MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Quinton Burns was walking around the St. Louis Blues locker room recently during development camp like a pro.

"It's my third one," the third-round pick of the 2023 NHL Draft said.

However, they never get old, especially for someone looking to make the jump to pro, which is what the 20-year-old defenseman from Smith Falls, Ontario will be doing next season in Springfield of the American Hockey League.

"Just taking away things every day," Burns said on the final day of camp. "Obviously there's a lot of knowledge in this organization, whether it's the development guys or all the way up to the GM. You try to pick their brains. Same with the training staff in the gym. They're all so smart. You can take stuff they say and bring it back to your workouts in the summer."

Burns is another of the top-end prospects in the organization, one that is wiser than his years. He just finished his fourth and final season with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League, putting up his best numbers in goals (eight), assists (41) and points (49) in 66 regular-season games, leading the Frontenacs to the second round of the playoffs. His plus-45 was tied for ninth in the league.

And doing so as the captain of the team, just like fellow prospect, 2024 second-round pick Lukas Fischer with Sarnia last season, where Burns learned the value of leading while bettering his development.

"I would have loved to win," Burns said of playing in Kingston, where he played 220 games in four seasons. "I'm sure everyone would say that they'd love to win, but I think development-wise, it was a great four years. Kingston treated me so well. They helped me get to this point. Now it's on me to make that jump. With everything they've done for my development, I want to do it for them as well, show them that they did a great job."

The Blues now have a feel for who they're getting. There's been so much talk about the puck-moving defensemen in the system that can provide offense from the defensive position. Burns shows a steady diet of jumping into plays, but his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame -- and getting bigger -- was built for playing the rugged, physical style. Burns had 100 or more penalty minutes in each of the past three seasons.

"You don't know what you're getting until the player comes here, and his first rookie camp was really good," Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. "Moving into last year, we took another step and obviously big expectations. Another one of our young guys that was the captain of his team, has a lot of leadership qualities. It really helps in their growth and maturity pushing other guys. He's another guy that's going to turn pro this year and hopefully has a good camp and obviously Springfield, we're looking for him to play well there."

Going from junior to the AHL, Burns knows to play the style he plays, the body will have to fill out even more.

"Definitely. It's been a big thing for my development," Burns said. "I need to get bigger. I'm happy with where I'm at right now, but I still want to keep getting bigger, stronger obviously for hopefully moving and transitioning into pro next year. It's a huge thing for me and have been working on it hard."

Burns, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Aug. 23, 2024, will attend his third main camp first, likely get into another preseason game -- or more -- in September before making his way to Thunderbirds camp and perform there. This is the next step, a challenge Burns feels will test his resolve.

"I'm definitely ready for that challenge," he said. "Talking to some guys I've met at development camps, training camps that have made that jump, it's going to be hard. You've got to learn the league. You have to earn respect and earn your ice time. Nothing's going to be given to me. I've got to earn it. Same thing when I hopped into junior at 16 years old. I'm ready for it. It'll be a big setting and I can't wait to get up there."