“I gotta learn the language,” he said when asked what he needed to improve on to make the jump to the NHL. “And just listening to coach and doing what he want of me. . . . just try and change my game . . . from Russia style to American style. I think it’s successful.”

Kostin, who scored twice in Friday’s prospects camp-ending shootout, was one of two players the Blues chose in the first round of the 2017 draft. First up was Robert Thomas, the 20th pick, who played in the NHL this season as a teenager and played a role in the Blues’ run to the Stanley Cup. Kostin was taken with the 31st pick in the first round with a choice the Blues got for trading Ryan Reaves to Pittsburgh. (The Blues also got Oskar Sundqvist in that draft-day deal.)

Kostin is two months older than Thomas, but his impact still remains in the future. Kostin scored 10 goals and assisted on 14 in 66 games this season for San Antonio, numbers not far off his first season in North America in which he had six goals and 22 assists. But the Blues look at Kostin as a player who is going to need time to adjust to the game but who is going to get there.