Scott Perunovich

The upcoming season will be a big one for Perunovich, as he could be in line for top power-play minutes and figures to be a full-time NHL option after logging just 54 NHL games for the Blues last year. The 25-year-old blueliner is still looking for his first NHL goal but did manage to chip in 17 assists, including six with the man advantage, during the previous campaign. The addition of veteran Ryan Suter could create some competition for power-play ice time, which would certainly hurt Perunovich's offensive upside. Still, if he can suit up in a full 82-game campaign, or at least something close, the Minnesota native could put together a career year in which he pushes for the 30-point mark.

Perunovich likely would have been an NHLer in 2022-23 were it not for a shoulder surgery he underwent just before the start of the season. He was initially expected to miss six months but was able to return in four-and-a-half months instead, though he was limited to AHL action with Springfield, where he had 20 points in 22 games. He'll have a chance to win a job in training camp this fall, and he's got some appeal as a potential power-play option. Perunovich is already an offensive upgrade on Marco Scandella, though it'll likely be Perunovich's defense that determines if he sticks in the NHL. He's worth a look as a sleeper defenseman in most formats.

Peruonvich was passed up on in his first two years of draft eligibility. Teams were worried about his size. The 22-year-old reportedly stands at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds now, about the same size as Quinn Hughes. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but Perunovich is an intriguing prospect with similar qualities. A two-time National Champion at Minnesota-Duluth, Perunovich stacked up 40 points over 24 games with the Bulldogs last year, winning the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to college hockey's most outstanding player. The 2018 second-round pick has the skills to make the team out of training camp, but a deep blue line stands in his way. If the AHL season continues to get pushed off and Perunovich keeps hanging around the NHL roster, his talent may force the Blues to provide him some game action.