MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — We’ve made it a point here at The Hockey News to point out some of the top young players around prospect camps and now into main training camps.
It’s been noted the strong play of 2021 third-round pick Simon Robertsson, who not only had a strong showing at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at Centene Community Ice Center Sept. 13-15 with a goal and two assists, including an overtime game-winner against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the 21-year-old Pitea, Sweden native scored in his Blues preseason debut Sunday in a 5-3 loss against the Utah Hockey Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
Robertsson scored on a nice drive to the net after a pass from Juraj Pekarcik to tie the game 3-3 late in the third period, and Blues coach Drew Bannister has liked the skill and sandpaper balance of the winger.
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“I was really impressed with Simon in Iowa,” Bannister said. “I thought he played a really good game. … He was one player that really stuck out to me. I noticed him obviously in the rookie tournament. I thought he played well. I’ve been impressed with him in practice. I thought he followed it up with a strong outing in Iowa.
“He’s got really good hockey sense. He’s competitive. He stays on pucks, he seems to be around pucks a lot, he’s strong down low, things that typically you don’t see from 20-, 21-year-olds, things that they still have to grow into with his details and his habits but good skater and really strong on the puck. Really happy with his camp so far.”
Bannister admits he hadn’t heard or seen a lot about Robertsson in the past with him playing in Sweden We hear from scouts, but we haven’t been able to see him because he’s been over in Europe and he hasn’t been to main camp. I’ve seen him a couple times a few years ago here at development camp. You don’t take a lot from that.”
Robertsson won’t make it onto his first NHL roster for 2024-25 and will all but likely begin the season with Springfield of the American Hockey League, but it’s evident if he stays the course along the path he’s chosen, it won’t be long before he’s in the NHL.
“This is kind of the first viewing for myself and the coaching staff and we’ve been impressed by it,” Bannister said.
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