- Feb 12, 2008
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Baring a major injury to Binny, Parayko or Thomas, I’m starting to see the light. That probably means Buch isn’t moved this TDL, which diminishes his return.
2023-2024 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread
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Baring a major injury to Binny, Parayko or Thomas, I’m starting to see the light. That probably means Buch isn’t moved this TDL, which diminishes his return.
Brian39
Registered User
- Apr 24, 2014
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A win of any kind Saturday would put us at least 5 points above the playoff cut line.
Obviously we would grow our 4 point lead on Nashville by either 1 or 2 points.
Seattle doesn't play for a few days, so Saturday is our 'game in hand' on them. We would be 6 points ahead of them.
We'd remain 5 points up on Minnesota and Calgary if they both also win Saturday.
There are plenty of flaws to this roster, but you can say the same thing about all the Western teams below us too. And frankly, I think you can make a case that all of Nashville, Seattle, Calgary, and Minnesota have as much (or more) incentive to sell and quality assets to sell. Barring a Buch trade, I think we could see all of those teams downgrading a more substantial piece of their roster than we do.
I wouldn't be shocked if we sell rentals and still have a better chance of backing into the playoffs than the rest of the Western bubble.
If he fights Team Canada, that will clinch it for me.
It’s amusing and says a lot about our expectations that there is a vague sense of disappointment that the Blues are starting to look like a solid playoff team.
- Feb 12, 2008
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Whenever I root for the tank, they win. Whenever I root for the playoffs, they start losing. Im just going to sit back and stfu.
ezcreepin
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- Dec 5, 2016
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It mainly has to do with the Blues continuing to win games even though it would be more conducive for them to be really bad for one more year. That, coupled with the Blues not really dominating games yet still winning, is not something I'm necessarily happy about. If they were right with other teams in head to head stats, then I'd be more open to them being a middling team right now, but the fact that they are winning AND still being sort of shit is not what I want to see.
It's a little hard to believe it after the team went 8-2 in the last 10 and just beat the hottest team in the league, but the only statistic that paints us as a playoff team is the actual standings. Which, I mean, is the most important thing in any given season, but there aren't many other reasons to be optimistic about this year.
Per Natural Stat Trick, at 5v5, we're bottom 6 in xGF and bottom 3 in xGA. Our actual GF% is bottom 6, so it's not like we're wildly outperforming the expected number like two seasons ago. We've had good goaltending and we've done average-ish in non-5v5 situations as a whole (despite our terrible power play through the first half of the season), but that's never been a model for sustained success.
We're better than the truly horrid bottom 3 or 5 teams, but despite recent results I think there's still little reason to think we're actually better than teams like the Preds, Kraken, and Wild. We've banked the points so we're a decent bet to finish ahead of them and make the playoffs, but I'm not sure that'd be the case 40 times in 100 if we replayed this season. So I can understand the people annoyed we aren't landing a better draft pick.
That said, lets go Blues! I don't think the difference between picking 11th or 19th will doom this team's future. Playoff hockey is fun, and while I'm not encouraged by the team as a whole by these stretch of wins, there are encouraging things. We usually look like the best team on the ice when Thomas and Buchnevich are skating, even against some of the best teams in the league. You can certainly do worse than riding that line and a goalie playing the way Binnington is this season into playoff hockey.
Vladys Gumption
Colt55
I’m not so much disappointed as I am confused. I certainly don’t think making the playoffs is a bad thing or the end of the world. But this team just baffles me. The fancy stats say we are bad. My eye test says the power play is the single biggest reason for the turnaround. And I still think the defensive construction is a mess. I’m enjoying the ride, but I just hope management still has reasonable expectations with regard to the re-tool.
Although I am curious to see what Bannister could do with a team that actually has a good defense.
bleedblue1223
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- Jan 21, 2011
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It's a weird spot. On one hand, you want a top pick to get a potential top pair defender, but on the other you want current players to actually play well and develop. Thomas developing into a high-end #1 C, Kyrou performing at a ppg rate, Neighbours pushing for 30 goals, Parayko playing at a high-level, Schenn finding his game again, Binnington/Hofer being a high-end tandem, Kessel having a solid start to his career, Leddy playing great next to Parayko, etc. I would much rather all of these things happen than all those guys not make positive steps forward.
Binnington could've been inconsistent and Hofer could've flopped in his rookie season, and we could have a top pick, but it looks like goaltending won't be an issue for us moving forward, and to me that's better than having a better pick in the upcoming draft. Thomas could've struggled in his new role, and we'd have a better pick because of it, but I'd rather he excel and prove that this is his team moving forward.
Binnington could've been inconsistent and Hofer could've flopped in his rookie season, and we could have a top pick, but it looks like goaltending won't be an issue for us moving forward, and to me that's better than having a better pick in the upcoming draft. Thomas could've struggled in his new role, and we'd have a better pick because of it, but I'd rather he excel and prove that this is his team moving forward.
- Jul 4, 2014
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Right now, according to CapFriendly, the Blues have just under $17M in cap space for next season with 8 roster spots to fill. Adding the pretty safe bets of...
Sunny
Blais
Dvorsky/Snuggerud/Bolduc
Kessel
Perunovich/acquired 6/7 D
... you're adding no more than $5M to the cap for those five slots, leaving you with 3 to fill. I expect you will see at least one other forward slot filled with at $1M or less, leaving you $11M to go after one big acquisition, presumably a LD. Assuming no roster subtractions to acquire that LD, that would leave a roster something like:
Buch-Thomas-Kyrou
Neighbours-Schenn-(Snuggy/Bolduc/Dvo)
Saad-Hayes-Torpo
Blais-Sunny-Walker/Alexandrov/New Guy
Leddy-Parayko (1A pairing)
New LD-Faulk (1B pairing)
Krug-Kessel/Tucker/New Guy
Binnington-Hofer
All of this is to make the point that, by trade or by signing, we can easily afford to add a $9M talent to plug the need for a top pairing quality LD next season and have plenty of cap space with a 22 or 23 man roster, depending on whether or not we spend some money on a pricier forward for the 3rd line and move Torpo back down to the 4th line.
Sunny
Blais
Dvorsky/Snuggerud/Bolduc
Kessel
Perunovich/acquired 6/7 D
... you're adding no more than $5M to the cap for those five slots, leaving you with 3 to fill. I expect you will see at least one other forward slot filled with at $1M or less, leaving you $11M to go after one big acquisition, presumably a LD. Assuming no roster subtractions to acquire that LD, that would leave a roster something like:
Buch-Thomas-Kyrou
Neighbours-Schenn-(Snuggy/Bolduc/Dvo)
Saad-Hayes-Torpo
Blais-Sunny-Walker/Alexandrov/New Guy
Leddy-Parayko (1A pairing)
New LD-Faulk (1B pairing)
Krug-Kessel/Tucker/New Guy
Binnington-Hofer
All of this is to make the point that, by trade or by signing, we can easily afford to add a $9M talent to plug the need for a top pairing quality LD next season and have plenty of cap space with a 22 or 23 man roster, depending on whether or not we spend some money on a pricier forward for the 3rd line and move Torpo back down to the 4th line.
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
The single most important thing IMO is the emergence of Neighbours from prospect who once looked marginal (mea culpa) to someone who is going to relentlessly lead the team into the blue paint. There was a time earlier this year where there was no identity. But Neighbours is an identity player. It is infectious. The Next Core is going to take the emotional leadership
And Binnington is giving them a chance to win games. I always saw Binnington this way, the way he is this season. He is a competitive person, and so competitive he seems to have subsumed his real weakness in favor of razor focus. I have never not loved his contract. He is a goalie the team is lucky to have.
It's kind of, it doesn't matter what we wanted to happen and land in the draft, this is what is happening. What is happening is they're the best among the wild card competitors because of team competitiveness. They're gonna draft 18/19/20. Pick us out a winner Bobby. Could be sellers but I don't see Buch moved this year. The only question is do they keep Scandella for their own playoffs or pick up another pick.
And Binnington is giving them a chance to win games. I always saw Binnington this way, the way he is this season. He is a competitive person, and so competitive he seems to have subsumed his real weakness in favor of razor focus. I have never not loved his contract. He is a goalie the team is lucky to have.
It's kind of, it doesn't matter what we wanted to happen and land in the draft, this is what is happening. What is happening is they're the best among the wild card competitors because of team competitiveness. They're gonna draft 18/19/20. Pick us out a winner Bobby. Could be sellers but I don't see Buch moved this year. The only question is do they keep Scandella for their own playoffs or pick up another pick.
- Jul 4, 2014
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As remarkable to me as Neighbours trajectory from prospect/suspect has been, just as remarkable is that he has been that gritty, get to the blue paint player while only taking 3 minor penalties in 53 games.
The answer to this is yes, we do want to do that. If we make the playoffs this year, certainly we are going to look to be better next season and compete again, so we can’t go into it with Toropchenko penciled anywhere above the 4th line. Use Kapanen’s money to acquire a better player than him.
Adding Snuggerud and a better player than Kapanen next season would make our forward group pretty formidable and give us more depth. If we are able to acquire a good LD on top of that, suddenly the team will really be moving in the right direction.
Kinda interested to see what we do with him. He has sucked this year so it’s easy to see us letting him walk as a UFA. His trade value is probably low. But at the same time, that means he won’t get a raise and he loves being in STL, so he would probably re-sign here for 800K. At the very least, he’s not a bad guy to keep around as your 14th forward at that price.
Really the only guy I want gone ASAP is Kapanen. But I’m open to our other UFAs coming back if they’re really cheap.
greybush314
Registered User
- Dec 23, 2020
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Imo next year could see
Snuggerud-Thomas-Kyrou
Buch-Dvorsky-Neighbours
Schenn-Hayes-Saad
Walker-Sunny-Torpo
Having two rookies in the top 6 is risky but Snuggerud is pretty advanced and will likely get a good look at the end of this season. I don't think Minnesota will go very far this year. Not too sure on the timetable but I think Dvorsky could see some AHL games at the end of the year too.
Snuggerud-Thomas-Kyrou
Buch-Dvorsky-Neighbours
Schenn-Hayes-Saad
Walker-Sunny-Torpo
Having two rookies in the top 6 is risky but Snuggerud is pretty advanced and will likely get a good look at the end of this season. I don't think Minnesota will go very far this year. Not too sure on the timetable but I think Dvorsky could see some AHL games at the end of the year too.
You have positions mixed up quite a bit. Snuggerud is a RWer. Neighbours is a LWer; I think Saad is as well. They won’t be putting Snuggerud and Neighbours in positions they haven’t played. I think it’s more likely the below, assuming no trades/acquisitions:
Buch/Thomas/Kyrou
Neighbours/Schenn/Snuggerud
Saad/Hayes/Toropchenko
Walker/Alexandrov/Sundqvist
I think the 4th line will look different with an acquisition or 2, and DA may be looking for a 2nd line center.
Dvorsky will not be ready yet, and neither will Bolduc, IMO. But Dvorsky is a wildcard - he could impress and push Hayes to 4th line.
greybush314
Registered User
- Dec 23, 2020
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L vs R wing doesn't matter as much as you think but I did intended to have Buch and Neighbours swapped. A little hungover and typed that up way too fast. Buch actually prefers RW. And alot of shooters prefer playing their offhand side so I don't think it'll be an issue for Snuggerud to play LW.
I have way more curiousness about if Snuggerud could improve our lineup this season than is probably healthy.
Moose and Squirrel
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during the last tourny (WJC?) from what I remember, Snuggerud was on the left side quite a bit
and it's not surprising. MUCH easier to get your shot off playing your offside
Thanks for the info - though he was strictly a RWer, but if he has that flexibility to play both sides, that would be fantastic
Moose and Squirrel
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TheOrganist
Don't Call Him Alex
- Feb 21, 2006
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So if the Gophers lose in the regionals in late March is there a realistic chance he signs in early April? Since he’s 100% going pro I presume his camp would love to burn a year off his ELC this yr.
Minor point, but I have noticed that a few of you have penciled in Walker as a fixture on the fourth line. I don't think he has done anything to deserve that. I see him as a permanent AHL player who can be called up for emergencies. His defensive game is non existent, and this is an area the team has to work on. I would like to see Armstrong go shopping for a fast, defensively sound veteran to play with Sunny and Toropchenko. I am certain this can be accomplished without spending too much in either money or assets.
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