St. Louis Blues: Klim Kostin is on fire this preseason

The St. Louis Blues Klim Kostin is ready for the NHL, but it would seem that the Blues roster isn’t quite ready for him. With six points in four games, the decision seems easy so far.

The St. Louis Blues are approaching a problem they weren’t quite ready for this season. And it’s a nice one to have. That problem is Klim Kostin having his way in preseason exhibition games at a rate of 1.5 points per game in the four games he’s played in.

It’s a problem simply because the Blues weren’t expecting Kostin to perform as well as he has. They were expecting him to become one of their top players of the future after drafting him in the first round for a pick they received from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Ryan Reeves.

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The Blues probably didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Kostin has shown flashes of his ability in the World Juniors and AHL, but he also was showing some rookie tendencies that were telltale signs he wasn’t ready for the NHL competition just yet.

Many in the NHL believed Kostin had all the tools to translate into the NHL. All he lacked was maturity and an understanding of the North American game.

He’s been touted as one of the Blues top prospects behind Robert Thomas, who is already in the NHL, and Jordan Kyrou.

Kyrou is recovering still from patella surgery and it has given Kostin an opportunity to display what he has been learning over the last few seasons.

It has become an opportunity that Kostin has not wasted. He is on a 1.5 points per game pace in the preseason having suited up for four of the Blues five games. Three of those games have seen the team win, thanks to Kostin. As of Sept. 25, he trails only the Vegas Golden Knight’s Max Pacioretty by one point.

What makes the production of Kostin’s points most notable is in the variety of ways he has gotten them. Each one of Kostin’s goals has showcased a different aspect of his game. He has had a skilled goal, a goal as a result of power, and a goal from a wicked shot. So in the short sample size and chances, he has made each one count.

The assists have been all primary assists, but one. Each one demonstrating that he has learned and digested the North American NHL game. His awareness and grit have been on display. He has shown coach Craig Berube precisely the kind of play he wants from all his players.

There are still four more preseason games for the Blues and Kostin is expected to suit up for most of them if not all of them. The only knock on Kostin’s performance this preseason is he has had two tripping penalties and a holding penalty called against him.

These are considered “lazy penalties” by most people in hockey whether NHL or PeeWee. So they do cause concern, or send a red flag to most coaches. Kostin acknowledged these penalties and emphasized his desire to get those cleaned up. He has four games to show that he can.

Reading all of this you’re probably asking,” So what’s the problem? Sounds like they’d be nuts not to keep him up and play in Maroon’s vacated spot.” This is a fair question. The answer is where it gets a little more complicated and the reason he won’t becomes more about circumstance rather than performance.

Kostin is signed to a two-way contract making it much easier to send him down to the AHL affiliate than one of the guys he’d be bumping a player like Robby Fabbri, Zach Sanford, or Sammy Blais, who would all have to clear waivers in order to be sent down.

Doug Armstrong has an unexpected and pleasant problem. Kostin so far has done his part. I don’t think he makes it on the club out of camp except for maybe an eight game experience stint, but I do believe that he is coming to the club this season and will not only come up but stay. He will make a huge impact on this team’s bid for a repeat! Mark my words.