2021-2022 S Blues Multi Purpose Thread Part 2

[CaliforniaBlues310]

If the 3 options of first round opponents are Colorado, Vegas, and Minnesota, I’m choosing the Wild every day of the week.

Obviously playoffs and regular season are different, but we have straight up owned them lately.

 

[Brian39]

If the 3 options of first round opponents are Colorado, Vegas, and Minnesota, I’m choosing the Wild every day of the week.

Obviously playoffs and regular season are different, but we have straight up owned them lately.

That would be my choice for Round 1, but that means Round 2 vs Colorado. Getting Vegas in Round 1 would mean one of Calgary, Anaheim, LA, Edmonton or San Jose in Round 2. I like our odds against all those teams and I think the odds of beating the Avs goes up the deeper you meet them in the playoffs. The more dinged up they are and the fewer PPs they get the better. And who knows, maybe they get taken out in round 2 and we miss them altogether.

I'm not saying that the Blues should be trying to finish 4th in the Central, but I don't necessarily think that the path from there is worse than being the 3 seed. If we're going on the road all playoffs, avoiding Denver for as long as possible would be nice.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

That would be my choice for Round 1, but that means Round 2 vs Colorado. Getting Vegas in Round 1 would mean one of Calgary, Anaheim, LA, Edmonton or San Jose in Round 2. I like our odds against all those teams and I think the odds of beating the Avs goes up the deeper you meet them in the playoffs. The more dinged up they are and the fewer PPs they get the better. And who knows, maybe they get taken out in round 2 and we miss them altogether.

I'm not saying that the Blues should be trying to finish 4th in the Central, but I don't necessarily think that the path from there is worse than being the 3 seed. If we're going on the road all playoffs, avoiding Denver for as long as possible would be nice.

That’s completely understandable, but I do think it’s risky business assuming we’d beat Vegas in round one compared to Minnesota, as I think Vegas is a much better team. They’ve just dealt with just as much crap as us as far as missing players this year goes.

I also really would like to see how they perform with Eichel, and see who they have to move to get cap compliant before I decide if I’d rather go the Pacific route.

 

[PocketNines]

There are few good matchups when you can be preyed upon with ease in your own zone. Either they get a true top pairing caliber left defenseman by March 21 or hope for next year. We can hope that other teams take out Colorado then lose to the Blues, sure, I suppose.

 

[Brian39]

That’s completely understandable, but I do think it’s risky business assuming we’d beat Vegas in round one compared to Minnesota, as I think Vegas is a much better team. They’ve just dealt with just as much crap as us as far as missing players this year goes.

I also really would like to see how they perform with Eichel, and see who they have to move to get cap compliant before I decide if I’d rather go the Pacific route.

My stance is based on the fact that if we don't make a deep run, I don't really care if get knocked out in round 1 or round 2. I wouldn't be any happier about beating Minnesota and then losing to Colorado than I would be about losing to Vegas in Round 1. A Minnesota series win doesn't tell me anything about this team's Cup chances because I think that the road to the Final in the West goes through Colorado and/or Vegas. If you can't beat one of those teams, you're not getting to the Final, so this team "showing me" that they can beat Minnesota wouldn't move the needle. I have no problem trading a greatly increased risk of 1st round elimination if it gives us even a 1% greater chance of getting to the Final.

 

[TheDizee]

the current slot the blues are in right now is the best way to the cup. i hope we stay #4 and the first WC spot.

Go thru vegas and then one other crappy pacific team before you clean up whoever the battered bruised survivor of the central gauntlet is.

home ice is meaningless and the blues always play better when they don't have it and are not the favorite.

 

[LGB]

Blues at the midpoint: Armstrong likes where team is sitting

Post Dispatch interview with Armstrong. Was asked about Tarasenko's trade request and he didn't give a direct answer but said “The Vladi thing has run its course in my mind”. Sounds like they will be re-signing Berube which doesn't surprise me. Also talked about Kyrou potentially playing on the PK.

 

[joe galiba]

I have wanted to see Thomas and Krou on the PK for a while now
both have very good sticks, and both have tremendous edge-work combined with explosive skating
Thomas has looked good in his chances so far, I think they both could be very disruptive to the other team

 

[LGB]

Really don't like these line combos. Especially stacking all our best offensive talent on one line that hasn't even been that good together (46.2 CF%, 45.1 xGF%, 8/8 GF/GA). Should be spread more evenly throughout the lineup.

 

[PocketNines]

They can't let the Perron dropoff take down O'Reilly. O'Reilly still has lots left. If O'Reilly-Buchnevich and Thomas-Kyrou are the pairs on the top two lines going forward (now & next few seasons) then they can supplement around those guys. Barbashev is not O'Reilly's caliber. Saad, Schenn and Barbashev are more swiss army knife pieces.

 

[BlueDream]

I like the lines but I really want Brown or Joshua to supplant Bozak soon to make the 4th line heavier and have an identity.

 

[Frenzy31]

I don’t live the lines either.

I think Barby and Buch played their best with Tarasenko. That was a dynamic line. Maybe overpassed but all of them were producing.

Saad looked really good with the kids. He fits them well

And yes, age has caught up with Perron, but I would put hi, with Schenn and ROR as a defensive line.

 

[simon IC]

Really don't like these line combos. Especially stacking all our best offensive talent on one line that hasn't even been that good together (46.2 CF%, 45.1 xGF%, 8/8 GF/GA). Should be spread more evenly throughout the lineup.

Nitpicking, but why is Kyrou always on his off-side?

 

[simon IC]

Buchnevich-Barbashev-Tarasenko
Saad-ROR-Perron
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Kostin-Bozak-Sundqvist

Top 3 lines in no order

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Nitpicking, but why is Kyrou always on his off-side?

He's played better on his offside this year. Plus we have 4 RWs. Lol

 

[Reality Czech]

I like the lines but I really want Brown or Joshua to supplant Bozak soon to make the 4th line heavier and have an identity.

Brown might make it heavier in terms of pounds but he doesn't play that heavy. I like having a reliable vet like Bozak in the lineup and we need him on the PK.

As for the lines, I'm willing to give them a chance. I'm guessing Vladi is enjoying playing with the youngsters, and Schenn has looked outstanding lately. At least that third line will be responsible at both ends and is more than capable of contributing offense.

The only thing I don't like is the likely starting goalie but I guess it's a new season. And I'll be at that game, so bring me home a winner Binner!

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Blues signed Toropchenko to a 1 year, 2-way, 750k extension.

 

[BlueDream]

Brown might make it heavier in terms of pounds but he doesn't play that heavy. I like having a reliable vet like Bozak in the lineup and we need him on the PK.

As for the lines, I'm willing to give them a chance. I'm guessing Vladi is enjoying playing with the youngsters, and Schenn has looked outstanding lately. At least that third line will be responsible at both ends and is more than capable of contributing offense.

The only thing I don't like is the likely starting goalie but I guess it's a new season. And I'll be at that game, so bring me home a winner Binner!

Brown is a young guy that can learn to play that way. No reason him or Joshua can't learn to PK either, just like Thomas did. Bozak is likely in his last season here and hasn't really provided anything, and that 4th line together has basically zero chemistry. Time to switch it up and give the younger legs a look.

 

[Reality Czech]

Brown is a young guy that can learn to play that way. No reason him or Joshua can't learn to PK either, just like Thomas did. Bozak is likely in his last season here and hasn't really provided anything, and that 4th line together has basically zero chemistry. Time to switch it up and give the younger legs a look.

Get what you're saying, but having Bozak around to PK means we don't have to put a more valuable player out there blocking shots. Our PK has been huge for team success this year (5th best leaguewide) and Bozie is a big part of that. Maybe Brown or Joshua could be as effective on the PK someday, but it will take awhile for them to get to that point.

Bozak won't make a big impact but doesn't really hurt us. Joshua provides very little when he's in the lineup and Brown only has 1 point in his last 11 games while being largely invisible. The kids will continue to improve in practice, but they didn't bring Bozak back just to put him in the press box.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Get what you're saying, but having Bozak around to PK means we don't have to put a more valuable player out there blocking shots. Our PK has been huge for team success this year (5th best leaguewide) and Bozie is a big part of that. Maybe Brown or Joshua could be as effective on the PK someday, but it will take awhile for them to get to that point.

Bozak won't make a big impact but doesn't really hurt us. Joshua provides very little when he's in the lineup and Brown only has 1 point in his last 11 games while being largely invisible. The kids will continue to improve in practice, but they didn't bring Bozak back just to put him in the press box.

I'd rather keep Bozak than Sunny and call up MacMac for fourth line duties at the current moment in time. But that's just me.

 

[MissouriMook]

JR mentioned in his most recent article at The Athletic that one of his "10 Bold Predictions" for the rest of the season is that Tarasenko decides he wants to stay. Nothing earth shattering, just a little humorous given that JR was the one pushing the narrative that the player wanted out ASAP and that there was no changing his mind.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

JR mentioned in his most recent article at The Athletic that one of his "10 Bold Predictions" for the rest of the season is that Tarasenko decides he wants to stay. Nothing earth shattering, just a little humorous given that JR was the one pushing the narrative that the player wanted out ASAP and that there was no changing his mind.

JR has no clue.

 

[LGB]

Edit: Fixed formatting error

Our potential top 9 centers most commons linemates and their stats together:

ROR

-​	TOI​	CF%​	xGF%​	GF/GA​
Perron​	228.5​	53.9​	50.2​	8/5​
Saad​	226.3​	45.2​	46.1​	6/8​
Kyrou​	147.4​	51.2​	49.9​	7/6​
Buchnevich​	106.5​	53.4​	45.7​	4/4​
Barbashev​	101​	54.4​	47.8​	8/6​
Schenn​	82.7​	40.3​	36.3​	6/4​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Though Perron hasn't been scoring as much as last year, he and O'Reilly have still been an effective combination. Interesting that he and Barbashev have such a strong CF% together, but haven't been getting the same quality of chances as their opponents. Very small sample but 49-90-57 have an 87% xG share in 17 minutes together. Would be interested to see them get more time together.

Thomas

-​	TOI​	CF%​	xGF%​	GF/GA​
Tarasenko​	356.1​	46.4​	45.7​	21/22​
Kyrou​	207.3​	50.6​	50.4​	16/11​
Barbashev​	162.8​	42.3​	44.1​	8/12​
Buchnevich​	110.5​	62.5​	65.8​	6/3​
Saad​	74.8​	49​	38.4​	8/2​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Thomas and Tarasenko have played a huge portion of their minutes together this season, but haven't had great results. He and Kyrou have been solid, but Buchnevich really stands out as his best linemate.

Schenn

-​	TOI​	CF%​	xGF%​	GF/GA​
Kyrou​	199​	47.4​	43.8​	9/8​
Perron​	87.8​	45.9​	41.1​	3/0​
Buchnevich​	74.8​	46.6​	45​	3/0​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Schenn wasn't playing very well at the start of the season, but I think he's picked it up as of late. Don't think there are any strong conclusions you can draw from these stats.

Barbashev

-​	TOI​	CF%​	xGF%​	GF/GA​
Tarasenko​	247.3​	39.7​	41​	11/15​
Buchnevich​	218​	48​	46.1​	13/9​
Sundqvist​	107.3​	43.7​	39.4​	7/4​
Saad​	79.5​	39.6​	38.5​	4/3​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Barbashev and Tarasenko have been straight up bad together. The Russian line has outscored their opponents, but were outchanced by a fair margin (41.7 CF%, 46.5 xGF%, 5/3 GF/GA).

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

JR mentioned in his most recent article at The Athletic that one of his "10 Bold Predictions" for the rest of the season is that Tarasenko decides he wants to stay. Nothing earth shattering, just a little humorous given that JR was the one pushing the narrative that the player wanted out ASAP and that there was no changing his mind.

I didn't remember this, but apparently JR predicted Tarasenko stays in St Louis all season as one of his preseason predictions. I agree with that, but I had no recollection of him saying so.

To me Vlad having a 'change of heart' would mean he signs an extension in St Louis.

 

[Brian39]

I didn't remember this, but apparently JR predicted Tarasenko stays in St Louis all season as one of his preseason predictions. I agree with that, but I had no recollection of him saying so.

To me Vlad having a 'change of heart' would mean he signs an extension in St Louis.

To be clear, that prediction was made the afternoon of NHL opening day, after training camp had concluded and it became very clear that Army wasn't willing to trade him just to get him off the roster. It was essentially weeks after he showed up to camp in good spirits and everyone here realized that it is really hard to get fair value for a $7.5M cap hit mid-season.