OHL In The System: St. Louis Blues
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the St. Louis Blues.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Lukas Fischer (D) – Sarnia Sting (2022-24)
Selected: 56th overall, 2024 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 115 Games Played | 9 Goals | 35 Assists | 57 Points
Age: 17
The Sarnia Sting’s 11th round pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Lukas Fischer was drafted 56th overall by the Blues at the 2024 NHL Draft. Tripling his rookie point record in his sophomore season, the Brighton, MI. native led all Sting defensemen with 34 points in 68 games during the 2023-24 regular season, and posted the team’s best plus-minus rating (-27). The son of former Stanley Cup champion Jiri Fischer, the 17-year-old blueliner has totaled 57 points over 115 games played.
Hunter Skinner (D) – London Knights (2019-20)
Signed: June 30, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 62 Games Played | 6 Goals | 26 Assists | 32 Points
Age: 23
Originally acquired by the Blues via trade from the New York Rangers on Feb. 9, 2023, Hunter Skinner signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on June 30, 2024. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 205lb. defenceman dressed in 50 regular-season games with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, posting 10 points and 94 penalty minutes. The Wyandotte, Michigan, native has appeared in 132 career AHL regular-season games, accumulating 33 points and 151 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round, 112th overall of the 2019 NHL Draft. Selected by the London Knights in the fifth round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Skinner played one season in London, tallying 32 points in 62 games played.
Sam Bitten (LW) – Ottawa 67’s (2016-19), Sarnia Sting (2019-20)
Signed (AHL): March 14, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 202 Games Played | 34 Goals | 57 Assists | 91 Points
Age: 24
Sam Bitten signed a two-year contract extension with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds on March 14, 2024. The 24-year-old forward joined the Thunderbirds this past season after playing three seasons professionally in Europe. In 29 games played, Bitten registered one goal and two assists. Selected by the Ottawa 67’s in the fifth round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, the Gloucester, Ont. native played four seasons in the OHL between the 67’s and the Sarnia Sting, recording 91 points over 202 regular season games played. he added an additional six points in 25 playoff contests.
Dalibor Dvorsky (C) – Sudbury Wolves (2023-24)
Signed: July 14, 2023
OHL Career Stats: 52 Games Played | 45 Goals | 43 Assists | 88 Points
Age: 19
Selected 10th overall by the Blues at the 2023 NHL Draft, Dalibor Dvorsky signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on July 14, 2023. After being selected by Sudbury in the second round of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, the 19-year-old forward spent the 2023-24 season with the Wolves, tallying 88 points in 52 regular season contests. Dvorsky added an additional 10 points in nine post-season games. The Zvolen, SVK. native has represented his home country at three consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, earning a bronze medal back in January. Dvorsky was named to the OHL’s 2023-24 First All-Star Team.
Quinton Burns (D) – Kingston Frontenacs (2021-24)
Selected: 74th overall, 2023 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 154 Games Played | 8 Goals | 60 Assists | 68 Points
Age: 19
Selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the second round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Quinton Burns has tallied 68 points in 154 regular season games played over three OHL season. Selected by the Blues in the third round, 74th overall by St. Louis in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Smiths Falls, Ont. native registered 35 points in 58 games played during the 2023-24 regular season, along with one goal in five playoff contests.
Matthew Mayich (D) – Ottawa 67’s (2021-24)
Selected: 170th overall, 2023 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 190 Games Played | 14 Goals | 43 Assists | 57 Points
Age: 19
Selected by the Ottawa 67’s in the fourth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Matthew Mayich heard his name called by the Blues 170th overall at the 2023 NHL Draft. Closing out his third season in the OHL, the Stoney Creek, Ont. native has registered 57 points in 190 regular season games played, along with seven points in 22 playoff contests.
Michael Buchinger (D) – Guelph Storm (2021-24)
Signed: March 1, 2023
OHL Career Stats: 176 Games Played | 30 Goals | 128 Assists | 158 Points
Age: 20
The Blues third round, 88th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Michael Buchinger signed a three-year entry-level contract with St. Louis on March 1, 2023. A native of Markham, Ont., he put up 47 points in 52 regular-season games and another three points in four postseason games during the 2023-24 season with the Guelph Storm. He also served as an alternate captain for the team and was named to the OHL’s Third All-Star Team. Selected by the Storm in the second round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Buchinger has totaled 158 points in 176 regular season career games.
Will Cranley (G) — Ottawa 67’s (2018-22), Flint Firebirds (2022-23)
Signed: March 2, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 117 Games Played | 3.61 GAA | 0.881 SV% | 53-45-7-3 | 6 Shutouts
Age: 22
Selected by the Blues in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Will Cranley signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization on March 2, 2022. The 22-year-old netminder spent the 2023-24 season between the ECHL’s Reading Royals and Utah Grizzlies, playing to a 9-15-4 record along with a 3.78 goals-against average. Originally selected by the Ottawa 67’s in the second round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, the Peterborough, Ont. native played three seasons with the Barber Poles before spending the 2022-23 campaign with the Flint Firebirds. Over his four-year OHL tenure, Cranley played to a 53-45-7-3 record including six shutouts, along with a 3.61 goals-against average and 0.881 save percentage.
Tanner Dickinson (C) – Soo Greyhounds (2019-22)
Signed: August 31, 2021
OHL Career Stats: 99 Games Played | 27 Goals | 60 Assists | 87 Points
Age: 22
Selected by the Blues in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Tanner Dickinson signed an entry-level contract with the club on August 31, 2021. Spending the 2023-24 season with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, the Perrysburg, OH. native registered 26 points in 45 games played. Dickinson also appeared in 17 games with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, tallying three goals and one assists. Signed as a free-agent by the Soo Greyhounds in 2019, the 22-year-old forward played two seasons in the OHL, recording 87 points in 99 regular season games.
Tomorrow’s edition of In The System, features the Washington Capitals organization!
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