The 2023-24 season is officially in its second half and it is time to review the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues‘ organization. Before going any further, it is important to note that this list does not officially and individually rank these players, but list them in a top-10 grouping.
Zachary Bolduc
One of the most offensively-talent forwards in the pipeline, Zachary Bolduc is currently ranked 14th in total points among all Blues prospects across all leagues. With five goals and 15 points in his first season with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, some could say that his first year is a bit disappointing from an offensive standpoint after coming off back to back seasons surpassing 50 goals with the now-Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL, at the time known as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) Quebec Ramparts.
After a slow start to the his first professional season, Bolduc has scored in spurts after seeing a steady rise in the lineup. After starting on the third line with Zach Dean, Bolduc has been consistently deployed on the second line and most recently on the top line with Matthew Peca and Adam Gaudette in their Jan. 10 game against the Bridgeport Islanders. While there is a lack of goal-scoring at this point, the shots on goal certainly have not lacked as he currently ranks second on the team with 81 shots through 34 games.
Michael Buchinger
The highly-skilled offensive defenseman has made his presence known with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this year recording (as of this writing) eight goals and 37 points currently through 36 games. He is on pace to match his 2022-23 campaign of 67 points in 61 games and is looking all the part of the offensive defenseman that could play a pivotal role one day in the NHL. However, it will be his defensive skills that either make or break that opportunity. After making Team Canada’s preliminary roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship (WJC), he was ultimately one of the final cuts ahead of the start of the tournament, largely due to his poor performances defensively.
Quinton Burns
Drafted 74th overall by the Blues in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Quinton Burns is currently ranks 25th in the OHL in total points scored among all defensemen on a Kingston Frontenacs team that is currently struggling to keep their head above .500 and has a -13 goal differential. At this point, it is rare to find a game Burns does not…
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