最新杏吧原创

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 鈥� Dalibor Dvorsky does not want to pretend.

The prized Blues pick understands that playing for AHL affiliate Springfield is part of the process. He gets that he will bide his time developing in the minors before making his eventual jump up to 最新杏吧原创. But there鈥檚 no mistaking Dvorsky鈥檚 motivation for making his way to the NHL.

鈥淎nyone who says that they don鈥檛 think about it at all, they are lying,鈥� Dvorsky said. 鈥淓veryone thinks about it a little bit. But I think I鈥檓 pretty good at just being in the moment and playing these games. Obviously, everyone wants to get called up, right? I think I鈥檝e done a pretty good job with that being here and playing.鈥�

Dvorsky, the team鈥檚 first-round pick in 2023 with the No. 10 pick, is one of the youngest players in the AHL this season. While teenagers in Canadian junior hockey are restricted from playing in the AHL until they are 20, and most European teenagers remain there until it鈥檚 time to leap towards the NHL, Dvorsky is able to play in the AHL because he was drafted out of Europe.

In his first season with Springfield, and entering Friday鈥檚 game against Lehigh Valley, Dvorsky is the team鈥檚 leading scorer with six goals and 10 points in 13 games played. He is second among AHL rookies in goals, and is tied for seventh in points. Dvorsky is also fifth among rookies with 32 shots on goal.

Springfield coach Steve Konowalchuk said that Dvorsky has adjusted to the pace of the AHL, which is noticeably higher than the Ontario Hockey League, where Dvorsky played for Sudbury last season.

鈥淣ow, he has to use his body, plus get a little quicker, and he has been,鈥� Konowalchuk said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 pushing the pace now. He鈥檚 skating strong. His stride is getting better. Everything he鈥檚 doing is just more assertive, and that鈥檚 confidence. He鈥檚 really building that confidence to want to carry the puck through the neutral zone and more confidence to engage in the battles. His growth over the last five, six games is really trending in the right direction.鈥�

Dvorsky said: 鈥淚 have the speed, it鈥檚 just a little mindset thing. But the pace of the game pushes me to adjust to it. Lately, I鈥檓 not even thinking about it. I know I have to move fast to make plays in this league. If I don鈥檛, then it鈥檚 not going to happen. So that pushes me, and I think I鈥檝e done that well lately, so just got to keep building on it.鈥�

From Oct. 27 to Nov. 6, Dvorsky had a four-game goal streak, and when the streak ended on Saturday, his consolation prize was picking up two assists. Dvorsky had four points in his first seven games, and six in his last six before the weekend.

Dvorsky, 19, is the fifth-youngest player in the AHL.

鈥淵oung players have a habit of wanting to think about how can I get a goal vs. just playing the game right and you鈥檒l end up getting the goal,鈥� Konowalchuk said. 鈥淚 think, for him, that鈥檚 where he鈥檚 really doing a good job of building into a 200-foot hockey player. Now, he has the puck more and he gets more opportunities and he scores, and it keeps building that confidence.鈥�

For the Blues, Dvorsky is a key piece as they transition their core to the next wave of talent on the way. At No. 10, he was the club鈥檚 highest pick in 15 years, when the Blues took Alex Pietrangelo at No. 4 in 2008. Dvorsky was the first forward taken with a top-10 pick by the Blues since Rod Brind鈥橝mour went ninth in 1988.

The hope is that Dvorsky can form a one-two punch with Robert Thomas down the middle that the Blues can build a lineup around. And with that much on the line, the Blues are being careful not to rush Dvorsky, and general manager Doug Armstrong acknowledged as much before training camp two months ago.

Konowalchuk echoed a similar message on Friday morning, saying he wants Dvorsky to go to the NHL when he鈥檚 ready to leave the AHL behind.

鈥淗is play will dictate whether he has to take a longer development path or not,鈥� Konowalchuk said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 necessarily want to cap that and say 鈥榊ou鈥檙e 19, it might take you longer.鈥� If he keeps trending like he鈥檚 trending, a month from now, two months from now, I鈥檇 like to see him knocking at that door (of the NHL).

鈥淭he other thing I鈥檇 like to see with all our guys, when they get called up, they鈥檙e ready to stay. A lot of guys can go up and play four or five games in certain roles and the coach can fit you in. But it鈥檚 important and I鈥檒l feel proud when Dvo goes up, it鈥檚 when it鈥檚 right and we don鈥檛 see him again. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e trying to build into his game. I don鈥檛 think age necessarily needs to be a factor. Let his play dictate it.鈥�

Dvorsky entered training camp as a possible inclusion on the opening day roster, but was sent down after 10 days of the preseason. The message? To develop.

鈥淭his is a developmental league, to do my best, not to think too much forward and just to improve in everything in my game,鈥� Dvorsky said. 鈥淏e as good a player as I can be, and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�

Dvorsky, at 6-1 and 206 pounds, has the physical skills to protect pucks from the opposition, the hands in-tight to make plays in all three zones, the vision to find teammates, and a top-notch shot that includes a wicked one-timer on the power play.

But in adjusting to the speed of the AHL, does he have to think the game any differently?

鈥淭he game goes quicker, but I play my game and I process it the same way as I do always,鈥� Dvorsky said. 鈥淓very player is different and I have my own style of play, so that鈥檚 how I think, that鈥檚 how I play and that鈥檚 how I will keep playing.鈥�

If the Blues are going to successfully thread the needle of a shortened retool, Dvorsky鈥檚 development will be paramount, and it鈥檚 off to a good start this season.

鈥淗e鈥檚 driven, which is awesome,鈥� Konowalchuk said. 鈥淗e wants to be a hockey player in the NHL and I truly believe he will be. There鈥檚 just a lot of good qualities there.鈥�