2023-2024 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread

[Louie the Blue]

1- I would guess Sunny gets the Center spot until somebody forces him out of the spot. He may not be the best at FO's but I have very little doubt that he can handle the defensive responsiblities.

2- Toro isn't sitting for anybody. IMO that's just crazy talk. The guy finished the year playing on the top line with Thomas and Kyrou. There's no way he goes from that to the press box IMO.

3- Perunovich and Tucker probably both start in Springfield. It's better for both of them to play 20+ a night down there than to ride the press box up here.

Toro-Thomas-Kyrou
Vrana-Schenn-Buch
Saad-Hayes-KK
Neighbours-Sunny-Blais
Walker MacMac

Leddy Faulk
Scandella Parayko
Krug Bortuzzo
Rosen

Binny
Hofer

I’d switch Vrana with Saad as more of a shutdown line and just view the third line as an offense first line.

Walker shouldn’t be in the press box-Alexandrov has nothing left to prove.

They probably won’t do it but I’d move on from Bortuzzo to let Tucker play.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Not the same category of stupid. Blais has proven to have talent, Sanford had talent but no effort. Toro has no talent and only size. You cannot put a no talent 4th liner with Thomas and Kyrou. They cannot play 2 v 3. This is not roller hockey.

Blais can't stay healthy while playing top 6 consistently. Aside from last season after he was traded, he hasn't shown he can be a top 6 player for a sustained period of time.

Blais is a really weird player and has had a strange development arc.

 

[kimzey59]

Not the same category of stupid. Blais has proven to have talent, Sanford had talent but no effort. Toro has no talent and only size. You cannot put a no talent 4th liner with Thomas and Kyrou. They cannot play 2 v 3. This is not roller hockey.

In the last 12 games of the year(when he was with Thomas and Kyrou), Toro had 5 goals. Quick check on the math; but that's a 34 goal pace. Admittedly, it's a very small sample size; but he's shown some finishing ability. And that isn't the first time(check out his '18-'19 PO stats in the OHL).

Toro has a LOT more skill than you want to admit. He is huge, plays a physical game, has the speed to actually keep up with Thomas and Kyrou and goes to the net. Put him with some skill and he will score some goals. I wouldn't be even remotely surprised if he tops 20 in the role I have him slated for.

 

[BlueOil]

1- I would guess Sunny gets the Center spot until somebody forces him out of the spot. He may not be the best at FO's but I have very little doubt that he can handle the defensive responsiblities.

perhaps not being great at faceoffs is going to be a theme this year. thomas is the only one who won >50% of his draws last year, so maybe i'm overblowing how much it'll matter that sundqvist is a mid to low 40% winner on the dot, good point.

 

[Louie the Blue]

I'm somewhat optimistic that this team should be a fringe PO team if the defense doesn't play as bad as it did last season (aka, Scandella doesn't miss significant time), but the forward defense scares the living crap out of me.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I’d be pretty surprised if Dickinson can miss a season and a half due to a broken femur and then step right into the NHL.

He puts on his hockey pants one leg at a time, except when his pants are on he lays HOF highlights.

 

[Mike Liut]

I think id rather have Dean and Alexandrov shoring up the AHLs top 2 lines next year with Bolduc with one of them.

That’s not a bad thought either

 

[Brian39]

That’s not a bad thought either

Alexandrov has to go through waivers to get down to the AHL next year and I think there is a good chance he'd be claimed. A (just turned) 23 year old former 2nd round pick who just put up 38 points in 41 games in the AHL and showed some flashes at the NHL level has way more upside than most of the training camp waiver fodder.

I wouldn't be shocked if he cleared, but I like him enough as a prospect that I wouldn't want to risk it.

 

[Mike Liut]

Alexandrov has to go through waivers to get down to the AHL next year and I think there is a good chance he'd be claimed. A (just turned) 23 year old former 2nd round pick who just put up 38 points in 41 games in the AHL and showed some flashes at the NHL level has way more upside than most of the training camp waiver fodder.

I wouldn't be shocked if he cleared, but I like him enough as a prospect that I wouldn't want to risk it.

Oh shit, I didn’t know that. Yeah, he’s staying up.

 

[Xerloris]

In the last 12 games of the year(when he was with Thomas and Kyrou), Toro had 5 goals. Quick check on the math; but that's a 34 goal pace. Admittedly, it's a very small sample size; but he's shown some finishing ability. And that isn't the first time(check out his '18-'19 PO stats in the OHL).

Toro has a LOT more skill than you want to admit. He is huge, plays a physical game, has the speed to actually keep up with Thomas and Kyrou and goes to the net. Put him with some skill and he will score some goals. I wouldn't be even remotely surprised if he tops 20 in the role I have him slated for.

Lets assume you're right, maybe if he crashes the net he creates space for them. Maybe they can bank some shots in off him to help his stats. Trying to extrapolate a goal pace off of 12 games is a little absurd.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Completely forgot that Alexandrov was eligible or waivers now. He'll be on the team.

 

[Xerloris]

In the last 12 games of the year(when he was with Thomas and Kyrou),

I started on the last game of the season and I went backwards until I found Toropchenkos 5 goals you speak of. I didn't see a single goal with Thomas or Kyrou. Here are the videos, from last game going back until 5 goals.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Toro's on the top line the same way Tom Wilson is a 1st liner.
He's there specifically to give Thomas and Kyrou some protection but can easily slide out in favor of Buch, Vrana or Schenn whenever needed.

My objective was to keep Neighbours and Blais together. The two have some pretty obvious chemistry and I want to see how far they can run with it.

But in order to keep those two together, you have to be creative with how you use Toro and Sunny. Hence, Toro on the top line for 12-14 minutes a night and Sunny as the C between Blais and Neighbours.

Tom Wilson is a MUCH better hockey player than Toropchenko. That isn’t a fair comparison to Torpo at all.

 

[PocketNines]

He thinks Robert Thomas and Brayden Point are equal too, there is no objectivity involved. Pure homerism. If the player is a Blue, they are really good

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

He thinks Robert Thomas and Brayden Point are equal too, there is no objectivity involved. Pure homerism. If the player is a Blue, they are really good

Wait the same Brayden Point who just put up over 50 goals this past year? I love Thommer but sheesh lol.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I was hoping for Tomas Nosek as the 4C but I think Sunny is penciled into that spot now.

Love Sunny but I prefer him on wing these days. Career 43% at faceoffs and averaged less than 1 faceoff per game last season. I guess we’ll see how it goes but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sunny is moved to wing and the 4C position is upgraded at some point.

How I see it for now though:

Buchy-Thomas-Kyrou
Saad-Hayes-Kapanen
Vrana-Schenn-Blais
Neighbours-Sunny-Toro
Alexandrov
MacMac

 

[PocketNines]

Wait the same Brayden Point who just put up over 50 goals this past year? I love Thommer but sheesh lol.

Yep, back in February. I took it to the polls page and it was a laugher

 

[BlueDream]

I was hoping for Tomas Nosek as the 4C but I think Sunny is penciled into that spot now.

Love Sunny but I prefer him on wing these days. Career 43% at faceoffs and averaged less than 1 faceoff per game last season. I guess we’ll see how it goes but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sunny is moved to wing and the 4C position is upgraded at some point.

How I see it for now though:

Buchy-Thomas-Kyrou
Saad-Hayes-Kapanen
Vrana-Schenn-Blais
Neighbours-Sunny-Toro
Alexandrov
MacMac

I wouldn’t have wanted Nosek because he would have taken too much playing time away from Alexandrov, IMO. Nosek seems like a full-time player. And yeah he’s solid but we need Alexandrov to get a lot of games.

The good thing about Sunny is he doesn’t need to be playing every night - I don’t think his body could really handle it. I wouldn’t play him more than 50-60 games so he can stay fresher for the playoffs if we make them. Then we can cycle Alexandrov into the lineup, and can do the same thing with him when Blais inevitably gets injured too. Alexandrov should be dressing in the majority of the games unless he shows he’s not ready.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I wouldn’t have wanted Nosek because he would have taken too much playing time away from Alexandrov, IMO. Nosek seems like a full-time player. And yeah he’s solid but we need Alexandrov to get a lot of games.

The good thing about Sunny is he doesn’t need to be playing every night - I don’t think his body could really handle it. I wouldn’t play him more than 50-60 games so he can stay fresher for the playoffs if we make them. Then we can cycle Alexandrov into the lineup, and can do the same thing with him when Blais inevitably gets injured too. Alexandrov should be dressing in the majority of the games unless he shows he’s not ready.

I’d prefer to ice a better team than basically gift a spot to a prospect. I’d prefer Alexandrov to earn a spot and force his way onto the lineup than for him to be the default and he’d have to be horrible to lose it.

 

[Louie the Blue]

I’d prefer to ice a better team than basically gift a spot to a prospect. I’d prefer Alexandrov to earn a spot and force his way onto the lineup than for him to be the default and he’d have to be horrible to lose it.

Shouldn't that same approach be taken with Hofer as well and sign a goalie on a 2 way to make him earn the backup spot?

 

[STL fan in MN]

Shouldn't that same approach be taken with Hofer as well and sign a goalie on a 2 way to make him earn the backup spot?

Theoretically, yes. But is that goalie available to sign though? Nosek is just sitting there.

Also, Subban somewhat provides that competition/backup plan.

 

[Majorityof1]

With the signing of Sunny, we should have all the pieces in place. Here is how I see the training camp battles breaking down..

A Wings - Thomas - A Wings
A wings - Schenn - A Wings
A Wings - Hayes - B wings
B Wings - 4Cs - B wings
Toropchenko

Leddy - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Scandella - 3Ds
3Ds, 3DS

A wings - Kyrou, Buchnevich, Saad, Vrana, and Kapanen, They aren't fighting for positions. But they could end up matched with any # of combinations based on how we want to deploy the lines. Do we put Saad and Buchnevich with Schenn for a shutdown line with scoring punch? Or do we balance them out and put Saad with Vrana and Buch with Kyrou?

B wings - Blais, Sunny, Neigbours, Bolduc - They will be fighting for the 3rd line wing spot. Bolduc will go down to the A if he doesn't win it. The other 2 will be the 4th line wings.

4Cs- Dean or Aleadnrov - Alexandrov has the inside track, but Dean will get a chance. Whoever misses out will go to the A.

3Ds - Bortuzzo, Rosen, Perunovich and Tucker. I think whoever wins the opening roster, we will rotate all of them in. This is more for who loses and goes to Springfield. I wouldn't be that surprised if it is Bortuzzo, but Rosen or Perunovich might be the most likely.

Toropchenko - I think he will get subbed in frequently even without injuries to add an element of speed or physicality as needed. But I think the other players are just better personally.

With all that said, I see it shaking out for game 1 like:

Buchnevich - Thomas - Kyrou
Saad - Scheen - Vrana
Blais - Hayes - Kapanen
Niehgbours - Alexandrov - Sunny

Leddy- Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Scandella - Tucker

Press Box: Perunovich, Bortz, Torop

What do you all think are the training camp battles? Who has the edge?

 

[Stealth JD]

He puts on his hockey pants one leg at a time, except when his pants are on he lays HOF highlights.

He's the cock of the walk, baby.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Theoretically, yes. But is that goalie available to sign though? Nosek is just sitting there.

Also, Subban somewhat provides that competition/backup plan.

I completely blanked on Subban.

I get where you're coming from regarding Nosek, but I'd also not like having an impediment for incoming prospects.

I guess if Nosek played well he could be traded at the TDL and remove that as an issue. Aside from Alexandrov, Dean should be ready next season as well. I'm all for competition but still want a way for prospects to make the team if they're good enough and not be handcuffed with keeping someone in the minors when they're good enough to be in the NHL, ala Bishop and Allen being blocked at goalie for years.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I would not be surprised is Perunovich starts the season in Springfield. He doesn't have to go through waivers and the Blues have shown in the past they don't care about burying a 1-way contract in the AHL.