The Blues鈥 Russian prospects won鈥檛 be arriving in North America this fall, but perhaps next year offers a glimpse.
During last month鈥檚 development camp, the Blues had three of their five Russian prospects in 51黑料 as Mikhail Fyodorov (2025 fifth round), Nikita Susuyev (2023 seventh round) and Arseniy Koromyslov (2022 fourth round) were all in town to skate with the rest of the Blues鈥 pipeline. Matvei Korotky (2024 seventh round) and Ivan Vorobyov (2021 seventh round) were not in attendance.
Blues prospect Arseni Koromyslov practices during the Blues prospect camp at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights on Monday, July 1, 2024.
Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said Russian amateur scout Alex Starovoytov was 鈥渞eally impressed with these guys,鈥 referring to the three players at camp.
鈥淔or us, to bring them over here, to get them here, to see what the NHL is all about, see what 51黑料 is all about, it鈥檚 just hopefully another step that we can try to lure them to get over here as quickly as possible,鈥 Taylor said.
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The sticking point with many Russian prospects is their contracts with their KHL teams. All five are under contract in Russia for next season, with Koromyslov and Fyodorov鈥檚 deals ending next summer, according to the KHL website. Vorobyov, Susuyev and Korotky are signed in Russia through the 2026-27 season.
Koromyslov is the highest-drafted of the bunch, taken with the 120th pick in 2022 as part of a draft class headlined by Jimmy Snuggerud. A left-handed defenseman who is active in transition, Koromyslov played for three teams last season in the KHL.
SKA St. Petersburg loaned him to Lada Togliatti, then he was returned to SKA before being traded to Traktor Chelyabinsk. Overall, in 60 KHL games, Koromyslov had three goals and 10 assists. In 21 playoff games in Chelyabinsk, he had four points.
鈥淚 was in three teams last season,鈥 Koromyslov said. 鈥淚n Lada, it was my first KHL season, then I will come back to my first team SKA St. Petersburg. They trade me to Chelyabinsk. In Chelyabinsk, I had a Canadian coach, Benoit Grouxl, very good coach. I progress with him. We go to the final in playoff, but lose it. But it was a really good season for me.鈥
Koromyslov said he improved 鈥渙n my stick game, battle in the corners, my skating鈥 last season.
Susuyev wowed at times with his stick-handling during development camp and the winger will play for Spartak in the KHL this year. Last season, he split time between three leagues in Russia. In the top-level KHL, Susuyev had one goal in seven games. In the second-tier VHL, he had one goal and four assists in 14 games. In the junior-level MHL, he had six goals and six assists in 21 games.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 not easy season, I thought about last season,鈥 Susuyev said. 鈥淚n Russia now, in the KHL, very nice hockey and it鈥檚 a hard league. 鈥 I need to go straight and straight every year. Progress every year, every year I need progress.鈥
Susuyev has been at the last two development camps in 51黑料.
鈥51黑料 people and coaches, guys, it鈥檚 very nice people, very nice professional,鈥 Susuyev said. 鈥淚 go to the camp and every day, I have a nice mood. Every day, we have nice training, talk a lot. I like it.鈥
During camp, Koromyslov acted as a translator for Susuyev, interpreting questions before Susuyev was able to respond in English himself.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know English good, but I want to play here, and I need to learn it,鈥 Koromyslov said. 鈥淲e have teachers in Russia.鈥
Post-Dispatch beat reporter Matthew DeFranks joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the flurry of Blues activity in the trade market, free agency and the NHL Draft.
