5 St. Louis Blues Prospects to Watch at the Rookie Showcase vs. Blackhawks

The St. Louis Blues will have their first opportunity to see several of their top prospects in competitive action when they face the Chicago Blackhawks in a two-game rookie showcase. The games are scheduled for September 14th at 6 p.m. and September 15th at 4 p.m. at USG Arena, located within the Blackhawks Ice Center in Chicago.

Prior to heading to Chicago, the Blues will hold practices on September 12th and 13th at the Centene Community Ice Center. The team's main training camp is set to commence on September 17th.

This showcase offers young players a valuable platform to make a strong impression before the organization shifts its focus to the main training camp. While the Blues have many well-known players on their roster, the following five prospects are particularly noteworthy due to their current development stage and their potential to impact the NHL level soon.

5. Lukas Fischer

Lukas Fischer enjoyed a productive season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and is poised to continue building momentum toward his professional career at this showcase.

Selected in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Fischer recorded 8 goals and 36 assists for 44 points in 65 games, playing for both the Sarnia Sting and the Soo Greyhounds. His 44 points placed him 15th among OHL defensemen, and his 36 assists tied for 11th.

Fischer stands out for his combination of size and offensive capability from the blue line. He has developed into a reliable two-way defenseman capable of moving the puck and contributing offensively while maintaining his defensive responsibilities. Although he has had a brief taste of the American Hockey League (AHL) with three games in the 2024-25 season, this showcase represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate his further development. With the Blues actively seeking young defensemen to fill larger roles in the future, Fischer has much to prove in Chicago.

4. Felix Trudeau

Felix Trudeau is an intriguing player to watch, entering the showcase after one of the best seasons of his college career.

The 23-year-old forward was a scoring force for Sacred Heart last season, netting 25 goals and accumulating 48 points in 39 games. He ranked second nationally in goals and led the country with 12 power-play goals. His outstanding performance earned him the Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Year award and First All-Star Team honors, ultimately making him a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Trudeau also experienced professional hockey after signing with the Blues in March, appearing in eight AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds and recording one goal and one assist. This small sample size makes the rookie showcase particularly important for him.

Having proven his scoring prowess at the college level, Trudeau now needs to adapt to the pace and physicality of professional hockey. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he possesses the physical attributes for a successful transition, and his scoring ability makes him one of the more compelling forwards on the roster.

3. Colin Ralph

Colin Ralph may be a less prominent name on this list, but his game possesses qualities that could translate effectively to professional hockey.

The 2024 second-round pick spent last season at Michigan State, contributing 1 goal and 10 assists in 37 games while helping the Spartans secure the Big Ten regular-season championship. He also represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championship, playing a role in their gold medal victory.

At 6-foot-4, Ralph has the size that the Blues will likely desire on their defense corps. However, his skating is a particularly intriguing aspect of his game. He moves exceptionally well for his size and has demonstrated an ability to defend effectively using his feet, rather than solely relying on physical strength. Ralph concluded his college season as one of Michigan State's top defensive players, utilizing his reach and positioning to make plays in his own zone. Having signed his entry-level contract in April and reported to Springfield, the rookie showcase serves as another step in his transition to the professional game.

2. Justin Carbonneau

Justin Carbonneau is coming off a stellar final season in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), making him one of the most significant prospects to watch in Chicago.

A projected first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Carbonneau led the QMJHL in goals with 51 and finished with 80 points in 60 games for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, earning him the Mario Lemieux Trophy as the league's top goal scorer. He continued his strong performance in the playoffs, accumulating 20 points in 17 games before joining Springfield for three Calder Cup playoff games.

Carbonneau has proven his scoring ability at the junior level, and the next phase of his development will focus on translating that offense against bigger and faster competition. He possesses a powerful shot, good hands, and the ability to create scoring chances on the rush, but professional hockey will present different challenges. The rookie showcase should provide the Blues with a clearer understanding of his adaptation process. If Carbonneau can consistently generate offense while remaining engaged away from the puck, he could quickly establish himself as one of the organization's most NHL-ready young forwards.

1. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki is the prospect drawing the most attention, arguably being the closest of the five to becoming a regular NHL player.

Unlike some of the younger players on this list, Kaskimaki already possesses considerable professional experience. He spent the majority of last season with Springfield, where he finished second on the team in both goals (20) and points (44) in 64 AHL games, also adding 24 assists.

Kaskimaki has also had a taste of NHL action. He was recalled by the Blues last season and appeared in five games before returning to Springfield. This experience provides him with an advantage over most prospects at the showcase, as he already understands the NHL pace. His next step is to prove he can consistently deliver the same game that made him productive in the AHL. The 22-year-old forward possesses strong skating ability, can play both center and wing, and has continuously developed his offensive game while gaining experience against professional competition. While not guaranteed a roster spot when training camp begins, Kaskimaki appears to be the closest of these five to forcing his way into the NHL conversation. A strong performance in Chicago could be another step toward securing an NHL roster spot.

The rookie showcase, consisting of only two games, will not definitively determine who makes the Blues roster this season. However, it will offer the organization valuable insight into the current standing of its young players as they head into training camp. For all the prospects competing, there is a significant opportunity to gain ahead of the main competition.