Blues Russian Prospects Updates: Players Progressing and Those Stagnating
- Vanessa
- 47 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Of the 5 Russian prospects in the St. Louis Blues system, I would like to highlight where they stand after the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season. First, I will talk about the one prospect that was acquired via trade. Then, I will discuss the 3 oldest prospects that were drafted and have been in the system for a few years. Finally, I will give my thoughts on the youngest of the 5 and the most recently drafted from Russia.
Mikhail Abramov
Mikhail Abramov was acquired from Toronto as part of the Ryan O'Reilly trade in 2022-2023. During his stay with the AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, Abramov was a core contributor in the 2023-2024 season. Posting 36 points (14-22) in 59 games, a .62 ppg performance. That year, he seemed a lock to continue developing in the AHL.
Unfortunately, he chose not to sign a qualifying offer and returned to Russia in the KHL, playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. During this past year, he posted 18 points (11-7) in 38 games, ending up with .47 ppg. What I will say is that since the KHL and the AHL are somewhat on equal footing, in terms of level of play, this doesn't help Abramov's case if he wants to try and return to the NHL anytime soon. As he is still an RFA this season, perhaps the Blues can trade his rights away to recoup a pick?
Ivan Vorobyov
Ivan Vorobyov had the steadiest season in the KHL with no loans or trades. He played a full 60 games for the season and scored 26 points (13g - 13a) playing for the KHL team Vityaz Moscow Region. One thing to mention for Vorobyov is that his point production steadily increased as his games played increased, showing he has the skills to be a consistent point producer. He currently does not seem to have a contract for next year, and he will be eligible to leave Russia and come to North America if the Blues feel it's a fit for his development.
Nikita Susuyev
Nikita Susuyev was among the players who were drafted alongside Dvorsky, Lindstein, and Stenberg. During his past season, he did a lot of moving between teams and levels of play compared to every other prospect mentioned.
He served as an assistant Captain for his Russian junior team, playing in 7 games and only recording 3 goals and 1 assist. He was called up to the next level for a 12-game stint, scoring 5 points (1g - 4a), then loaned to another junior team for 9 games, scoring 8 points (3g - 5a). He was then loaned to another VHL team for 2 games, scoring no points, and finally landed in the KHL for 7 regular season games, scoring 1 goal, and 3 playoff games, scoring no points, with the Vladivostok's KHL team.
This upcoming season, Susuyev looks to be signed with Spartak Moskva, the KHL team in Moscow, Russia. But there is no record of a contract currently for him with that team, and his current Russian contract is up at the end of this month. He could attempt to jump over to the AHL if the Blues feel it will be better for the winger's development.
Arseni Koromyslov
Koromyslov had one of the more turbulent years as he was moved between 3 different KHL teams during the season. First, after 7 games with SKA (his original team), he was loaned to Lada and played 26 games for them. He was then traded after the 26 games to Traktor Chelyabinsk, where he would finish the season playing 27 games and then 21 games in the KHL playoffs, losing in the finals to the eventual Gagarin Cup champions.
Overall, Koromyslov had a great productive season, scoring 3 goals - 10 assists for 13 points in the regular season between the 3 teams. In the playoffs, he scored 4 total points (1g - 3a). He is under contract in the KHL until May of 2026.
Matvei Korotky
Korotky is the latest Russian-born player to join the Blues organization as a drafted prospect. Korotky appears to be a late-round potential gem from the most recent NHL Draft. This past year, Matvei performed extremely well, earning himself call-ups to both the VHL and the KHL. While his performance in the VHL only lasted 2 games, the KHL team saw enough to bring him up for the remainder of the KHL season and 2 games of the KHL playoffs. During his 30-game stint in the KHL, he scored 9 points (4g - 5a) and earned a rookie of the month award for his play in February.
Once he was sent back down to the Russian junior system, he continued to outperform his age level and increased his scoring ability in the MHL playoffs. While during his draft year he helped to win the MHL championship, this year the team fell short in their rematch of the final. Matvei may start this upcoming year in the Russian juniors, but he may be called up full-time to the KHL. He is under contract till 2027 in the Russian system, but if he keeps progressing, the Blues may have found a 7th-round gem.
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