Dalibor Dvorsky’s early-season surge has given way to a harsher lesson in life as an NHL center, and Jim Montgomery is making the point as plainly as possible: the young St. Louis Blues forward has more to unlock.
Dvorsky opened the season with two goals in his first two games, but the minutes have come down since then. He logged a season-high 16 minutes against the Ottawa Senators, then saw that number slide to 10 minutes over his last three games against Minnesota, Nashville, and Winnipeg. The Blues have been working through a difficult stretch of opponents, but the broader message is clear - teams are adjusting to his game, and so are the Blues’ coaches.
That shrinking role has also been felt on the power play, where his time has been limited as well. For a section of the fan base, that has become a frustration point.
Some see a player who should be protected and kept in a smaller role. Others want to see a young center with a dangerous one-timer given more runway to work through the growing pains and build confidence.
Montgomery addressed that balance after practice Wednesday afternoon, and his message centered on the offensive side of Dvorsky’s game. The coach said Dvorsky has taken positive steps and has made tremendous strides defensively, but the staff wants more from him in the middle of the ice. They want him driving play through traffic instead of living on the perimeter.
Montgomery also said the coaching staff needs to see Dvorsky’s high-end skill show up more consistently. They want him involved on the forecheck, hunting pucks and making life harder for opposing defensemen. The hesitation is noticeable, and for a young forward trying to carve out space at this level, that can be the difference between a play developing and a veteran defender shutting it down.
That’s the adjustment Dvorsky is in the middle of right now: learning when to trust the instincts that made him so dangerous at the junior level, and when to play with the kind of discipline the NHL demands.
The Blues are in a position to let that process happen. With Mason McTavish and Robert Thomas handling heavy minutes at the top of the center depth chart, and Pius Suter giving them steady veteran support behind them, St. Louis does not need to force Dvorsky into a bigger job before he is ready.
For now, the Blues are treating his development as something that can take time. If he can respond to Montgomery’s challenge, get more involved physically, and rediscover his offensive confidence, the minutes and power-play chances should follow.
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