This weekend, the Blues will join seven other teams at the prospect tournament
hosted by the Red Wings in Traverse City, Michigan. The tournament is a
showcase for the league';s young talent, the stars who will carry their
respective teams into the future.

This year, the Blues'; roster is stacked, and may be the team to beat. Their
top prospects, including Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Dominik Bokk, and Klim
Kostin, will all be on the ice. The full roster features 25 players in the
organization, most of whom have been drafted by the Blues in the last several
years. For fans eager for the Blues'; bright future, this tournament will offer
 the first taste of what lies ahead. And it gives them a chance to see some
exciting things and answer some questions. Here are a few of those:1) A Healthy
 Robert Thomas

Fans who attended the Blues'; rookie camp immediately following the NHL Draft
this summer were disappointed to find out that Thomas was sidelined with a leg
injury that he sustained in the CHL playoffs. The injury was considered minor
at the time, but any time a team';s top prospect is hampered, there is
certainly cause for concern.Robert Thomas with the London Knights. Photo by
Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Now, Thomas is believed healthy and is expected to play full minutes at the
tournament. No one among the Blues'; prospects is projected to have a higher
ceiling than Thomas. It';s believed he could be the first-line center the Blues
 have sought for as long as anyone can remember. Though Thomas played in the
Traverse City tournament last year, this year he will be looked at as a leader
of the team, and if St. Louis'; prospects are going to succeed, they will need
Thomas to play a big role.2) Who Will Rise from the Blues'; Defense?

The biggest question mark about the Blues'; core of prospects is whether they
have anyone on defense who can rise to be a significant NHL contributor. Other
than Jake Walman, whose progression stalled last year, there doesn';t seem to
be an especially outstanding defensive prospect in the group. Niko Mikkola and
Mitch Reinke seem to be the next men up in terms of NHL readiness, but nether
has an especially high ceiling.

Blues'; second round pick, Scott Perunovich, will not be in attendance due to
college commitments. Among the rest, Trenton Bourque, David Noel, Tyler Tucker,
 Sean Allen, and Joel Lakusta, all are either undrafted or late-round players.
If any of them can develop into a high-caliber prospect, that would be a real
boon for the Blues. Otherwise, they will need to address their weakness on
defense in upcoming drafts.3) What Kind of Prospect is Alexey Toropchenko?

When the Hockey Writers ranked Blues prospects, Alexey Toropchenko was placed
high on the list - in the third tier. This is because the Russian forward, whom
 the Blues drafted in the fourth round in 2017, is beginning to be looked at as
 a potential draft steal. He';s a great skater, aggressive and physical, and at
 6-foot-3, he brings great size.

Had a chance to watch Toropchenko this week and he's got one heck of a shot.
Tall, lean, quick. Had 39 points (17 goals) at Guelph of the OHL last year.
#stlblues

- Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 29, 2018

Toropchenko has impressed at every public display of his talents, most recently
 in his preseason camp with the Guelph Storm. With another impressive
performance in Traverse City, he has a chance to establish himself as one of
the team';s best prospects behind the top group. If you';re looking for a
lower-profile prospect to watch during the tournament, keep your eyes on
Toropchenko.4) The Future of Blues Goaltending

The biggest question Blues'; fans are asking at the NHL level are about their
goaltender - Jake Allen. While he is unlikely to be supplanted by any of the
prospects this season, teams are always in search of the long term answer in
net. Though top goaltending prospect Ville Husso won';t be in Traverse City,
Evan Fitzpatrick and Joel Hofer will be, and each has the potential to blossom
into something special.

Fitzpatrick struggled last year before being traded to the Acadie-Bathurst
Titan. Thereafter, he went on an incredible streak that carried the Titan
through the QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup. In the process, he excited
many scouts and raised his stock as a prospect. Hofer, on the other hand, was
just drafted in the fourth round in 2018, but he has the size at 6-foot-3, and
he impressed at the Blues'; rookie camp. Both are players to watch as they look
 to establish themselves as the heir apparent to Husso as the Blues'; top
goaltending prospect.5) How Will the Blues'; Prospects Do in a "Playoff?"

It may sound silly, but for a team that is still in search of its first Stanley
 Cup Championship, it';s never too early to try and gauge whether their players
 can perform when the pressure is on. Though the tournament is fairly relaxed,
it is still competitive, and Blues'; fans should be rooting for their prospects
 to take home a title.

Many of these prospects already have plenty of hardware. Robert Thomas is a
two-time OHL Champion, a two-time gold medalist (at the U17 and U20 world
championships), a Memorial Cup winner, and an OHL Playoff MVP. Evan Fitzpatrick
 helped the Titan bring home a QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships last
season. Jordan Kyrou won a U20 gold medal alongside Robert Thomas, and also
took home the OHL Most Outstanding Player trophy last season.BUFFALO, NY -
DECEMBER 26: Jordan Kyrou (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

Ultimately, all the great prospects in the world will never satisfy Blues';
fans. The only thing that will satisfy fans is a Stanley Cup parade down Market
 Street. But, the players who will take the ice this weekend in Traverse City
may be integral to bringing the Cup home. If you';re invested in the Blues';
future, be sure to track the tournament this weekend, and check back in with
The Hockey Writers for coverage all weekend.

The post 5 Things Blues Fans Should Watch for in Traverse City appeared first
on The Hockey Writers.

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