Top prospects for St. Louis Blues

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, the top five prospects for the St. Louis Blues, according to NHL.com.

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1. Jordan Kyrou, C

How acquired:Selected with No. 35 pick in 2016 NHL Draft
Last season: St. Louis (NHL): 16 GP, 1-2-3; San Antonio (AHL): 47 GP, 16-27-43
Kyrou (6-foot, 175 pounds) got a nine-game trial with the Blues last season after making the roster out of training camp but was then sent to the American Hockey League, where he was San Antonio's third-leading scorer. The 21-year-old was recalled by St. Louis in December and struggled to score, getting two points in seven games, but is expected to again make the team out of training camp and could remain in the NHL this time around.
"Some people are fast, but they can't think fast. He can really play at high speeds and think the game," Blues assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Bill Armstrong said. "He really excelled in his year in the minor leagues and he's put himself in a good situation to try and earn a spot in the NHL. There's some maturity that has to occur, but he's put himself in a good position because of what he accomplished last year in San Antonio."
Projected NHL arrival:This season

2. Klim Kostin, C

How acquired:Selected with No. 31 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season:San Antonio (AHL): 66 GP, 10-14-24
Kostin (6-3, 212) is a big, physical presence that has been missing in the Blues lineup since they traded forward Ryan Reaves prior to the 2017-18 season. The 20-year-old, selected with the pick St. Louis received from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the trade for Reaves, had 102 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games last season (defenseman Joel Edmundson led St. Louis with 68 penalty minutes in 2018-19).
Kostin was the captain for Russia at the 2019 World Junior Championship, where he had six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games.
Projected NHL arrival:This season

3. Dominik Bokk, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 25 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
Last season:Vaxjo (SHL): 47 GP, 8-15-23; Vaxjo J20 (SuperElit): 1 GP, 1-0-1
The speedy 19-year-old, who has a quick shot and is a gifted passer, will play his third straight season in Sweden. Bokk (6-1, 180) will play for Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League because the Blues feel another year will benefit his development.
"He's still got some maturity in him where he has to learn to play the North American game in a smaller rink, which is going to take some adjustments," Armstrong said. "But what he has, you can't teach, with the sense and the ability to score and make plays."
Projected NHL arrival:2021-22

4. Mitch Reinke, D

How acquired:Signed as free agent March 25, 2018
Last season:San Antonio (AHL): 76 GP, 12-33-45
Reinke led AHL rookie defensemen in scoring in his first professional season. The 23-year-old has played one NHL game (in 2017-18) and could be another offensive defenseman to come up in the Blues system, joining Alex Pietrangelo, Vince Dunn and Colton Parayko. Reinke (5-11, 181) will likely play another season in the AHL barring injuries on the Blues.
"He's got to add some strength and obviously learn to play the NHL-style game, so he still has a little bit of a ways to go, but he's put himself in a good situation," Armstrong said. "He was up at the end of the year and got to experience what it's like."
Projected NHL arrival: Next season

5. Scott Perunovich, D

How acquired:Selected with No. 45 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
Last season: University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA): 39 GP, 3-26-29
The 21-year-old helped Minnesota Duluth win the NCAA Division I men's hockey championship for a second straight year last season, and had three points (one goals, two assists) in seven games to help the United States finish third at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Perunovich (5-9, 172), who was not drafted in his first two years of eligibility, will play another season in college to further his development.
"The one thing that you love about him is his competitive spirit," Armstrong said. "Scott's obviously going to have another great year of college like he did last year, take another step, get bigger, stronger, and then he's going to have to take that next step in learning to play at the NHL level."
Projected NHL arrival:2021-22