Welcome back to the next article in our player grades series. We broke down the top forwards, now we're going to look at the depth players--but let's set some parameters to start.
First, we are not looking at players the Blues have traded, so no grades for the recently-moved Nick Bjugstad or Alexandre Texier. Second, players need to have dressed for more than ten NHL games, so no injury call ups. That means eight players to break down--let's get into it.
Dalibor Dvorsky: B-
We're trying not to let Dvorsky's Olympic performance color our vision here, but wow, he's having an outstanding showing there. As a 20-year old rookie, he's started taking on more top-six minutes with Robert Thomas on Injured Reserve and is, at the very least, holding his own. His scoring hasn't arrived yet, and his play driving leaves a lot to be desired (a 42.64 xGF%, per Natural Stat Trick), but you can see why the Blues selected him in the top ten of the 2023 draft. Patience will be key in his development, but he's starting his NHL career off well enough what's mostly been a depth role.
Jonatan Berggren: C+
What a pickup by GM Doug Armstrong! In 20 games with the Blues, Berggren has five goals and eight points, which is respectable enough production for a bottom-six forward. Expectations weren't high for the 25-year old RFA, but he's shown enough to receive a passing grade.
Otto Stenberg: B-
In an 18 game stint with the Blues, Stenberg scored a goal and eight points while averaging 14:00 of ice time; his plus-4 goal differential is the best on the team. Why he was returned to the AHL is a bit of a head scratcher, but that's not something Stenberg had control over. If the Blues do a major sell off at the deadline, Stenberg should be first in line to rejoin the big club and will have a chance to boost his grade by season's end.
Oskar Sundqvist: F
It's been a tough season for Sundqvist, whose 36.42 xGF% is the lowest of any Blues skater--forward or defenseman--that qualifies for this exercise. It's the last year of his contract and, unless the Blues trade everyone else, there's little reason for him to remain with the team next year. He's barely worth a roster spot as it is.
Mathieu Joseph: C-
Joseph has been in the coach's dog house as often as he's been in the lineup, it feels, but that's not necessarily his fault: his 49.24 xGF%, while bad, is the sixth best among all Blues forwards. Two goals and 11 points in 39 games doesn't help his case much, either, but he's doing what you'd want a bottom-six forward to do.
Robby Fabbri: D+
The reunion with Fabbri was fun in the moment, but he's shown that he's not much more than an average-at-best bottom-six option with one goal and four points in 15 games with the Blues. Should he be getting more games than, say, Aleksey Toropchenko? Probably! And he's our next grade.
Aleksey Toropchenko: D-
Toropchenko has seven points in 41 games, the second worst play driving numbers among Blues forwards, and has a $2.5-million AAV extension kicking in this summer. It's a bad season for the 26-year old, and Blues fans better hope he rebounds next year.
Nathan Walker: C-
It's hard to believe, but Walker's 49.83 xGF% is the fifth best mark among Blues forwards. Four goals and 11 points in 37 games isn't enough to warrant a bump up the lineup, but Walker brings exactly the sort of play you want in a fourth-liner, leading the team in hits with 144.