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St. Louis Blues Prospect Guide: Springfield Thunderbirds Players To Watch In 2026-27
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- St. Louis Blues Prospect Guide: Springfield Thunderbirds Players To Watch In 2026-27
The St. Louis Blues have several young players pushing toward the NHL, and theSpringfield Thunderbirdsshould give fans a chance to watch some of the organization's top prospects develop in 2026-27.
Springfield opens the AHL season Oct. 3 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
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Here are three Blues prospects to watch with Springfield in 2026-27.
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2026 Springfield Thunderbirds vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Justin Carbonneau, F
Justin Carbonneau enters his first full professional season as one of the biggest names in the Blues' prospect pool.
St. Louis selected Carbonneau No. 19 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. He scored 51 goals and recorded 80 points in 60 games with Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL last season, tying for the league lead in goals.
The 19-year-old also got his first taste of professional hockey with Springfield during the Calder Cup Playoffs. NHL.com projects Carbonneau to begin this season in the AHL, making him one of the Thunderbirds' most exciting players to follow.
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Adam Jiříček, D
Adam Jiříček is preparing for his first full professional season after a huge year in the OHL.
The No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft recorded 19 goals and 40 assists for 59 points in 55 games with the Brantford Bulldogs last season.
Jiříček then joined Springfield for six Calder Cup Playoff games. The 20-year-old is competing for an NHL job in training camp, but he is expected to begin the season in Springfield if he doesn't make the Blues.
Juraj Pekarcik, F
Juraj Pekarcik is officially headed back to Springfield after the Blues assigned him to the Thunderbirds during training camp.
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The 2023 third-round pick recorded 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 65 games during his first full AHL season in 2025-26.
Now 20 years old, Pekarcik enters his second season in Springfield with an opportunity to take another step offensively and continue working toward his NHL debut.
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