The St. Louis Blues are giving their fans something to be excited about, calling up Dalibor Dvorský from the minors for his first taste of NHL action.
It’s a big moment for the 19-year-old Slovak forward, who the Blues picked 10th overall in last year’s draft.
Dvorský’s path to the NHL hasn’t been straightforward. He started this season in Sweden’s top league but struggled to find his groove, going scoreless in 10 games with limited ice time.
That’s when things got interesting.
He made the jump to North America, joining the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. And boy, did he light it up there – 45 goals and 88 points in just 52 games.
The young forward has been tearing it up in the American Hockey League too. Playing for the Springfield Thunderbirds, he’s racked up 20 goals and 43 points in 57 games – pretty impressive for a rookie.
His timing couldn’t be better. The Blues are in the middle of a heated playoff race, currently holding onto the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference thanks to a five-game winning streak.
Dvorský won’t be easing in with meaningless games either. St. Louis has some crucial matchups coming up, including two against the Nashville Predators that could make or break their playoff hopes.
It’s the kind of opportunity young players dream about – joining an NHL team right in the thick of a playoff push.
Before making the jump to North America, Dvorský showed flashes of his potential in Sweden’s second-tier league, scoring six goals and adding eight assists in 38 games for AIK. He also represented Slovakia at the World Junior Championship, picking up three points in five games.
Now he’s got his chance to show what he can do at hockey’s highest level.
