Simon Robertsson made a simple play, really.
Take a shot. Follow the rebound. Shovel it in the net.
But Robertsson’s second effort on his overtime goal in a 4-3 Blues win over the Blackhawks in a matchup of prospects on Friday night caught the attention of coach Steve Konowalchuk.
“That’s a great effort,†said Konowalchuk, who coaches Blues AHL affiliate Springfield and is handling the team’s prospects this weekend. “Takes a shot, goes diving. That’s something that you want to keep talking about all the time, that desperation, work ethic. I thought our team, as the game went on, got more and more desperate and more compete, and kept sticking with it and kept pushing. Certainly, that was a real good goal for him and shows a lot of character and heart.â€
Robertsson snuck a shot through Blackhawks goaltender Drew Commesso during an overtime rush, then crashed the net — forcing a yard sale of Commesso’s mask and stick — to deposit the puck into the goal.
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Robertsson’s goal at 2:10 of overtime gave the Blues a victory in the first game of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. The Blues will finish the abbreviated tournament when they play Minnesota’s prospects at 3 p.m. Sunday at Centene Community Ice Center, in Maryland Heights.
The game is free and open to the public.
For Robertsson, 21, the game was his first in a prospect tournament since he previously played exclusively in Sweden (he played in at least one SHL game across each of the last five seasons). But he’s making the jump to North America this fall and figures to provide depth with Springfield.
“I heard that they wanted me to play here this year and I was so happy to get the chance to come over here,†Robertsson said. “I’ve been wanting to come over here since I got drafted. They thought it was the right time now, so I’m really excited for the season.â€
The left-handed winger will make the same jump many European players have made and will have to adjust to the smaller ice surface in North America. Robertsson, a speedy forward who forechecked and killed penalties in Sweden, said he likes the smaller rink.
“It feels like you are closer to each other and it’s more contact,†Robertsson said. “Closer to the net to take shots, so I like it.â€
Last year, Robertsson split time between SHL club Skelleftea and Brynas in the second-tier Allsvenskan, where he was teammates with Blues defenseman prospect Theo Lindstein. With Brynas, Robertsson had nine points in 12 regular-season games and another two points in three postseason games.
“I didn’t play that much in Skelleftea, so I got some ice time in Brynas with Theo,†Robertsson said. “I was there for two months, and it was so much fun. I got to play more, and it was a great time. … The big thing was I got more confidence. I go down, I got a big role right away on a top team in Allsvenskan. I think that was a big confidence boost for me. When I got back, I felt like I kept building on that. It was an important thing that I went down to play in Allsvenskan.â€
Robertsson is likely to be one of many European imports making their North American debuts with Springfield this season, as Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Marcus Sylvegard and Samuel Johannesson could be in the AHL.
“I think a lot of Swedish hockey players are pretty responsible players,†Konowalchuk said. “He looks like he’s pretty responsible at both ends of the ice. I certainly like that extra determination there to get that goal. You got to want to score, and he certainly did.â€
Personnel updates
Defenseman Adam Jiricek skated in a red non-contact jersey Saturday morning and participated in the start of practice before departing. Jiricek is recovering from knee surgery and is not expected to play Sunday.
He is on the main training camp roster, but it’s unknown how heavy his involvement will be during Blues preseason games.
Forward Tomas Mrsic exited Friday’s game in the second period because of an injury and did not return, but was on the ice for practice Saturday morning.
Forward Antoine Dorion did not play Friday and wasn’t on the ice for practice Saturday because of an upper-body injury, Konowalchuk said.