Jordan Kyrou

Kyrou's offense didn't slip by much, but the Blues' overall poor performance left him with a minus-38 rating in 2022-23. He added 37 goals, 36 assists, 272 shots on goal and 23 power-play points in 79 contests, cementing himself as a high-end winger. Kyrou's 13.6 shooting percentage was actually slightly down from the previous two years, so there's plenty of reason to think he will continue to produce at right around a point-per-game pace this season. The overall lack of talent on the St. Louis roster might put a slight damper on Kyrou's peripheral numbers, but that isn't likely to be enough to significantly impact his fantasy value, so you shouldn't hesitate to take him on draft day.

Those who pegged Kyrou as a potential breakout candidate prior to last season were rewarded for their faith, as he finished the year with 24 goals and 75 points in 74 games, shattering his production of 14 goals and 35 points in 55 games a year prior. Not surprisingly, Kyrou's breakout directly correlated with his increased role with the man advantage. Kyrou posted 19 power-play points last season after tallying a mere four in his first 99 NHL games the prior three years combined. Kyrou will play this entire upcoming regular season at age 24, so it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see him take his game to another level given his youth and individual talents.

A big January led to Kyrou having a career year in 2020-21, as he notched 10 of his 35 points in his first nine games. With just 25 points in the remaining 46 contests, it's fair to question how consistent the 23-year-old winger will be this season. He provides next to nothing in terms of physicality, and he still hasn't seen much more than second-unit power-play work -- last season's output was propped up by a shooting percentage of 14.3 on 98 shots. As a scoring-only option in fantasy, his value will be boosted immensely if he can secure a top-six role that could see him push for a 50-point pace.. If he doesn't, he can likely go undrafted in standard formats while retaining some appeal in deeper leagues as a bench option.

Kyrou was often linked to Robert Thomas as the Blues' top prospects. While the latter has taken off as a rising NHL player, Kyrou hasn't enjoyed the same success. The 22-year-old struggled to stay in the lineup last year, playing just 28 games and recording nine points. Working in Kyrou's favor is elite speed and a dangerous shot, but he needs to get more comfortable with the NHL speed and physicality. The Toronto native fits better in a top-six role, a luxury that will be difficult to earn in the Blues' top-heavy forward corps. Kyrou needs to make the most of his opportunities this year.

Kyrou couldn't quite find his groove at the NHL level as a rookie, posting just three points in 16 games, but he took control in the minors with 16 goals and 27 assists in 47 contests. The 21-year-old has a unique combination of speed and a wicked release on his wrist shot -- some experts even touted him as a better prospect than Robert Thomas -- so the Blues want him to get more comfortable in the offensive zone before ascending him to the NHL ranks full time. That time could be coming soon, as the Blues likely won't re-sign Patrick Maroon, so Kyrou will have a chance to battle Zachary Sanford, Sammy Blais and Ivan Barbashev for consistent minutes in the bottom six and work his way up the lineup.

Kyrou is widely considered one of the top skaters out of this year's prospects, and he has the ability to single handedly generate opportunities. The OHL was child's play for him, as he tore up the league with 39 goals and 109 points -- the most points among right wingers -- in 56 games. The 20-year-old's monster stat line earned him the Red Tilson Trophy for most outstanding player in the league. Kyrou accomplished this despite missing games to play for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships, where he notched 10 points in seven games. It's clear Kyrou is an NHL-caliber talent, but the Blues depth at wing could give them difficult choices to make: allow Kyrou to play top-six minutes with AHL San Antonio or plug him into the bottom-six with the big club? Either one should make fantasy owners wary of picking the rookie, but his unique abilities render him a top choice for keeper leagues.