Blues Prospect Report: Jiricek, Dorion, Carbonneau and More (Dec 29-Jan 4)

This week delivered one of the most productive stretches of the season across the Blues’ prospect pool. Several forwards posted breakout performances, a defenseman shined on the international stage, and the organization welcomed back a key young player in Zach Dean. With the holiday schedule winding down, here’s a complete look at the prospects who defined the week.

Zach Dean Returns

The Blues received a meaningful boost this week with the return of Zach Dean from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He has rejoined the Springfield Thunderbirds and will hopefully slot back into the lineup shortly.

Dean’s return is significant for several reasons:

• He brings pace and forechecking energy to a Springfield team that has lacked lineup stability.

• He can play center or wing, giving the coaching staff flexibility.

• His penalty‑killing ability should immediately help a unit that’s been inconsistent.

Dean’s return isn’t just a roster note — it’s a potential identity shift for Springfield.

Welcome back ‘Deaner’. 

Headliners

Justin Carbonneau (RW, QMJHL)

4 GP | 4G, 2A | 6 PTS | 16 SOG | 2 PPG

Carbonneau continues to play like a prospect who has simply outgrown the QMJHL. He stacked another multi‑point week, drove play with heavy shot volume, and produced in all situations. His pace, confidence, and repeatable scoring habits make him the clearest top performer in the system right now. The Blues 2025 1st round draft choice sits comfortably at second in goals scored in the QMJHL after scoring goals 29 and 30 in a 6-4 loss on Saturday to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. 

Adam Jiříček (D, WJC‑20)

4 GP | 3G | 0A | 8 SOG | 90:40 TOI

Jiříček’s scoring cooled against Canada, but his performance didn’t. He logged nearly 22 minutes in the most demanding matchup of the tournament, finished even in a high‑event game, and still found ways to activate offensively. Across the full week, he exits the WJC stretch as one of the Blues’ most impactful prospects scoring in three straight games and handling top‑pair usage with poise. He’s been arguably the best defensemen of the entire tournament and will look to take home the gold Monday against Sweden. 

This was a statement week — Jiříček looked every bit like a top‑pair defenseman in the making.

Antoine Dorion (RW, QMJHL)

3 GP | 1G, 3A | 4 PTS | 9 SOG

Dorion’s return from a month‑long absence (last played Nov. 29) has been one of the most important developments of the season. Since re‑entering the lineup on Dec. 31, he’s produced four points in three games and now sits at 15 points in 22 games, already matching last season’s 15 points in 56. Not a bad return for the 2024 7th round pick. 

Rising Forwards

Aleksanteri Kaskimäki (C, AHL)

2 GP | 2G, 1A | 3 PTS | 7 SOG

Kaskimäki is quietly heating up. His shot volume is climbing, his pace looks more comfortable at the AHL level, and he’s starting to impact games consistently. Keep an eye on the winger who is on pace for 19 goals and 36 points with Springfield. 

Dylan Peterson (C/RW, AHL)

2 GP | 1G, 1A | 2 PTS | 5 PIM

Peterson continues to carve out a bottom‑six pro identity with his physical, direct, and effective play. His week was a clean example of how the power forward can influence games way even without big minutes. 

Jakub Stancl (LW, AHL)

2 GP | 1G, 1A | 2 PTS | 4 SOG

Stancl’s efficiency stood out. He’s not a high‑volume shooter yet, but he’s making his touches count and showing flashes of middle‑six upside.

Steady Defensemen

Arseni Koromyslov (D, KHL)

2 GP | 0G, 2A | 4 SOG | 39:06 TOI

Koromyslov delivered a quietly strong week, moving pucks cleanly and logging stable minutes. His game isn’t flashy, but it’s trending in the right direction, especially for a young defenseman in the KHL earning top-four minutes at both even-strength and on the penalty kill.

Goaltending Notes

Vadim Zherenko (AHL)

2 GP | 72/76 | .947 SV% | 119:18

Zherenko quietly delivered one of the best goaltending weeks in the system, stopping 72 of 76 shots (.947) across back‑to‑back wins over Providence. His technical consistency and low‑variance style continue to translate, and he’s now building a legitimate case as the organization’s most NHL‑ready depth option The 24-year-old Russian has really taken the new role to heart and has rewarded the Thunderbirds putting together his best season yet with a 2.89 GAA and a .912 SV% through 19 games played to date. He’s been historically streaky so we can only hope any down streak is a short one.  

Will Cranley (ECHL)

1 GP | 25/27 | .926 SV% | 50:00

Cranley delivered another solid outing, part of a steady upward trend in his season. He is 9-1-0 in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades tthis season with an eye-popping 1.78 GAA and .934 SV%. Cranley is doing all he can to prove he is ready to move up the ladder and become an AHL regular. What that means for Zherenko and fellow Thunderbirds goaltender Georgi Romanov is yet to be seen.