On March 22, the St. Louis Blues called up forward Dalibor Dvorsky from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Dvorsky was one of the first call-ups from the 2023 Draft class to make their NHL debut for the Blues, which he did on Sunday (March 23) against the Nashville Predators. While it was not an eventful debut (he was pointless), the Blues should have high hopes for him.
Dvorsky Is a Potential Early Bloomer
Dvorsky might find the NHL a real challenge, but, for the most part, he has developed well in just one season playing in North America. He came to Canada and played in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sudbury Wolves during the 2023-24 season, putting up 88 points in 52 games to rank in the top 15 in the OHL in points. He was also named to the First All-Star Team in his first and only season in the OHL.
However, it did not stop there. He has thrived in the AHL this season. Before being called up to the Blues, he recorded 43 points in 57 games and was named an AHL All-Star. The Blues must see his development on an upward trend, and once he begins to settle in, he will start to show in the NHL what he has demonstrated with his previous teams.
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However, the Blues must be careful about who they pair him with and how quickly they try to rush him into a top spot in the lineup. So far, he’s playing third-line minutes on a line with Alexandre Texier and Mathieu Joseph, and the Blues are already on the right track starting him at the bottom of the lineup. Dvorsky is a playmaker and shot-creator who thrives at creating plays for his teammates and himself, which will be useful if he develops into a top player for the Blues.
Blues Had Dvorsky in Their Plans in Advance
Dvorsky is one of two prospects to join the Blues this season, as Jimmy Snuggerud, who is currently playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with the University of Minnesota, will be the second once he finishes his season and can sign his entry-level deal. They would’ve had to wait until April to sign and add Snuggerud to the lineup, and I think the Blues went with the most NHL-ready top prospect they had besides him, which is great for Dvorsky and his development as a player.
Bringing Dvorsky to the NHL after only one season in the OHL shows that the Blues have big plans for him and want him to get comfortable in the big leagues. Management did the same thing with Zachary Bolduc, slowly adapting him to the NHL level, with great success. Despite having 29 points through 62 games, Bolduc has 15 goals this season. The Blues are preparing him and Dvorsky for what could be their future top line.
However, the most highly anticipated line will have Dvorsky and Snuggerud, who match what the Blues need right now – another top-line playmaker-goalscorer duo. Snuggerud is an exceptional shooter who knows how to put pucks in the net, and with Dvorsky on his line, the two could be unstoppable.
Playing Dvorsky Is the Best Option for the Future
This season, the Blues did what they had to do to build a more balanced team in terms of age, and they did so by protecting their key prospects, like Dvorsky, which could’ve hurt them in the long run if they planned on trading Dvorsky at the trade deadline. They have done what’s best for Dvorsky’s development without rushing him. He’s shown he can adapt on the fly, and if he proves he’s not yet ready for the NHL, he can still work on his game in the AHL.
As for his current call-up, this is the best time for the Blues to play their prospects, with very few games left in the season. Hopefully, Dvorsky can show down the stretch just how good he is and what he can bring to the team in the future.
