St. Louis Blues: Early Season Check-in On Prospects
By Todd Panula
The St. Louis Blues are pretty stocked down in the minor leagues. Getting off to a good start for any player is key for their season and for potential call-ups.
The St. Louis Blues have one of the best player pipelines they have had in many years. They were ranked as high as eighth in a recent look at minor-league systems.
How that translates into professional success remains to be seen. Some players might only turn out to be good junior players. Other players might only get as high as the prospect level in the AHL.
Still other guys might be late bloomers such as Wade Megan, who earned his way onto the Blues roster with a strong AHL season in 2017-18 and good camp the following fall. Megan was given up on by many at age 27 and found his spark.
Will this current group of young players find their spark? Time will tell. So, let’s check in and see how they are doing on this infancy of a 2017-18 season.
Jordan Binnington
Jordan Binnington has had a rough go of things to start 2017-18. He stayed with the Blues long enough to get through almost all of camp, which may have hurt him.
The team had already sent down the goaltenders with spots available in the minor leagues. So, Binnington started the season without a home.
St. Louis eventually found a spot for him with a loan deal. He is currently on the Providence Bruins, however he has yet to see a game. Neither of the Bruins backups have played a game though as Binnington is part of a three goaltender system.
Hopefully he gets a game soon, because his star might be fading fast. At this point in his career, NHL backup might be as high as he goes.
Ville Husso
Sticking with the goaltenders, we take a look at the Blues potential goaltender of the future. The Blues made sure to find a spot for Ville Husso right away.
There was a vacancy with the San Antonio Rampage and the Blues snatched it. Unfortunately, things haven’t gotten off to a smashing start for the Finn.
He has only seen one game out of the team’s three to start the year. It was a rather inauspicious game as well.
Husso’s stats suffered and it will take a bit to get them down. He currently has a 5.11 goals against and .853 save percentage.
Still, it was only one game. There is plenty of time to turn things around and the Rampage are still figuring out their own chemistry.
The Blues make up a little over a quarter of the San Antonio team. The rest are members of the Colorado Avalanche talent pool.
Playing time will be the main key with the other goaltender actually being a member of the Rampage’s true affiliate. Husso has enough talent to earn the time though.