The St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate, Springfield Thunderbirds, announced their initial training camp roster on Sept. 30, and it features three forward prospects which Blues fans will want to keep track of how they are doing this season.
The Blues organization has completely rebuilt their prospect pool over the last three drafts and fans can look forward to some young up-and-coming talent.
One of these players has the potential to be a call-up option for St. Louis throughout the upcoming season, while the other two will contend for regular lineup spots with the Thunderbirds.
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Let’s discuss the three forward Blues prospects fans will want to keep an eye on during the 2024-25 AHL season in Springfield.
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C, Dalibor Dvorsky
Realistically, expectations were set maybe too high for Dalibor Dvorsky heading into his second training camp with the organization. The 2023 10th overall pick is only 19 years old and doesn’t turn 20 until June 15.
Yes, he’s had experience playing at the professional level overseas in Sweden, but the team doesn’t need him yet, and playing in the AHL is the smart move for his development.
Related: Dvorsky Will Let The St. Louis Blues Know When He’s NHL-Ready
The Slovak center played three pre-season games but was held off the scoresheet and was a minus-4. His intelligence and positional awareness were on display along with the added muscle he’s put on to improve his puck protection skills.
Alas, his foot speed and pace for the NHL level need to quicken. Also, Dvorsky’s offensive play was tentative throughout the pre-season and he didn’t show much confidence with the puck.
Dvorsky should start the season contending for a spot as a top-six center in Springfield with Zach Dean and Nikita Alexandrov.
RW, Simon Robertsson
Simon Robertsson had a strong showing at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase last month with three points in two games and scored in his pre-season debut against Utah on Sept. 22.
The team’s third-round, 71st-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has caught the eye of the Blues coaching staff in his first appearance since coming over from Sweden.
Related: Drew Bannister impressed by St. Louis Blues prospect Simon Robertsson
“He’s got really good hockey sense. He’s competitive. He stays on pucks, he seems to be around pucks a lot, he’s strong down low, things that typically you don’t see from 20-, 21-year-olds, things that they still have to grow into with his details and his habits but good skater and really strong on the puck. Really happy with his camp so far,” said Blues Head Coach Drew Bannister on what he’s seen out of Robertsson.
Robertsson struggled to consistently secure a top-nine role while playing in the SHL in Sweden. He did, however, win the SHL Championship last season with Skelleftea playing 15 games in the playoffs for them.
At 21 years old and entering his first season in North America, the Swedish forward will have to earn his keep on Springfield’s roster, but he has the qualities of a pro player that should help his transition to the AHL level.
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C/LW, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
The last player is a sleeper prospect in Finnish forward Aleksanteri Kaskimaki.
Kaskimaki, 20, signed his entry-level contract in late May this year after completing his second full season with HIFK in the top Finnish men’s league Liiga. He also played a top-six role for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors recording two goals and two assists in seven games.
Aleksanteri was drafted in the third-round, 73rd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He’s played 89 Liiga games, scoring 13 goals and 24 points in the last two seasons combined.
Related: 3 Bold St. Louis Blues Predictions in 2024-25
The six-foot, 192-pound forward is a sneaky good player. He doesn’t flash high-end speed or eye-popping creativity with the puck, but plays a strong two-way game and showcases above-average playmaking vision. Kaskimaki quickly surveys the ice to identify his passing options in transition and when retrieving pucks along the wall in the offensive zone.
Additionally, he’s got a sturdy frame that will only get stronger as he packs on more muscle, and can be a challenging forechecker to handle for defenders.
Kaskimaki could split time between the ECHL and AHL in 2024-25, but I wouldn’t count him out as a rookie for the Thunderbirds who establish a full-time spot in their bottom-six.
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