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St. Louis Blues Should Sign Prospect Ken Appleby

By Kate Cimini

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The St. Louis Blues held their Prospect Camp last week, inviting 26 players to show off their skills in hopes of earning a contract with the franchise. While a number of media and fans were in attendance, practically the only name on anyone’s lips was Robby Fabbri, who is more or less NHL-ready, according to his performance at camp.

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But while Fabbri stole the show, scoring at will and making the most of his impressive skating ability, a number of other prospects demonstrated considerable skill, enough to merit contract with the Chicago Wolves to see how they develop over the next season or more. This series will focus on the prospects who might have slipped under the radar that we think merit a long, hard look.

Ken Appleby

Appleby is the first-string goaltender for the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals, setting up camp in front of Martin Brodeur’s goaltending son (who was also invited to the camp), Jeremy Brodeur.

Appleby went undrafted for the past three years, likely initially due to a need for continued development at the Major Junior level. He has stepped his game up on the ice, however, and posted regular-season save percentage of .924 for the 2014-2015 season.

He was 38-7-4 this season with a 2.08 goals-against average, and earned six shutouts during the regular season with the Generals. In the post, Appleby went 16-5 with a 2.24 GAA, a .922 save percentage and two shutouts, capping his season on a high note.

Appleby helped the Generals take the Memorial Cup home. He made 37 saves  against the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets in the championship game for a 2-1 overtime win.  Perhaps even more interesting, he helped stiff Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters for the OHL’s Robertson Cup.

Appleby has size on his side, at 6’4″ and 209 lbs, and uses his broad frame to fill up the net and take away easy chances for players. He’s very good in-close with a quick glove hand, often preferring a sort of slumping flop onto the ice while performing magic with his left hand. It’s distracting and highly effective.

Glove hand aside, Appleby’s also got an unusually good grasp on his stick, making difficult saves look almost easy.

St. Louis may have Jake Allen, Brian Elliott, and most recently drafted hometown goalie Luke Opilka, but they can’t afford to pass Appleby by. He’s years ahead of Opilka in development and will be ready to step up for St. Louis before Opilka is ready to come up from Chicago. Elliott won’t last more than another season or two with St. Louis and Allen will need a backup — or a tandem — who can hold their own against attackers and present a style complimentary to Allen’s.

Martin Brodeur spoke highly of Appleby in an interview with NHL.com’s Lou Korak.

“He’s a big goalie; I think it’s hard not to give him a look. He’s a kid with success and a track record; that’s what it’s all about. He’s paid his dues sitting behind a goalie in Oshawa and got the job as No. 1. I was interested in him.”

Appleby is also attending the New Jersey Devils Prospect Camp this week. If the St. Louis Blues don’t move quickly, he’ll be snapped up by another team hoping to shut McDavid and other top players down.

Next: Blues' Fabbri Faces Tough Odds

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