NHL Prospect Watch: St. Louis Blues

Ahead of the 2024-25 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for each of the NHL’s 32 teams. Throughout the series, we’ll highlight WHLers who have been signed to an NHL contract, were recently drafted, or are included in the NHL’s definition of a rookie.

Please note that these players were acquired via the NHL Draft and not by offer sheet.

Although, we do love to see it.

Adam Jecho

There are only about 17 forwards in the NHL who clock in at 6-foot-5 or taller, and towering Czech centre Adam Jecho hopes to join their ranks. The 18-year-old potted 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 54 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings to complete his first season in North America. His 23 goals tied for second-most on the squad and he closed out the campaign with a five-game point streak that saw him add four goals and six assists. On the international stage, the Zlin, Cze. product picked up silver at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup- where he had a pair of lamp-lighters in five games- and helped Czechia reach the quarterfinals at the 2024 IIHF World U-18 Championship, picking up another two goals and an assist. St. Louis chose Jecho with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old is preparing to represent his home country at the upcoming U20 Five Nations Tournament in late August before heading back overseas to participate in the Blues’ Rookie Showcase in September.

Did you know that top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Adam Jecho was an elite tennis player in Czechia before coming to Canada to pursue hockey?

We caught up with Adam and some of his brave @EdmOilKings teammates to see how they measure up 🎾 pic.twitter.com/uCCG7GjASi

— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 14, 2024

Will McIsaac

Another imposing body, 6-foot-3, 192-pound defender Will McIsaac was selected in the fifth round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The mobile blueliner more than doubled his totals from his rookie year, putting up six goals and 21 assists for 27 points in 67 games. His +15 rating tied for second-best on the Spokane Chiefs and he netted his first career three-point game with a trio of helpers in a 5-2 win over the Wenatchee Wild in December. McIsaac earned another assist in his first trip to the WHL Playoffs, where Spokane dipped out in the first round to the powerhouse Prince George Cougars. McIsaac is just the second Spokane player selected by the Blues, following Maxim Bets, who was picked up in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. McIsaac will also participate in the Blues’ Rookie Showcase.

🎥WILL MCISAAC – HIGHLIGHT REEL🎥

Will the Thrill has the skill!@spokanechiefs | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/JlLG3vpasr

— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 28, 2024

Tomas Mrsic

Have Mrcy! 6-foot, 170-pound centreman Tomas Mrsic was a hair shy of a point-per-game with the dynamic Medicine Hat Tigers in 2023-24, netting 23 goals and 39 assists for 62 points in 63 regular-season contests. The Surrey, B.C. product nearly tripled his output from his rookie season and finished fourth on the squad in points. Mrsic went on a roll with two extended point streaks, snagging five goals and four assists in five straight games in March and two goals and seven assists in seven-straight games in late January. He also set career highs with a pair of four-point performances this season- a four-assist game against the Edmonton Oil Kings, and a two-goal, two-assist effort against Spokane. Mrsic went 113th overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

C ya, bottle!

Tomas Mrsic breaks the deadlock for the @tigershockey. #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/JQglKy13wt

— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 1, 2023