Blues Prospects at the World Juniors

Blues fans spent the last two weeks or so eagerly watching some of the team’s top prospects compete at the rescheduled World Juniors tournament in Edmonton and Red Deer. For those who weren’t able to catch all the games, here’s how those prospects did:

Emil Andrae, D, Sweden, 4 G, 4 A

Wearing the C for Sweden, Andrae put up the second most points by a defenseman at the tournament while leading his team to the Bronze medal. Andrae looks to be delivering on the offensive potential that the Blues’ scouts loved when they drafted him in 2020, and showed good strength with his 5’9” frame that might have worried others in that draft.

Matthew Knies, C/LW, United States, 0 G, 3 A

After a PPG performance at the University of Minnesota and some buzz he might get some time in the NHL last season, Knies had a quiet tournament. Some have questioned the style that the US coaching staff asked him to play, seeming to station him more in front of the net rather than allowing him to work in the corners where his big frame flourishes. The most important thing to remember is that when your team’s prospect has a good World Juniors, it means he’s a star, and when he struggles, it’s all about the small sample size. With another full season in Minnesota to come, it does seem Knies could use a little more refinement in his game before making the leap.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Sweden, 0 G, 3 A

The only of the three Blues’ first round picks from this past draft to play in this tournament, Lekkerimaki showed some flashes of promise, but couldn’t find consistency in his game. Lekkerimaki is the kind of guy who thrives best with the puck on his stick, but as the team’s youngest player at the tournament, he wasn’t in the position to be driving top lines or PPs like that.

Eetu Liukas, LW, Finland, 0 G, 2 A

As a big winger whose biggest selling point is his shot, seeing a zero in the goals column isn’t what you’d hope for, but as a 2021 5th round pick, Liukas likely needs a good deal more marinating in Finland before he makes the jump to North America. Assisted on Finland’s game tying goal to force OT in the gold medal game, and did win a silver medal, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

Oskar Magnusson, C/RW, Sweden, 1 G, 1 A

A late pick in 2020, Magnusson flashed some great speed in the tournament, and was able to make plays with the puck at those high speeds. Showed some good PK skills as well.

Topi Niemela, D, Finland, 0 G, 6 A

Smart, well positioned, and seemed to always know how to get the puck out of danger. Showed some good distribution skills at the top of Finland’s Power Play opposite Kasper Puutio. Blues fans are eagerly awaiting his jump to North America.

Brennan Othmann, LW, Canada, 2 G, 4 A

After being scratched in the first game of the tournament, he made it his mission to be noticed with his physicality, both between and after the whistles. Attacked well with the puck, and forced his way into some first line time after starting on the fourth.

Donovan Sebrango, D, Canada, 0 G, 2 A

Played a solid physical and defensive game. Threw some big hits, blocked some big shots. Just got in there and did his job.

Kasper Simontaival, RW, Finland, 3 G, 4 A

Showed a ton of skill on the power play, both in front of the net and along the wall. Made some great plays in small pockets of space to create scoring chances. He already plays against men in Finland, so hopefully his 5’9” frame doesn’t slow him down when he makes the jump to North America.