2019-2020 St. Louis Blues - Defending the Cup - Part 3: The Prelude to Playoff Positioning

[Klank Loves You]

Can someone link the GDT?

 

[TheBluePenguin]

I was going to make a thread but figured I would just post this here,

Seems like Robert Thomas had a little fun in Vegas

Robert Thomas

(well I thought it was funny)

 

[bleedblue1223]

Looks like there is a chance that Mikkola gets another game. It'll be nice to see how he does with the nerves of his debut gone.

 

[Ranksu]

Looks like there is a chance that Mikkola gets another game. It'll be nice to see how he does with the nerves of his debut gone.

Well if he plays at least that level like last night I can't see why not? Ofc if Parayko is ready than its no-brainer, but if its Gunnar it could be 50/50. Rather Gunnar be 100% healthy and Mikkola can develope at NHL level and we can value is Mikkola 8th man in roster?

 

[TK 421]

I like the idea of giving Mikkola extra games and resting whatever is ailing Parayko. Gunnar can be popcorn guy, just lay off the butter from here on out.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I like the idea of giving Mikkola extra games and resting whatever is ailing Parayko. Gunnar can be popcorn guy, just lay off the butter from here on out.

Agreed. Rather have this be 7-10 day Parayko injury than risk aggravating it and it be 6 week+ injury.

 

[execwrite1]

D-pairs of Parayko-Bouwmeester and Bortuzzo-Mikkola create two giant sets of obstacles for opponents. Really like that group and then Petro with Faulk rounds out the d-corps as the top pair.

Dunn has to fight for ice time, which he should get, and Gunnarson becomes odd man out.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

D-pairs of Parayko-Bouwmeester and Bortuzzo-Mikkola create two giant sets of obstacles for opponents. Really like that group and then Petro with Faulk rounds out the d-corps as the top pair.

Dunn has to fight for ice time, which he should get, and Gunnarson becomes odd man out.

Not sure I like the thought of having a bottom-4 that will struggle to generate much offense in the scenario you laid out.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Not sure I like the thought of having a bottom-4 that will struggle to generate much offense in the scenario you laid out.

Not even the offense, but just struggle to move the puck from defense to offense. We should all remember the Jackman-Polak days.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Not even the offense, but just struggle to move the puck from defense to offense. We should all remember the Jackman-Polak days.

No pairing with Parayko on it is going to struggle to move the puck from defense to offense.

 

[bleedblue1223]

No pairing with Parayko on it is going to struggle to move the puck from defense to offense.

I was referring to Mikkola-Bortozzo as a full time pairing.

 

[Ranksu]

Maybe in future at 2-years we could see these pairs.

Faulk - Pietro
Mikkola - Parayko
Dunn - Borttuzzo

 

[WeWentBlues]

My vote is for Matchbox 20 21

 

[Brian39]

My vote is for Matchbox 20 21

That's solid.

 

[Stealth JD]

There is a Robert Thomas discussion on the main boards, which talks about him moving into the top-6 eventually, and how ultimately he may look good centering Tarasenko. The obvious concern becomes neutering the 3rd-like in the process, but maybe next year we could see something like:

Schwartz-Thomas-Tarasenko
Schenn-ROR-Perron
Blais-Bozak-Kyrou
MacMac-Barby-Sunny

The key would be in finding a play-driver for the third line...maybe that could be Kyrou. If not, then I think the Blues should keep that 3rd line humming by keeping Thomas/Bozak together until the cap forces a cascade of movement.

 

[Mike Liut]

There is a Robert Thomas discussion on the main boards, which talks about him moving into the top-6 eventually, and how ultimately he may look good centering Tarasenko. The obvious concern becomes neutering the 3rd-like in the process, but maybe next year we could see something like:

Schwartz-Thomas-Tarasenko
Schenn-ROR-Perron
Blais-Bozak-Kyrou
MacMac-Barby-Sunny

The key would be in finding a play-driver for the third line...maybe that could be Kyrou. If not, then I think the Blues should keep that 3rd line humming by keeping Thomas/Bozak together until the cap forces a cascade of movement.

Not bad. But putting Steen on the bench won’t be easy and I doubt he’s bought out. I also don’t see any way Kostin isn’t starting next year.

 

[542365]

I think Thomas would work really well with Perron as he’s great at getting pucks on net quickly after receiving a pass. Tarasenko does his best work when he’s carrying the puck for a second, creating a better angle and blowing it by the goalie. I don’t know if playing with a great playmaker would really help Vladi all that much because in a way he’s his own playmaker. He hasn’t been great with either Stastny or ROR, but is better with Schenn who is more of a shooter and can keep teams honest before giving the puck to Vladi with room. Thomas excels at finding a way to get the puck into a dangerous spot in front of the net for a close range goal, and a lot of Tarasenko’s goals come from further out.

You know who Thomas would absolutely do work alongside? Either of the Tkachuk boys. They’re all about bulldozing their way to the front of the net and have the skill to bury many of the chances that Thomas would give them. Not just because they’re practically brothers, their styles of play seem like they would mesh very well.

Kreider plays that style too...

 

[MissouriMook]

There is a Robert Thomas discussion on the main boards, which talks about him moving into the top-6 eventually, and how ultimately he may look good centering Tarasenko. The obvious concern becomes neutering the 3rd-like in the process, but maybe next year we could see something like:

Schwartz-Thomas-Tarasenko
Schenn-ROR-Perron
Blais-Bozak-Kyrou
MacMac-Barby-Sunny

The key would be in finding a play-driver for the third line...maybe that could be Kyrou. If not, then I think the Blues should keep that 3rd line humming by keeping Thomas/Bozak together until the cap forces a cascade of movement.

The problem with the idea of a Thomas-Tarasenko duo is that both guys want the puck on their stick and there is only one puck.

Tarasenko needs someone who can get him the puck in the neutral zone with a head of steam and let him do the rest, or find him high in the zone and let him find his own shooting lane.

Thomas needs a finisher, not just a scorer. He's best when he's setting up someone who has already found a soft spot in the defense or a shooting lane and will one-time his pass or get the shot off quickly, like an Ovechkin. Tarasenko can do that at times, but that's not really who he is. He seems to want the puck on his stick for at least a beat or two so he can find a way to exploit the positioning of the defense and/or the goalie.

 

[execwrite1]

I'm in no rush to get Thomas on the top line and Schenn is very effective at center. I'd keep the centers Schenn, O'Reilly, Thomas next season. The kid is only 20 years old.

 

[Klank Loves You]

Link to gdt?

 

[Ranksu]

Link to gdt?

there is no gdt up yet

 

[Ranksu]

Looks like Kyrou out DLR in and guess who stays in? Mother f***ing Sanford.



Projected lines vs. Rangers.

Sanford - O'Reilly - Perron
Schwartz - Schenn - Sundqvist
Steen - Thomas - Bozak
MacEachern - de la Rose - Barbashev


Dunn - Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester - Faulk
Mikkola - Bortuzzo


Binnington

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Am I the only one who liked Sanford’s last game?

 

[Shwabeal]

Am I the only one who liked Sanford’s last game?

I thought he looked solid. Much more engaged than usual and he was actually using his size offensively to shield defenders and keep possession for once.

 

[Brockon]

Am I the only one who liked Sanford’s last game?

See the problem I have with this rhetoric is that Sanford plays a solid game or 3, then lays eggs for 2-4...

This oft spouted "for once" doesn't give him any credit.