2022-2023 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

 

[bleedblue1223]

Cool, that one was reasonably speculated.

 

[Reality Czech]

Looks like Strick got this one right at least. Found this write up online.

Anton Malmstrom Garnering NHL Interest

Defenseman Anton Malmstrom from Bowling Green State University is drawing some NHL interest as the end of the college hockey …

www.prohockeyrumors.com

 

[bleedblue1223]

He will finish the year with Springfield and his contract starts next season.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Strickland with the scoop on this one. Hope this kid surprises for us!

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm curious how ready he actually is. While he doesn't have much offensive upside, I have seen some reports that he does have poise with the puck and is comfortable, which is all you really need with a defensive defenseman.

From Pronman:

13. Anton Malmstrom, LHD, Bowling Green-CCHA: Malmstrom is a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can skate very well for a defender his size. He projects to make a lot of stops at the pro level because of his athleticism. He has very little to no puck game though and his hockey sense will be a major question at higher levels.

This is when he was at Boston's camp:

Anton Malmstrom​

Malmstrom is not a name I had heard of heading into this Bruins development camp. However, a scout that works for the Bruins organization was kind enough to share with me that “he is a guy to watch” that might not be on everyone’s radar. That advice did not disappoint. One of the primary characteristics to look for in a defenseman you’re unfamiliar with is poise and comfort with the puck. Malmstrom had both of those when participating in drills and scrimmages. Currently, Malmstrom is set to play another season at Bowling Green State University but will undoubtedly be interesting to watch as he continues to develop.

 

[STL fan in MN]

He was in Prospects Camp with the Blues this past summer. Other than that, I have no notes on him so he must not have stuck out to me in either a good or bad way.

 

[joe galiba]

I'm curious how ready he actually is. While he doesn't have much offensive upside, I have seen some reports that he does have poise with the puck and is comfortable, which is all you really need with a defensive defenseman.

From Pronman:

This is when he was at Boston's camp:

I see no overlap in a Venn diagram between these two opinions for his puck abilities

 

[bleedblue1223]

I see no overlap in a Venn diagram between these two opinions for his puck abilities

One I think is a quick way of saying, don't expect puck-moving ability or offense from this guy, and the other is saying, he at least doesn't treat a puck like a grenade when it's on his stick. I've noted the other issue with college free agent types. I don't think these guys get a ton of exposure or extended looks from evaluators because those guys have to spend so much time on the prospects that are going to be drafted in the upcoming draft and those that are already drafted on teams.

This isn't meant to be a comparison, but are they a Gunnarsson with the puck or a Mikkola. Neither had a puck game like Pronman would say, but I'd certainly say Gunnar was poised and comfortable, where Mikkola would struggle with it at times.

 

[joe galiba]

One I think is a quick way of saying, don't expect puck-moving ability or offense from this guy, and the other is saying, he at least doesn't treat a puck like a grenade when it's on his stick. I've noted the other issue with college free agent types. I don't think these guys get a ton of exposure or extended looks from evaluators because those guys have to spend so much time on the prospects that are going to be drafted in the upcoming draft and those that are already drafted on teams.

This isn't meant to be a comparison, but are they a Gunnarsson with the puck or a Mikkola. Neither had a puck game like Pronman would say, but I'd certainly say Gunnar was poised and comfortable, where Mikkola would struggle with it at times.

I hope so, I would love for the Blues to find a Gunnarsson vs a Mikkola

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Sounds like Berube is gonna push for Buchy to play more center soon. If it works out well I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas-Buch-Schenn down the Middle next year.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Sounds like Berube is gonna push for Buchy to play more center soon. If it works out well I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas-Buch-Schenn down the Middle next year.

Where did you see that?

Got it. I still don't know about it. Just feels like when we talked about moving Schwartz or Oshie there when we lacked top 6 centers. If Buchnevich was destined to be a good center, we'd just put him there. There's really not even the argument like Keith Tkachuk or Landeskog, where they were wingers that were great at faceoffs. Now Landy didn't really do faceoffs until later in his career, so I suppose there's still a chance that we have Buch work on that in the summer and he comes back strong in that area.

 

[Mike Liut]

Kap and Vrana are going to hurt our tank. I don’t see us getting higher than 8th or 9th, especially with all the crap teams we have left.

 

[TK 421]

FFS just leave Buchnevich at wing, bring up some schlub from Springfield and call it a day. Unless this helps us lose games, then I'm all for it.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Sounds like Berube is gonna push for Buchy to play more center soon. If it works out well I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas-Buch-Schenn down the Middle next year.

Why not? If it works adds value going forward. If it doesn’t it aids our tank.

 

[bleedblue1223]

FFS just leave Buchnevich at wing, bring up some schlub from Springfield and call it a day. Unless this helps us lose games, then I'm all for it.

These are the lines, that's why I don't really buy the talk of him playing center. If they were truly serious, they'd just put him there.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Why not? If it works adds value going forward. If it doesn’t it aids our tank.

We no longer need to try sucking. We just suck.

At some point, dignity and integrity have to win.

 

[Xerloris]

FFS just leave Buchnevich at wing, bring up some schlub from Springfield and call it a day. Unless this helps us lose games, then I'm all for it.

I get that we want to lose right now but bringing up some Schlub from Springfield is not the answer, look what leivo did to ROR this year.

 

[TK 421]

I get that we want to lose right now but bringing up some Schlub from Springfield is not the answer, look what leivo did to ROR this year.

Ok, but playing your best pure winger at center isn't it either. Just run Schenn out there and that's the end of it. I strongly dislike shifting guys out of their natural position unless it's a short term necessity.

 

[Xerloris]

Ok, but playing your best pure winger at center isn't it either. Just run Schenn out there and that's the end of it. I strongly dislike shifting guys out of their natural position unless it's a short term necessity.

I agree about switching Buch to center.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

But he's not being switched to center, right? That was just for practice??

 

[Xerloris]

But he's not being switched to center, right? That was just for practice??

I've learned after watching this season that if it's f***ing stupid then our coaching staff will probably do it. I think our staff can only be friends with players and actually has no ability to come up with a "plan".

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Don’t understand why everyone is so opposed to trying buchy at center. We have organizational need, he has the apparent skills required, and we have plenty of games left this season to experiment. What are we afraid of?

 

[Xerloris]

Don’t understand why everyone is so opposed to trying buchy at center. We have organizational need, he has the apparent skills required, and we have plenty of games left this season to experiment. What are we afraid of?

We're worried about losing something spectacular at wing for something mediocre at center. We "need" a 3rd line center, using Buch for that seems poor asset management.

 

[tfriede2]

We're worried about losing something spectacular at wing for something mediocre at center. We "need" a 3rd line center, using Buch for that seems poor asset management.

But you don’t know unless you try it. Are you assuming that they’ll stick with Buch at center if he produces at a 3rd line clip? I don’t think they’d do that