The Next Generation of the St. Louis Blues Franchise

1. Dalibor Dvorský — The Slovak Centre With Two‑Way Upside

Profile & Recent Performance

• Dvorský was the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Blues.  

• He’s a 6‑foot‑1, ~200‑lb centre from Zvolen, Slovakia.

• In his 2023‑24 season with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, he exploded offensively: 52 games, 45 goals, 43 assists (88 points). He was named to the OHL First All‑Star Team.  

• For 2024‑25, he stepped into professional play with the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds: in ~57 games he posted 20‑21 goals and 43‑45 points, showing he can produce among the top rookie forwards in the AHL.  

• He also made his NHL debut (a couple of games) late in the 2024‑25 season, giving fans a glimpse of how he might fit.  

Strengths & Upside

• Strong offensive instincts: good shot, good release, sneaky in tight spaces, ability to score goals at multiple levels.  

• Solid size, physicality, and defensive awareness, especially for a young centre. He’s not just offensive flair; he’s shown a willingness and capacity to play a two‑way game.  

• Leadership: he has captained Slovak junior teams, including in the World Junior Championship, and often is relied upon in big moments.  

Challenges / Areas to Improve

• Pacing: One recurring note from scouts is that while his overall game is very good, the speed and quickness required at the NHL level are a step up. He’ll need to get more consistent with his skating edges and acceleration. 

• Driving play vs. being reactive: sometimes he isn’t the one initiating offense; more often he is capitalizing on opportunities. To reach top‑six status, he’ll need to become more of a play driver.  

• Consistency and physical adaptation: adjusting to the rigors of playing against grown men regularly (in the AHL/NHL) will test his endurance, decision‑making under pressure, and ability to avoid getting pushed off the puck.

Projection
Dvorský looks like a player who can be a second‑line centre in the NHL in the next 1‑2 seasons, with potential for more (top‑six) if things break well: if his offensive output continues to climb in the AHL/NHL, and if he rounds out his 200‑foot game. Blues likely view him as a core piece going forward.

2. Jimmy Snuggerud — The NCAA Finish Line Sharpshooter

Profile & Recent Performance

• Snuggerud is an American right winger, drafted 23rd overall by the Blues in the 2022 Draft.  

• He played college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he had very strong numbers: in the 2024‑25 season, he scored 24 goals and added 27 assists in 40 games. He was team captain and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.  

• Late in the 2024‑25 season, after the Gophers’ campaign ended, Snuggerud signed a three‑year entry‑level contract with the Blues.  

• He made his NHL debut on April 1, 2025, and shortly thereafter scored his first NHL goal. 

Strengths & Upside

• Goal scoring ability: Snuggerud has a strong shot, good offensive instincts, and is dangerous around the net and in scoring areas. He’s proven he can finish at high levels in college.  

• Offensive versatility: while Snuggerud does bring goal scoring, he also has solid playmaking ability, and can contribute in different offensive situations.  

• NCAA experience: playing as a captain, in high‑pressure settings, and against older, more mature players gives him a leg up in adjusting to pro hockey mentally.

Challenges / Areas to Improve

• Physicality and consistency in non‑scoring areas: like many young shooters, there will be questions about his defensive work, forecheck, backcheck, physical resilience against bigger, stronger NHL opponents.

• Adapting speed: Skating and decision‑making at the NHL level are noticeably faster. He’ll need to sharpen those parts of his game.

Projection
Snuggerud looks NHL‑ready in parts, probably as a middle‑six winger to start. The goal will be to establish consistency and then push upwards. If the scoring touch keeps showing, he could become a potent offensive weapon for the Blues.

3. Justin Carbonneau — The 2025 First‑Round Power‑Forward Prospect

Profile & Recent Performance

• Carbonneau is a winger from Lévis, Quebec, drafted 19th overall by the Blues in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

• He is ~6‑foot‑1, ~192‑lbs. In his 2024‑25 QMJHL season (with Blainville‑Boisbriand Armada), he posted 46 goals and 43 assists (89 points) in 62 regular‑season games, ranking 2nd overall in scoring in the QMJHL.  

• Over three seasons in QMJHL, his totals are strong: 82 goals, 86 assists in ~162 games. He also had solid playoff performances.

Strengths & Upside

• Scoring touch: Carbonneau has shown he can put the puck in the net, consistently, at the junior level. Great finishing instincts. 

• Power forward frame and mentality: big enough to handle physicality, not shy about going to the dirty areas, willing to engage in the rough parts of the game. 

• Potential star upside: As a recent first‑rounder, expectations are high. If he translates his junior scoring and physical tools to the pro level, he could be a dynamic winger or even more.

Challenges / Areas to Improve

• Transition to pro hockey: This is always a leap, especially with skating speed, physical routines, consistency, and defensive responsibilities. He’ll need time to adapt.

• Decision‑making under pressure: In tight NHL games, the pace, checking, and pressure are much greater. Carbonneau will need to learn and adjust to faster reads, quicker forecheck pressure, etc.

• Consistency: Scoring in juniors is one thing; sustaining production while playing lower minutes, sometimes out of the top lines (or matching up against tougher competition) is another.

Projection
Carbonneau is more of a “future piece” compared to Snuggerud and (possibly) Dvorský. Likely a year or more of junior or minor‑pro before full NHL readiness, but with high ceiling. If all goes well, expect him to be a top‑nine winger early on, with potential for more.

🔍 Comparative Thoughts & What to Watch

• Dvorský is very close to being a regular NHL contributor. He already has experience in the AHL, was called up towards the end of the 24/25 season, and has shown strong two‑way tools.

• Snuggerud has just made his NHL debut, which means he’ll be judged on whether he can carry over his scoring efficiency, and how well he adjusts to the speed, physicality, and responsibility (defensive and otherwise) at that level. 

• Carbonneau is earlier in his path, though picked in the first round, which suggests the Blues believe he has a high ceiling. His development will involve a lot of projection and patience, particularly in seeing how well his junior strengths translate.

Conclusion

The St. Louis Blues have been building a deeper pipeline, and these three names give fans a lot to be optimistic about. They represent different stages: Dvorský on the verge, Snuggerud making early NHL steps, Carbonneau with high potential and time to grow.

If I were to bet, I’d say Dvorský and Snuggerud will both be regulars in the NHL within the next season or two, while Carbonneau could be a breakout a bit further down the road but with “top‑six upside” if he hits all his marks.