ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues prospect Dalibor Dvorsky talked about his chances of making the team and the work he needs to put in to get there. (Video courtesy of ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues)
In Dalibor Dvorsky’s eyes, it’s all up to him now.
The top prospect in the Blues system understands that he’ll have a chance to crack the NHL roster in the fall, and it’s his job to do so.
“It sounds great, and it’s all up to me,†Dvorsky said on Monday, the first day of development camp at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. “I’ll do my absolute best every time I’m on the ice to prove (to) the coaches that I belong on the team. Sounds great, but it’s all up to me and I’ll do my best every time I’m on the ice.â€
Dvorsky was the headliner of the group of prospects on the ice in the morning at the three-day camp, joined by recent first-round draft picks Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein and Jimmy Snuggerud. For Dvorsky, development camp is the first step this offseason toward making the 23-man roster out of training camp in October.
There’s also a brief prospect camp before a two-game showcase against Minnesota and Chicago in mid-September. There’s main training camp with the rest of the established NHL players. There are exhibition games that Dvorsky will be playing in for the first time. There are even regular-season NHL games in case the Blues want a closer look before determining his next steps.
Development camp will be some players’ only chance to impress Blues management. Dvorsky is not one of them.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has been open about the possibility of Dvorsky working his way onto the NHL roster, saying at the end of the regular season, “He thinks he’s going to be here in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, and I’m not going to dash that dream. If it’s not, we’ll find a nice home for him.â€
“I love to hear it, to be honest, from him especially,†Dvorsky said. “It gives me even better motivation to make the team. It’s my goal coming into camp. Even here, I want to do my best on the ice, and coming into main camp, same thing. It sounds really good and now, it’s all up to me. I believe that I can make it if I play my best.â€
Last season was one of transition for Dvorsky, who came to North America after beginning the year in Sweden. He ended up with Sudbury of the OHL, where he was instantly one of the league’s best players and had 45 goals and 43 assists in 52 games played. If Dvorsky had started the season in the OHL, he likely could have challenged teammate David Goyette (117 points) for the league scoring title.
“I think it was a really good year for me, coming to Canada, to North America and getting used to the smaller rink,†Dvorsky said. “I think it was a great season for me.â€
“Dvorsky, when I saw what he did at the World Juniors, what we see him doing against his peer group in the Ontario Hockey League and how we’ve seen players that do what he did in the Ontario League progress to the NHL, there’s a path there,†Armstrong said. “That path won’t be rushed so that we can say we have young players in the NHL.â€
Dvorsky said this year provided him an opportunity to adjust to the North American style of play, one that he feels favors him more than the larger international ice surface.
“In the (offensive) zone, I can kind of shoot from everywhere, and it’s a scoring chance or a rebound,†Dvorsky said. “My puck protection, as well. I think I’m a smart player, I think quickly and the game moves quickly as well. I can make plays. I really like the smaller rink.â€
Dvorsky was the No. 10 pick by the Blues last year. If he makes the NHL roster, it figures to be as a second- or third-line center. He plans on returning to ºüÀêÊÓƵ sometime in August to prepare for training camp.
Quenneville reinstated
Former Blues coach Joel Quenneville was one of three former Chicago Blackhawks employees reinstated by the NHL, the league announced on Monday. Quenneville, general manager Stan Bowman and Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac were previously unable to work for NHL teams after their involvement with the team’s sexual assault scandal but are now eligible to be hired beginning July 10.
“While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals (Messrs. Bowman, MacIsaac and Quenneville) has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which, not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership,†the NHL said in a statement.
“Moreover, each has made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse. The League expects that they will continue this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our Clubs.â€
Blues to start season on road
The NHL announced each team’s home openers on Monday, and the Blues will play their first home game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, against the Wild.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ was also announced as the opponent for two other home openers: Oct. 8 in Seattle and Oct. 10 in San Jose. It could be the NHL debut for Sharks No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini, should he choose to leave college (and if indeed Oct. 10 is San Jose’s first game of the season).