While the rest of the league is waiting to see what the St. Louis Blues will do with their current roster, they’re busy adding players away from it. The team has announced they have agreed to terms with prospect Alexei Toropchenko on a three-year entry-level contract. Toropchenko was the Blues fourth-round pick in 2017 and is currently playing with the Guelph Storm of the OHL.
It’s been an interesting few years for Toropchenko, going from the Russian junior system to the OHL. Selected fourth overall by the Storm in the CHL Import Draft, he was expected to have a bit more of an immediate impact despite the cultural change. Last season was a fine one for the 6’3″ winger, but with Guelph’s relative struggles he recorded just 39 points in 66 games. Unfortunately, the big offensive numbers haven’t followed this year either but the Blues must see something they like in his development.
Even without big offensive numbers, there is plenty to like in Toropchenko’s game. Willing to go to the front of the net with speed and physicality, he very well could end up playing on the powerplay at the next level. There is a lot of raw ability there, but he’s still quite a distance from the NHL.