Projection: Top-Six Forward
Projectable Skills: Shot aggression, Off Puck IQ, Calm Demeanor
Development Opportunities: Strength and Size

He moves fluidly and balanced through his crossover but there is still room for more strength and explosion which should develop over time. He does lose a bit of momentum sometimes on his strides north-south but often gains that back through crossovers and his edges. He’s a player who projects to naturally improve year over year and keep that steady production and goal scoring ability. He uses fake passes, slip passes on the PP, and can extend his reach to pass around attackers. In those key moments, he’s unbothered by pressure and does not hesitate to jump into a shot lane or pounce on a rebound. I think the biggest thing holding him back from a bit more production is being more aggressive on the forecheck to knock pucks loose, building more size and strength, and continuing to find chemistry with his linemates at 5on5.

St. Louis really stood out as a distributor, directing traffic in the offensive zone and creating opportunities for his teammates consistently. You will probably hear St. Louis before you actually see him as he is incredibly vocal in calling for the puck, dictating passing options, and warning teammates of oncoming pressure. He wants the puck on his stick and is very effective at finding lanes through traffic to get the puck interior. He has soft hands to manipulate and dance through traffic and he is adept at making plays on either his forehand or backhand. He also has a good sense of spacing in the offensive zone and tends to pop up at the right place at the right time when off puck. While I like his instincts in positioning as an offensive threat he could work to improve his play without the puck as a defensive player. He isn’t the biggest or fastest player but that’s only really felt on the defensive end where he can lose too many battles along the wall and get caught reaching in pursuit instead of driving his feet. St Louis was also much more effective when playing with a natural finisher as he struggles a little more to generate for himself in the dirty areas of the ice. While I think there will be some physical limitation, his IQ and puck moving abilities should serve him well as a complementary piece moving forward. He seemed to get the most out of his skilled linemates and that will hold value at any level.

St. Louis has been a great depth piece for Alberta all tournament and had another strong game on both sides of the puck today. He is a very thoughtful as an off-puck player, maintaining excellent positioning as both a support and passing option while also taking smart approach angles when closing on a puck carrier to take away the passing option and hurrying the handle. He was intercepting passes all game by lurking in soft spots, reading intentions, and jumping routes. This talent is put to great use on the penalty kill where he is disruptive without overselling his position.