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

[MissouriMook]

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

He was just kind of standing around, not moving his feet, and just gave a token attempt at a poke check on Eichel's goal. Other than that he wasn't very noticeable, which sadly is an improvement.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

With our win and Caps loss we are in top spot in league.

 

[BlueDream]

There has never been a time like this in Blues history. Stanley Cup champs, 1st in the league, and hosting the ASG with the most representatives of any team. We are literally the top dog in the entire hockey world right now. And it feels amazing.

 

[PeoriaBlues309]

There has never been a time like this in Blues history. Stanley Cup champs, 1st in the league, and hosting the ASG with the most representatives of any team. We are literally the top dog in the entire hockey world right now. And it feels amazing.

And likely gonna be in another Winter Classic next year. Honestly this is the best hockey timeline possible.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

He was just kind of standing around, not moving his feet, and just gave a token attempt at a poke check on Eichel's goal. Other than that he wasn't very noticeable, which sadly is an improvement.

I disagree. He was a factor in puck possession, made several good defensive plays and was using his size better. It was something to build on, which was in evidence vs New York.

 

[execwrite1]

Sanford was outstanding against the Rangers. Shows why you can't give up on him yet. Chief will keep after him to be the player he can be.

 

[Renard]

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.

With Tarasenko out, I want Schenn at right wing on the top line. Sundqvist is OK there, but I'd rather see him centering the third line. Sundqvist was an excellent player for us at center last year, and lower down in the lineup.

Schenn is good at center, but we need him more at right wing, and to maximize the value of Thomas and Sundqvist.

 

[Ridge1982]

There has never been a time like this in Blues history. Stanley Cup champs, 1st in the league, and hosting the ASG with the most representatives of any team. We are literally the top dog in the entire hockey world right now. And it feels amazing.

And with, at long last, stability at the ownership and FO positions.
It’s like the entire franchise is making up for lost time.

 

[execwrite1]

And with, at long last, stability at the ownership and FO positions.
It’s like the entire franchise is making up for lost time.

It never happens without Tom Stillman and his ownership group. He is the most important figure in the history of the Blues.

Build the man a statue.

 

[Ranksu]

Which players we've to protect in Seattle expansion draft? If we know Pietro, Dunn and Parayko will re-sign with Blues.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Sanford was outstanding against the Rangers. Shows why you can't give up on him yet. Chief will keep after him to be the player he can be.

He’s 25. In all likelihood this is what he is as a player. Maddeningly inconsistent to drive you crazy because when he’s on he’s solid. But most of the time he’s terrible.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

He’s 25. In all likelihood this is what he is as a player. Maddeningly inconsistent to drive you crazy because when he’s on he’s solid. But most of the time he’s terrible.

You say this the same week we’re celebrating Perron going to the All-Star game. Guys can still grow their game in their 20s. Sanford can carve out a better, more consistent niche for himself.

I think he probably won’t succeed to the degree we all want, but I don’t think Berube is foolish for working on it.

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

He’s 25. In all likelihood this is what he is as a player. Maddeningly inconsistent to drive you crazy because when he’s on he’s solid. But most of the time he’s terrible.

Classic example of a player you pump and dump. We should be looking to upgrade on Sanford and cash in when we can. He’s not a top-12 forward on this team and we have plenty of 13th forwards that are more of the future.

With Tarasenko:

Schwartz Schenn Tarasenko
Perron O’Reilly Blais
Sundqvist Thomas Bozak
MacEachern Barbashev Steen

Ex:
Kyrou
De La Rose
Sanford
Brouwer
Kostin
Walker

Upgrading Blais to Toffoli:

Schwartz Schenn Tarasenko
Perron O’Reilly Toffoli
Blais Thomas Bozak
Sundqvist Barbashev Steen

Ex:
MacEachern
Kyrou
De La Rose
Sanford
Brouwer
Kostin

Now that’s a roster. Sanford just doesn’t fit, and where he does, he’s just not consistent enough. In no way is Sanford a top-6 player, and he doesn’t play a style that works well in the bottom-6. If anything, the people saying that Fabbri didn’t fit should be admitting Sanford fits even less — at least Fabbri played a style that fits in the top-6 and had shown himself to be a top-6er before. Now we need to go and acquire that player — especially since Tarasenko won’t be at 100% for the playoffs.

And then looking to the future, Kyrou isn’t going back to the AHL next year, and Kostin is going to start pushing for time, along with Alexandrov and others. Sanford’s days are numbered. He’s not getting any younger and he won’t be gifted any more time than he is right now. It’s time to trade him for a more consistent upgrade.

 

[Dbrownss]

You say this the same week we’re celebrating Perron going to the All-Star game. Guys can still grow their game in their 20s. Sanford can carve out a better, more consistent niche for himself.

I think he probably won’t succeed to the degree we all want, but I don’t think Berube is foolish for working on it.

My issue is how quick he'd bench a young player making mistakes while giving Sanford miles of rope to hang himself. Ultimately if this is all we have to bitch about, we're in a good spot. Which is obvious given the state of the team and literally everything we've got going for us. The only thing we're missing is lucking into a trade for a 1st that becomes a top 5 pick.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

When Parayko is ready to play I’d like to see us send Gunnar to SA. He hasn’t played in a month and only played twice in over 6 weeks. He could use some consistent ice time down there to find his game.

And Miko has looked good and could conceivably help this year. It would give us chance to see what Miko looks like with guys other than Borts to help us evaluate.

There is chance Gunnar gets claimed but if so that clears $1.75mm off next years cap which isn’t all bad.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

My issue is how quick he'd bench a young player making mistakes while giving Sanford miles of rope to hang himself. Ultimately if this is all we have to ***** about, we're in a good spot. Which is obvious given the state of the team and literally everything we've got going for us. The only thing we're missing is lucking into a trade for a 1st that becomes a top 5 pick.

I don’t get this narrative. Sanford has played 33 games this year. That is less than any other forward who hasn’t been out hurt. Less thanMac Mac. Less than what DLR and Fabbri played combined for us. Sanford literally gets benched more than any other forward (other than maybe Brouwer who was basically signed to rude bench).

 

[Dbrownss]

I don’t get this narrative. Sanford has played 33 games this year. That is less than any other forward who hasn’t been out hurt. Less thanMac Mac. Less than what DLR and Fabbri played combined for us. Sanford literally gets benched more than any other forward (other than maybe Brouwer who was basically signed to rude bench).

Because after bad games he still draws into the top 6.

 

[Ranksu]

Which players we've to protect in Seattle expansion draft? If we know Pietro, Dunn and Parayko will re-sign with Blues.

anyone?

 

[Mike Liut]

anyone?

I’m still trying to figuring out the question

 

[Mike Liut]

The reason I’d keep Sanford is because in the next couple years we will be losing players to the expansion draft and ufa. We can’t keep everybody. Sanford won’t break the bank and will be a very useful 3rd line player. Sanford, Kostin and Kyrou will be full time top 9 players very soon.

 

[Ranksu]

I’m still trying to figuring out the question

Players we need to protect in Seattle expansion draft?

Do we've to protect Faulk, he has NTC for example.

 

[Mike Liut]

Players we need to protect in Seattle expansion draft?

Do we've to protect Faulk, he has NTC for example.

Won’t know until Petro is resolved. If he re-signs, I’d expect to lose either Dunn or Faulk

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Players we need to protect in Seattle expansion draft?

Do we've to protect Faulk, he has NTC for example.

Only guys with NMC need to be protected by rule. We don’t have anyone on that category.

 

[Ranksu]

Won’t know until Petro is resolved. If he re-signs, I’d expect to lose either Dunn or Faulk

Well if Pietro doesn't re-sign situation is clear we protect, Parayko, Faulk and Dunn. If we re-sign Pietro and Parayko whom we left out Dunn or Faulk? That was my question what I was looking for to get answered.

 

[Mike Liut]

Well if Pietro doesn't re-sign situation is clear we protect, Parayko, Faulk and Dunn. If we re-sign Pietro and Parayko whom we left out Dunn or Faulk? That was my question what I was looking for to get answered.

thankfully we don’t have to decide today. Still have a year and a half to evaluate the situation. By that time, Mikkola might even enter the discussion. If I had to decide today, I’d protect Dunn over Faulk because of salary reasons.