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St. Louis Blues Keeping Nolan Stevens Around Awhile Longer

By Todd Panula

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Nolan Stevens #21 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the Boston College Eagles during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-0 and advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Nolan Stevens #21 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the Boston College Eagles during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-0 and advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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The St. Louis Blues don’t have many moves to make at the NHL level. They have begun to fill out their minor league roster though.

The St. Louis Blues might have just one focus at the NHL level, being the signing of their captain. They do have to consider what prospects to keep around in the AHL.

The first of those names to get a new deal is Nolan Stevens. Stevens just signed a one year, two-way contract to stick around with the Blues system for a third year.

Nolan is one of those in-between players as far as projections go. The Blues don’t have a ton of NHL aspirations for him, but they clearly want to get a longer look at him to see if he can continue to blossom.

Nolan is a little older than some prospects who are just entereing their third pro season. That’s because he spent a full four years at Northeastern University.

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Nolan scored 42 points two out of four years, with an injury plagued junior season. He finished his senior year as the team’s captain.

The Blues selected him in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He has scored a combined 18 goals in two seasons with the San Antonio Rampage, though he compiled a total of 31 points in 50 games during the shortened 2019-20 season.

The main reason to keep Stevens is to keep the AHL roster filled and reward him for a good season last year. However, his versatility cannot be ignored.

EliteProspects lists Stevens as both a left wing and center. The Blues proved you want depth down the middle when they won the Stanley Cup.

You have to have guys with talent up the middle to stay contenders.

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Nolan will need to have a great camp to get a call up to the NHL at any point during the 2020-21 season. For now, his future is with the Springfield Falcons.

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