Dalibor Dvorsky arrived in St. Louis with plenty of shine on him, but the early returns have not matched the billing.
The Blues’ former top pick since Alex Pietrangelo in 2008 has shown the traits that made him such a prized prospect - especially his shot and his ability to handle responsibilities in all three zones - yet the production still has not followed. Through 84 NHL games, he has 24 points.
That lack of offense has not gone unnoticed. Head coach Jim Montgomery has been direct about wanting more from the young centerman, and Dvorsky’s role has reflected that concern. He has averaged 12:34 of ice time to open this season, a number that makes it awfully hard for him to change the conversation.
The underlying numbers point in the same direction. According to HockeyStatCards.com, Dvorsky’s offensive rating sits in the 18th percentile, while his defensive rating checks in at the 35th percentile. Put together with the limited minutes, it raises the possibility that the Blues could decide the best move is to send him to the AHL to sort things out.
If that happens, the Blues have options to fill the opening. Jack Finley stands out as the most interesting name.
At 6'6" and 227 pounds, he would bring a much-needed physical presence to a fourth line that could use it. That move could also allow Pius Suter, who has bounced back offensively to start the year, to slide into the third line.
There’s also the bigger-picture angle. If Justin Carbonneau earns his way onto the NHL roster, he would need a top-nine role, and Dvorsky is the player most likely to give way.
A stint in Springfield would not automatically close the book on Dvorsky. Jordan Kyrou needed until his third season to become a full-time NHL player, and his path turned into a long one in St.
Louis. But the Blues have also seen the other side of that coin with Klim Kostin, another former top prospect who was sent down in his third season, never returned to the NHL for the Blues, and was later traded to Edmonton for next to nothing.
The ages add another wrinkle. Dvorsky is 21, which makes him a year younger than Kostin was when he was last sent down and a year older than Kyrou was at that stage. If a demotion comes, his future could end up somewhere between those two paths.
None of this is set in stone, of course. If Dvorsky catches fire and forces Montgomery to expand his role, the whole discussion changes fast. But right now, the clock is ticking.
In Other News...
Blues Prospects Are Forcing A Tougher NHL Decision Than Expected
The Blues latest round of roster movement underscored just how many young players are pressing for attention. Defenseman Theo Lindstein and forward Dylan Peterson were sent back to Springfield after brief NHL looks, while Aleksenatari Kaskimaki, Otto Stenberg and defenseman Quinton Burns were brought up to St. Louis, giving the coaching staff another set of prospects to evaluate in real time.
Kaskimaki and Stenberg made the most of their chances, each picking up a point in two games, and the depth chart keeps shifting as other Blues prospects continue to produce in the AHL, KHL, OHL and QMJHL. It has created a tougher decision than expected for a club trying to balance development with the need for immediate help, especially with more young players still making a case for themselves in Springfield. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Still Have One Clear Gap Before They Can Chase Contenders
Robert Thomas is still the face of the Blues next push, and the conversation around him only gets sharper when hes measured against the leagues better centers. A recent matchup with Carolina offered a clean reminder of where St. Louis stands, with Sebastian Aho bringing the more polished all-around game and the kind of offensive consistency the Blues are still trying to build toward. Thomas remains a centerpiece for a young core that has room to grow, but the gap between being promising and being a true contender is still easy to see.
Ahos edge is not just about one night, either. His career production has come at a steadier clip, and that matters when youre comparing a team trying to climb with a player who already has a long track record of driving results. For the Blues, the encouraging part is that Thomas and the group around him are still in position to improve, but closing that gap will take more than internal growth alone. It will take more finishing ability from the top end of the lineup, and the kind of consistency that contenders tend to have before everyone else catches up. [Read more 🡒]