NHL Prospect Watch – St. Louis Blues

In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!

We continue with the prospect pool of the St. Louis Blues.

Joel Hofer
A WHL Champion in 2018 with the Swift Current Broncos, goaltender Joel Hofer enjoyed one of the busiest seasons of his hockey career in 2022-23. The Winnipegger appeared in six NHL contests for the St. Louis Blues, winning three times while posting a .905 save percentage at the NHL level. At AHL Springfield, Hofer shone, recording a .921 save percentage and five shutouts over his 47 games played for the Thunderbirds. For his efforts, the 23-year-old was named to the American Hockey League Second All-Star Team. Hofer capped off his season by helping Canada capture the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. He tended goal in two contests, earning a 1.46 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in his first national team appearance since the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. As a WHL goaltender with Swift Current and Portland, Hofer won 57 regular season contests and put up a .910 save percentage and eight shutouts in his 115 games played.

Joel Hofer – midseason form pic.twitter.com/bfARRIEbu9

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 29, 2023