backup goalie.
7. Nikita Alexandrov, C
21 years old | 6 feet | 190 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 62 in 2019
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Alexandrov’s first full AHL season went well, helping Springfield become one of the top teams in the league. His skill and hockey sense drive his game. Alexandrov has the patience and vision to make a lot of difficult plays with the puck and is dangerous inside the offensive zone. He works hard enough off the puck, but has a wiry frame and lacks the speed you’d like for the NHL. I think he gets games, but I see him as more of a depth piece than a regular in the league.
Has a chance to play (listed alphabetically)
Michael Buchinger, D
18 years old | 6 feet | 187 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 88 in 2022
Analysis: Buchinger is a solid all-around defenseman. His skating isn’t explosive, but it’s good enough for him to be a useful pro. He can skate pucks out of trouble and can close gaps on checks well. Buchinger shows good flashes of skill and offensive playmaking, especially off the rush. I don’t think he’s a natural puck-mover, though. Combine average offense with average size and I’m not sure where he fits on an NHL team, but there’s enough to his game for him to have a shot.
Tanner Dickinson, F
20 years old | 5-foot-11 | 150 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 119 in 2020
Analysis: Dickinson is a smart, competitive forward with some offensive abilities, but his skating may limit him at higher levels.
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki, C
18 years old | 6 feet | 196 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 73 in 2022
Analysis: Kaskimaki is a skilled, playmaking center. He shows very good puck skills in tight areas and he can make defenders miss and create offense. Kaskimaki competes well, showing no fear to get to the net, can PK and wins a decent chunk of battles. He can also play on the perimeter and make a lot of plays through the seams. His one drawback is his average footspeed especially since he also has an average frame. He has a chance to play in the NHL if his skating improves.
Matthew Kessel, D
22 years old | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 150 in 2020
Analysis: Kessel is quite intriguing as a big, right-shot defenseman with some puck-moving ability and a decent point shot. The only worry for him is whether his skating holds him back from being an NHL player.
Leo Lööf, D
20 years old | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 88 in 2020
Analysis: Loof is a tall, mobile defenseman who competes hard and is good defensively, but whether he can move the puck in the NHL is an open question.
Mathias Laferrière, RW
22 years old | 6-foot-1 | 174 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 169 in 2018
Analysis: I liked Laferriere as a junior, but his first pro season was tough. I respect he has some skill and goal-scoring ability, but his lack of pace looks like an issue and he doesn’t have much of a game away from the puck.
Simon Robertson, LW
19 years old | 6 feet | 190 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 71 in 2021
Analysis: Robertsson is a skilled winger with good hockey sense who can finish chances, but his skating is just fine and may limit him in the NHL.
Vadim Zherenko, G
21 years old | 6-foot-2 | 172 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 208 in 2019
Analysis: Zherenko is an intriguing prospect. He has decent size and a good, quick twitch in his lower half to make tough saves versus pros. When he’s locked in he can be a difference-maker. He has an NHL toolkit, he’s just inconsistent and gives up too many low-percentage goals.
Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2022, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Illustration: Wes McCabe / The Athletic; photo of Jake Neighbors: Kevin Abele / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
.