Adam Jecho's Oil Kings Fit Well With Future Plans For St. Louis Blues – Hockey Writers – Blues Prospects

St. Louis Blues are in a strange position heading into the 2024-25 campaign. They have a strong squad with decent goals and some money to spend, but they are not considered contenders. Some fans of the league have been saying that they should blow up the team and rebuild but it seems that they are not ready to do that yet. That said, the Blues did well in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft snagging Adam Jiricek in the first round, Colin Ralph and Lukas Fischer in the second round, and Ondrej Kos and Adam Jecho in the third round. Jecho, drafted to the Western Hockey League (WHL) after a strong season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, could be a steal, as some estimates have him going early in the first round, so the Blues were lucky. he fell that far from them.

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Jecho joins a team with a strong prospect pool with prospects like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Otto Stenberg in their roster, making it look like the future is bright for the Blues. Jecho has a strong offensive upside that could bring him to the NHL within two seasons, but he's someone the Blues can be patient with while they wait for him to make small improvements to his game back in the WHL. He is expected to return to the Oil Kings this season and try to help them get back to the playoffs after a difficult season and missing out on last season.

What can Jecho do for the Blues?

The Blues will be looking to compete again this season, although they will be on the outside looking in when it comes to last season. They're a solid team with good pieces, but they don't have the depth and firepower to have anyone confident in their ability to turn it around and make a deep run just yet. If you look at their future, Jecho could be someone they allow to slowly develop in the WHL and eventually, to the American Hockey League (AHL) when he decides to become a champion and join their organization officially.

Jecho is a tall, 6-foot-5, 201-pound player, praised for his strength in the offensive zone. Having the opportunity to watch him live last season gave me the opportunity to see Jecho up close, and there is not much I can pick on about his game. His offensive tendencies are close to NHL-ready, his skating is smooth for a big player, and his defensive IQ is something that only needs a little work before he's considered ready for the pro level.

Jecho stood out in his first season with the Oil Kings, as he scored 23 goals and added 24 assists for 47 points in 54 games last season. He also played five games representing his country Czechia in the U18 World Championship where he scored two goals and added one assist with three points. He will likely be relied upon as an offensive leader this season, but the Blues certainly hope the Oil Kings can surround him with solid talent and help build confidence in the championship contenders.

Jecho could be on the Blues roster as soon as the 2026-27 season if he continues to make small touches in his game. He has the potential to be a solid middle-six forward who can provide depth and play anywhere in the lineup, and the Blues will hope he can continue to improve and potentially find another offensive gear this season. If he can somehow maintain his offensive production while improving his defensive game and cleaning up his neutral zone play, he could get a shot at the pro level sooner than anyone thinks.