The NHL season is almost here and on Wednesday, September 4th, a thrilling wave of 33 prospects and rookies descended upon the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia.
Among the group of 33 prospects, the St. Louis Blues‘ organization had Dalibor Dvorsky represent them, as he prepares for the biggest training camp of his career.
Credit: Sammi Silber/The Hockey News
Dvorsky will do his best to make some veteran Blues players’ lives uncomfortable when training camp starts later in the month. The 19-year-old Slovak centerman has his eyes set on playing in the NHL for the 2024-25 season, but it will be a challenging feat.
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GM Doug Armstrong has a lot of faith in his 10th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. A few months back, Armstrong jokingly said to the media that Dalibor could be the team’s second-line center.
Now, that’s a hefty responsibility for someone who has never played an NHL game, but it identifies one of St. Louis‘ weaknesses in their lineup.
Robert Thomas is their number-one center. Then, the organization has several players who can play down the middle of the ice in their bottom six — Radek Faksa, Alexandre Texier, and Oskar Sundqvist. The Blues can move Brayden Schenn or Pavel Buchnevich to center line number two, but they are better suited on the wing.
That leaves a hole that Dvorsky could fill if he knocks it out of the park at training camp.
Related: Dalibor Dvorsky: “It’s all up to me”
The Sudbury Wolves of the OHL retain Dvorsky’s rights, but he was not listed or is attending the team’s training camp and preseason. The Wolves organization could see their 2023-24 all-star import forward return if things go south for him, but there’s a good chance he will play in the AHL if he doesn’t make St. Louis out of camp.
Multiple members from the Blues’ front office have noted that Dalibor looks stronger. His ability to protect pucks while surveying for outlets has always been a strength in his game.
He mentioned that his transition from Sweden to North America last season went very well and was a really good move for his development. He already got a headstart adjusting to the smaller ice surface when he played in the OHL last year, but the NHL preseason will be vastly different from the OHL.
Now, if he is to crack the Blues’ opening night roster, he has to show that his IQ and foot speed can keep up with the NHL pace.
Dvorsky playstyle is a two-way center and there are little doubts regarding his commitment to playing defense. However, outside of his lethal shot, his offensive tools aren’t elite, and expecting him to come in and produce like a second-line center should at his age is unrealistic.
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