Next up in our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers series is the St. Louis Blues. Doug Armstrong might be the most shrewd general manager in the NHL. He does not like to lose assets for nothing. Knowing the odds of making the players were dire, Armstrong acted quickly and Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari and Ivan Barbashev, were all traded.
With all these veterans shipped out it has opened up a lot of positions. This gives opportunity for younger players to step into larger roles. Some of them hold fantasy hockey sleeper value that we’ll now dig into.
St. Louis Blues Fantasy Hockey Sleepers
Jacob Neighbours
Neighbours sits deep on the Blues depth chart. A lot has to go right for Neighbours to provide a fantasy impact this year. Craig Berube may decide he needs more time in the AHL. A lot will depend on how far into the youth movement the team decides to go. Neighbours has limited professional experience; 23 AHL games (16 points) and 52 NHL games (12 points). Odds are he sees a sizeable chunk of the year with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
A lot can happen over the course of an off-season. Neighbours joined Team Canada for the World Championships after his season ended. He started as the 13th forward but found his way into the lineup. He moved up lines and played a prominent role. At 21 years of age, 5 points in 10 games is a solid international performance.
Neighbours is one to keep an eye on in pre-season. His stock could rise quickly and so could his ice time. His production could be anywhere from 25 points to 50, if things go his way.
Kasperi Kapanen
This is a case of Kapanen just not figuring it out yet. Or maybe he has and the work ethic isn’t there. The talent unquestionably is. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always translate into production or reaching a player’s potential.
Kapanen has spent most of his career as a third-liner with second-line potential. Now with St. Louis, it’s now or never for him to figure it out. It’s not as though Kapanen hasn’t had productive seasons. Twice with the Maple Leafs, he averaged over .5 points per game. And in 2020-2021 he put up 3o points in 40 games with Pittsburgh, for a career-best .75 points per game. After being traded to St. Louis he caught wind of some inspiration and put up 14 points in 23 games.
Kapanen has always had 60-point potential. The problem has been a consistent effort. He takes too many shifts and games off. This didn’t sit well with Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh and it sure won’t fly with Craig Berube. Kapanen could be a gem of a fantasy hockey sleeper if he can put the pieces together. That’s always been his biggest knock. It’s also one that is entirely in his control to overcome.
Scott Perunovich
The rumor mill has swirled around the Blues defense for months. There has been constant chatter they wanted to trade a defenseman. Torey Drug allegedly refused to waive his no-trade clause to Philadelphia. Rumors have Colton Parayko going to Calgary and Ottawa, among others. Here we are at the start of September and nothing has transpired.
Is there anyone who wishes those rumors resulted in a trade more than Perunovall? After missing all last season due to injury, he returns to the same crowded blue line. He’s buried behind five veteran defensemen. All in their thirties, all making millions more than he does. Money talks, more often than not.
Perunovich will need a stand-out training camp or a trade to realize his potential. Justin Faulk and Krug currently log the majority of power play time. In order for Perunovich to make headway into this sea of veterans he will need to take advantage of every opportunity he gets.
Perunovich has only played 39 games in the AHL. Yet, he produced 42 points in those 39 games.
With limited ice time, anything over 30 points is going to be a solid season. Given the right opportunity on the first power play, he has the offensive ability to drop 45-50 points. With high-end vision and high-end wheels, the sleeper potential is real.
Joel Hofer
Sleepers aren’t limited to forwards. This is as much about Jordan Bennington as it is Hofer. Since his call-up and miracle run to the Stanley Cup, Binnington’s numbers have dropped four years in a row.
Here’s a quick rundown:
2019-20, .912 SVPCT, 2.56 GAA
2020-21, .910 SVPCT, 2.65 GAA
2021-22, .901 SVPCT, 3.13 GAA
2022-23, .894 SVPCT, 3.31 GAA
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to identify this concerning trend. Armstrong doesn’t like to lose. It won’t matter if Bennington’s cap hit is six million or one. The leash is short and Joel Hofer is waiting in the wings.
If we hit rewind a few years, Hofer was a higher-rated Blues prospect, over Ville Husso. He wasn’t ready. In 2022-2023, things clicked in Springfield. He dropped a 2.50 GAA and a .925 SVPCT, earning a call-up late in the season. He showed well with a .905 SVPCT in six games. What is encouraging, he played two games at the World Championships and posted sparkling numbers for Team Canada, 1.46 GAA and .925 SVPCT.
Bennington will receive every chance to keep the starting job. If he has any stretch like last year, (November 23 to December 5 – .821 SVPCT), Hofer will get a few starts in a row. If he can run with it, we could see a changing of the guard in St. Louis.
Keep an eye on the Blues net, you could scoop a starter hidden in the wings.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it and found this useful as you prep for your draft.
Give me a follow on Twitter @doylelb4; where you’ll find as many hiking musings as you will fantasy hockey.
Make sure to check out all of the sleepers and breakouts of the 2023 fantasy hockey season!