Dylan Peterson Is Making His Case for a Blues Opening Night Roster Spot

Dylan Peterson knows exactly what is at stake. After spending the past two seasons developing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the 24-year-old forward is trying to show that he can finally make the jump to the St. Louis Blues.

Through two preseason games, Peterson has been noticeable, dropping the gloves in both contests while showing the physicality and work ethic that have become defining parts of his game. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will make the opening-night lineup.

St. Louis has plenty of competition for spots in the bottom six, and Peterson’s role as a potential enforcer makes his path even tougher. Still, he is doing what he can to force his name into the conversation, and his performance through two games has given the coaching staff something to think about.

Peterson’s Size Gives Him an Advantage

At 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, Peterson has the size that stands out. He is one of the bigger forwards competing for a roster spot, and he has used his frame to establish himself as a physical player in Springfield, recording 12 goals and 12 assists in 57 games with the Thunderbirds to go with 85 penalty minutes.

His production has also been fairly consistent. In 2024-25, he recorded 13 goals and 22 points in 52 games while registering 82 penalty minutes. He has shown that he can provide some offense, but his physicality is a much bigger part of his identity. That is not a bad thing, especially for a Blues team that values having players willing to play a heavy game, but it does make his path to the NHL roster more complicated.

Peterson has to prove that he can bring more than size and a willingness to fight. If he wants to beat out other players for a bottom-six position, he needs to show that he can contribute consistently when the puck is on his stick.

Two Fights in Two Preseason Games

In St. Louis’ first preseason game against the Dallas Stars, Peterson dropped the gloves with Kyle Burroughs late in the third period. The fight came after Burroughs was called for a cross-check on Peterson behind the Stars’ net, and Peterson responded by sticking up for himself.

He did it again in the second preseason game, fighting Jack Anderson early in the first. He and Anderson both received five-minute fighting majors, giving Peterson two fights in his first two preseason games.

While the fights will get everyone’s attention, they are not enough to earn him an NHL job. They do, however, show the Blues he will do whatever he can to make an impression. He has put himself in the middle of the action and shown that he wants an opportunity, which is exactly what he needs to do when competing against players with NHL experience.

Blues head coach Jim Montgomery has noticed that effort. After Peterson’s performance in the opener, Lou Korac of The Hockey News reported Montgomery’s comments:

“He fits in. It’s up to him to go grab a job. He was very impressive last game. He’s got to continue to make his mark,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery is essentially giving him the chance to earn his way onto the roster rather than simply handing him a spot based on his potential.

Taking Toropchenko’s Spot Will Not Be Easy

St. Louis has several forwards competing for a limited number of spots, and Peterson will likely need to take Alexey Toropchenko‘s place to make the opening-night lineup.

That is not an easy task. Toropchenko has already established himself as an NHL player and has a reputation for playing a physical game, forechecking and making life difficult for opposing teams. If Peterson wants to replace someone with that type of experience, he needs to show the Blues he can provide more than a willingness to drop the gloves. Montgomery pointed toward exactly that after Peterson’s first preseason game.

“We would like to see him chip more pucks and go get it on the forecheck like a ‘Torpo’ does,” Montgomery said. “We love the fight, love the way he creates. He showed some real high-end skill.”

That last part is important. Peterson’s size and physicality already stand out, but the Blues need to see whether he can consistently make plays and create offense. If he becomes known only as an enforcer, there are fewer reasons for the Blues to choose him over a player who can provide more in other areas of the game.

Peterson is making himself impossible to ignore, but fighting alone won’t get him on the roster. He needs to show he can contribute offensively and potentially fill a role like Toropchenko’s.