Snubbed4Vezina
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I wouldn't be too certain that Bolduc breaks camp with the Blues.
2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.
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Majorityof1
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Hey, we have a guy who actually shoots the f***ing puck, can't have that, send him down. Lets's keep the guys who skate around with it until they turn it over with no scoring chance
Never change, Blues.
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Snubbed4Vezina
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I'm hoping Bannister is trying to light a spark for Bolduc's final preseason game to see what he can get out of him. I'd much rather see Bolduc trying to develop at the NHL level at this point over seeing guys like Kapanen in the lineup. It's not like anyone other than Holloway has been lighting it up out there.
He’s playing in the Chicago game with other AHL call ups. They won’t want the players who are going to be on the roster to travel to Chicago before traveling to Seattle.
100% Bolduc is AHL bound
I've liked Bolduc's physicality and attention to defensive game, but he isn't showing any offense at this point. He is thinking too much still and that is big part of lack of offense while he is out there. Going down to Springfield to gain confidence wouldn't be the worst idea.
Snubbed4Vezina
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I don't think the solution to that problem is more Kapanen.
I’d be pretty surprised if Bolduc were sent to the AHL. Not saying it won’t happen, or it wouldn’t be warranted…just that I expect him to make the big squad regardless of what Bannister is saying in that quote.
This kinda goes back to what Armstrong said in the offseason. He’d rather start a guy in the AHL and let them over-develop down there to ensure that they’re NHL ready, instead of putting them in the NHL too quickly and then having to bounce them back and forth with demotions and recalls.
Considering that, if Bolduc is on the edge, then they might play it safe and send him down. Let him produce a lot down there (hopefully) and then call him up in a couple months. This would also allow us to put one less guy on waivers in the meantime, which I guess is something they may want, even though I want Kapanen gone ASAP.
Considering that, if Bolduc is on the edge, then they might play it safe and send him down. Let him produce a lot down there (hopefully) and then call him up in a couple months. This would also allow us to put one less guy on waivers in the meantime, which I guess is something they may want, even though I want Kapanen gone ASAP.
Majorityof1
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Yea, it would be terrible to have a guy play 25 NHL games, play well and then be sent down after a 3-4 game stretch of good but non-scoring play.
Bolduc. 2023-24 St. Louis NHL 25GP 5G 4A 9P
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I don't think we are getting more Kapanen, I think Kapanen is just a place holder until Saad gets back from Baby Leave.
Snubbed4Vezina
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Except that he has already been in the NHL. This would essentially be Neighbours part two
He and Dean were called up because we sucked and DA wanted to give them some exposure. Neither had outgrown the AHL. Going back to Springfield is natural step for both. It's not the same thjng as making club out of camp and then getting sent down in a few weeks because he's not ready; we didn't really think they were ready last spring.
Majorityof1
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Except Bolduc proved he was ready. He played well across 25 games, one-third of the season,and got moved up the lineups and was given ice time to reward his play. Last season gave him every indication he earned an NHL role.
Dean, alternatively was sheltered on the 4th line. He played 9 games, was healthy scratched and got limited ice time.
Dean should expect to possibly start in the AHL. Sending Bolduc back down is sending mixed signals
Bolduc showed he could hold his own, but that isn't the point. He has talent to be impactful player and he hasn't yet shown than he is ready to do so. That is why he is on cut line. I understand the argument that he should work through it in St. Louis and not Springfield, but that isn't same as saying he is ready to do it now.
Majorityof1
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He did prove he is impactful last year. He was 3rd on the team in P/60. 5th on team in shots per 60. He was 5th on team in GF%. He was 9th in xGF% but ahead of Neighbours. He actually had more defensive starts than offensive and wasn't sheltered like Neighbours. And he got better as he got more games. He had 5 points in his last 6 once he got comfortable
I'd assume he is leadingg the team in shots across the pre-season as well, although sites don't track all our games. He has 10 shots in 3 games and I've never seen him near the bottom of thise advanced stats impact charts for any game this pre-season. This is not a case of him not being impactful, or needing to develop or leveling off. If he is sent down, it's 100% about protecting a worthless older player.
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He had a few good games. That is what young players do. I'm not gonna read too much into it. I like his progress and think he has more to give. I'm not going down another black hole arguing with you.
Majorityof1
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A few good games across 25 games is more than a lot of our team had across 82.
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And yet Bolduc showed he can play. He has played a decent number of games. He locked down a starting spot in the lineup down the stretch last year. He showed more than many vets. This is the Neighbours situation again if he gets sent down. It really doesn’t matter if he started in camp or not. The problem is letting a player think he has earned a spot only to send him down. Bolduc earned his spot last season. If it were a quick couple of game call up, then I would agree. If he had been riding the pine like Dean, I would also agree.
He played well last year, sure, but that doesn't mean that he earned spot for this year. He was told he had chance to earn spot in camp. If he doesn't nail it down it's not major problem. He will be back.
aceoutdoor
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I don’t see any harm in sending Bolduc down for a few weeks at the start of the season in an effort to get a higher gear out of him before joining the team permanently. The decisions this week don’t have to reflect a long term disposition.
STL fan in MN
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Kapanen likely earned a spot on the team with his performance tonight.
My preference would be to keep Bolduc but I’d be ok if he was sent down to start the season.
My guess is he almost certainly won’t be on the opening night roster as he’s waiver exempt. But could be a paper transaction and he’s brought back up the next day.
My preference would be to keep Bolduc but I’d be ok if he was sent down to start the season.
My guess is he almost certainly won’t be on the opening night roster as he’s waiver exempt. But could be a paper transaction and he’s brought back up the next day.
Looks like a 2nd line, two 3rd lines and a 4th line to me. I don't know how you can argue Schenn-Faksa-Texier is a 4th line when Schenn is a middle-six player that puts up 50 points, Texier a 3rd liner with 40 point upside, and Faksa a 3rd/4th liner tweener that's 55% on the dot with strong defense.
Still not close to a bottom feeder forward group.
