It was a big year for 20-year old Dalibor Dvorsky: he finished his rookie season with 71 games played, 12 goals and 21 points, and represented Slovakia at the Winter Olympics in Milan. In Milan, he broke the record for points scored by a rookie (three goals, three assists) and looked like he could fill the void left by an injured Robert Thomas. Dvorsky never quite got to that level, though.
Expectations for the 2025-26 season
It was hoped that Dvorsky would make the St. Louis Blues' main roster out of training camp, but things didn't go that way. It was a short stint with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL for Dvorsky, though, as he was called up by the end of the October and a fixture on the roster for the remainder of the season.
Expecting a 20-year old rookie to step into the NHL and immediately be a high-end contributor isn't fair to Dvorsky--but as a top-ten pick, you do want to see some production, and Dvorsky didn't product all that much.
Grade: C+
Dvorsky's Calder odds are certainly overshadowed by Jimmy Snuggerud, who ended the season on fire but it's important to remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint, and Dvorsky has plenty of time to develop into an impactful NHL player.
Where does he go from here?
Barring any radical offseason trades (like moving Robert Thomas, for example), Dvorsky probably retains his role: middle-six center. If the Blues move more into a rebuild than a retool, however, suddenly Dvorsky has a path to getting more ice time and opportunities. He has a lot of good tools and looks like he'll stick at center, so patience with his development will be key. Given that time--plus the right coaching and right linemates--Dvorsky could become a rock-solid second-line center for the next great Blues team.
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