On the list of Blues forwards prospects, Dylan Peterson can sometimes be forgotten.
He was drafted back in 2020 (the same draft as NHLers Jake Neighbours and Matthew Kessel) and went to Boston University for four years. The third-rounder doesn’t have the first-round pedigree or excitement that Dalibor Dvorsky or Jimmy Snuggerud or Zack Bolduc bring. He didn’t play in the World Juniors at all. He hasn’t been to Blues training camp before.
But during the two-game Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase over the weekend, Peterson made sure to remind onlookers about what he does bring to the table: size and speed.
“He certainly has a big body that can skate,†said Steve Konowalchuk, the Springfield (Massachusetts) Thunderbirds coach who led the prospects over the weekend. “To me, it’s a good prospect there that can be a winger, that can go up and down, that can crash and bang, go to the net, dig the puck out for some skill guys, penalty kill. There’s definitely some potential there with him as well.â€
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Peterson, listed at 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, had two assists across the two games against Chicago and Minnesota. On Friday night against the Blackhawks, Peterson led a three-on-two attack and dropped a pass for a trailing Michael Buchinger before driving the net. On Sunday, Peterson had a secondary assist before Will McIsaac’s long stretch pass sent Tanner Dickinson in for a breakaway goal.
Konowalchuk also used Peterson as part of the first penalty-kill unit, while he played right wing at even strength with Dickinson at center and Tomas Mrsic (on Friday) and Sam Bitten (on Sunday) at left wing.
“I like his speed,†Konowalchuk said. “I like the way he went to the net. He was a big part of one of the goals driving the net on the rush. He had a couple hits. He’s got size, and he’s got speed. Those are the strengths that, in my opinion, make him a good prospect.â€
Unlike Dvorsky or Snuggerud or Bolduc, offensive production isn’t going to be Peterson’s calling card as he makes the jump from college hockey to professional hockey. At BU, he had 60 points in 119 games. But Peterson is willing to use his big frame to rattle around in the corners and at the net front and uses his speed to drive toward the net in transition.
Peterson played three AHL games at the tail end of last season and is likely headed back to Springfield again this fall.
“From our talks at the end of my senior year last year and getting me down to Springfield and getting some games in, the plan was just to get me into the mix as soon as possible and see what I can do and how I stack up,†Peterson said. “I think that was a great plan, and it worked out nicely. I got a little bit of experience.
“Big picture, it’s a long process. Everyone wants to be in the NHL, but you’ve got to take steps and do certain things to show that you belong here. I think I’m trying to take those steps for now.â€
- In a similar way, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki jumped out to Konowalchuk over the weekend with his dogged puck pursuit. Kaskimaki played on the Blues’ top line with Bolduc and Zach Dean as the line combined for one goal and four assists on the weekend.
“He’s a good, sneaky good hockey player,†Konowalchuk said. “He fits in well with them just because he’s around the net, good body positioning, digs the puck out and has the hands to make plays with them. He does some sneaky good things out there.â€
Kaskimaki also played at the net front on the top power play unit.
- Bolduc scored the prettiest goal of the Blues’ two games when he darted through the middle of the ice in the second period and then slid a backhand between Minnesota goaltender Chase Wutzke’s legs.
Konowalchuk was asked after Sunday’s game if Bolduc’s performance looked NHL-caliber.
“At this point, I coach these guys,†Konowalchuk said. “They’ve got the NHL coaches and the staff watching. They’re piecing that together. I just know that he played well here and then he’ll go to the next camp. There’s a lot of hockey, but he certainly played well here.â€
Blues coach Drew Bannister, who was watching the games from the stands, said the top line jumped out to him.
“I’ve been really impressed with that line of Dean and Bolduc and Kaskimaki, who’s just hard on the puck,†Bannister said during an intermission report on the game’s stream. “I thought they’ve skated really well. They seem to find some chemistry.â€
- All three of Dvorsky’s assists on Sunday came in the third period as the Blues scored four goals, but the most skilled came shorthanded on the rush, as he hooked a pass to Marc-Andre Gaudet for a backhand finish. Dvorsky also picked up primary assists on both of Juraj Pekarcik’s goals Sunday.
Sunday’s performance helped Dvorsky head into training camp on a high note. After Friday’s game, Konowalchuk said “he was fine.â€
“I think some nerves early on and he was fine,†Konowalchuk said Friday. “I certainly didn’t dislike him. I don’t know that he was at the level, nor should he be necessarily in the first game, as a Bolduc or Dean, who’s played in the NHL already. Dvorsky, I think, is putting a lot of pressure on himself to want to come out here, and it’s all part of a learning process. Certainly, I wasn’t disappointed with his game.â€