The St. Louis Blues will be looking to get contributions throughout their lineup this upcoming season. The additions to the roster should provide considerable depth, skill, and grit.
But there might be a not-so-unintended consequence of adding players like Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael: The breakout of Dalibor Dvorsky.
We know that Dvorsky is a talented young player. While his NHL numbers are yet to reflect his ceiling, we’ve seen what he can do.
And it’s precisely the addition of other young, talented forwards that could help Dvorsky make the jump to the next level.
For starters, McMichael and McTavish should take plenty of pressure off Dvorsky to prove he’s ready for prime time. If anything, Jim Montgomery will be able to unleash Dvorsky without the concern of him doing significant heavy lifting.
That’s the sort of situation teams want to put young players in. Ideally, rising stars won’t have to bear any burdens that go beyond their age and experience level. It’s not that Dvorsky can’t handle it. It’s that you don’t want to place undue expectations on a player. When teams rush prospects into roles they’re not really ready for, the growing pains can become really noticeable.
That’s why placing Dvorsky in a role suited to his pay grade should help him immensely.
Where does Dvorsky fit into Blues lineup this season?
There are two answers to that question. Let’s look at the most optimistic one. That scenario involves Dvorsky flying out of the gate at training camp this fall. He dominates on the ice and earns a spot in the Blues’ top six. He goes on to have a great year, showing everyone what he can do.
While that would be the best scenario, it might not be the most realistic one. In fact, the likeliest outcome is that he has a great camp, but the Blues decided to place Dvorsky on the wing on the third line. That would be the safest place for him at the beginning of the season. Depending on how things progress, Dvorsky can slide up the lineup as needed.
There’s another angle to consider here. Injuries should become an invariable part of the season. Of course, we don’t want to see any of that happening. But if and when they occur, Montgomery could use the opportunity to audition Dvorsky in the top six.
If Dvorsky can prove he’s ready, he might just stick there for the foreseeable future.
Lastly, what would a truly successful season for Dvorsky look like? Sure, 100 points would be great. But if he can produce 20+ goals and top 50 points, the 21-year-old could signal he’s ready for bigger and better things.
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