2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Majorityof1]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

 

[Reality Czech]

In today’s practice lines we got both Saad and Bolduc in the lineup with Kapanen scratched, per Korac. So that’s a start.

That already makes them look a lot better on paper.

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

 

[Majorityof1]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

I bet whoever plays poorly. You'd think Kapanen only being offered a $1m contract and being a potential healthy scratch would indicate he was not unfairly scapegoated when fans said he needs to be better. Seems like our GM and coach agree

 

[bleedblue1223]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

Leddy already has it in the bag from some of the recent posts.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

Pretty much agree with all of this. For us to be able to develop the next young core, part of it will be dependent on the current young guys either becoming good enough to play on the top 2 lines without some of their current issues, or being able to lead a 3rd line themselves.

 

[Majorityof1]

Pretty much agree with all of this. For us to be able to develop the next young core, part of it will be dependent on the current young guys either becoming good enough to play on the top 2 lines without some of their current issues, or being able to lead a 3rd line themselves.

Agreed. This is a good season to put guys in slightly uncomfortable situations and see if they can grow. Ultimately, you will need to put more one-dimensional players in a position to suceed. Even if Neighbours never develops a mid-range scoring touch/ability to get open or playmaking, he still will have a great Mid-6 career as a banger if we pair him with the right players.

 

[Blanick]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

Leddy, the narrative is already been started on some social media sites. Only a matter of time before it bleeds on to this forum. That's not to say he hasn't had a few early season hiccups but overall I think he has played pretty well.

 

[Reality Czech]

Leddy, the narrative is already been started on some social media sites. Only a matter of time before it bleeds on to this forum. That's not to say he hasn't had a few early season hiccups but overall I think he has played pretty well.

Seems like some fans expect every player to dominate every night and make no mistakes. In other words, unrealistic expectations. Players are gonna get beat from time to time and mistakes will happen, especially when you're on defense taking the tough assignments every night. JayBo all over again. Blues fans used to complain about him all the time and look how that turned out.

Not saying Leddy is on JayBo's level but it's the same knee jerk reactions.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

Leddy has been really really good for the last few years, especially compared to his cap hit. He's been arguably our worst overall skater the first three games this year, but I think he'll come around. He's gifted the other team multiple goals in multiple games with poor defensive awareness and sloppy puck play. It's only game 3 though.

 

[MissouriMook]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

I don't see Saad as a 40-point winger in this context. He's averaged 24.5 goals/82 and 45.4 points/82 over the last three seasons with very little 5v5 time with Thomas. With him, I think Saad can be expected to score at a 30 goal, 55 point pace. Saad is the veteran shooter Thomas needs on that line to be effective and Neighbours can still be the guy crashing the net getting tips and rebounds. If anything, I think it will benefit Thomas by forcing him to shoot more, which is something he took steps with last season but could still be better at.

 

[Majorityof1]

I don't see Saad as a 40-point winger in this context. He's averaged 24.5 goals/82 and 45.4 points/82 over the last three seasons with very little 5v5 time with Thomas. With him, I think Saad can be expected to score at a 30 goal, 55 point pace. Saad is the veteran shooter Thomas needs on that line to be effective and Neighbours can still be the guy crashing the net getting tips and rebounds. If anything, I think it will benefit Thomas by forcing him to shoot more, which is something he took steps with last season but could still be better at.

40 points is short hand. 40 or 45, even if he gets a boost to 55, is a long way from Thomas's 80. Saad scores a lot from breakaways, not set offense. He does not shoot a lot at 5v5. Over those 3 years he has 10.23 iCF/60. That is 332nd out of 434 Forwards with 1000 minutes or the the 24th percentile. Roughly 3/4ths of the league shoots more than he does.

I actually don't have a problem with Saad and Thomas in a vacuum. I just don't like them with Neighbours as the 3rd. I'd prefer Kyrou on that line or even Bolduc so they can have a shooter and someone who can keep up with their speed. At 5v5 Saad is more likely to be crashing the net. His 5v5 heat map is a lot more red in the crease than Kyrou or Buchnevich. Saad could crash the net while Thomas distributes and the non-Neighbours forward can keep up and be the trigger man.

I also don't want Thomas to shoot too much more. He needs to not pass up good shots to make a play the other player isn't expecting. But hm slowing the game down in the O-zone and making a play is why he is as great as he is. Improving his shot and being willing to use it keeps Ds and goalies honest. But his super power is his ability to make plays for others. He needs someone who can and will convert on those plays. Just IMO of course.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

I think you could run either of Saad or Neighbours on Thomas's wing with a shoot first guy. But given the current roster makeup, I think Saad is the better fit between the two.

Thomas had 170 shots last season, which was a large jump from his previous career high of 115. 2ish shots per game seems like a good spot for him in terms of volume, though I think it could increase a bit if the team is able to not get cratered in possession on a near nightly basis.

 

[Brian39]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

I get what you are saying and it isn't a perfect line on paper, but I like it more than you do. I don't think you are giving Saad/Neighbours enough credit as shooters.

Saad was 7th among all Blues forwards in iCF per 60, but 3 of the guys he was behind played very sheltered minutes and/or a small number of games (Vrana, Bolduc, and Dean). He's not a volume shooter, but I think he is more capable/willing to shoot from distance than you are giving him credit for.

We need to be putting Neighbours in position to do more than crash the net and bang for rebounds. We need him looking to find space in other areas of the ice and then have teammates get him the puck when he does find that space. I like having him out there with a true playmaking center and a winger who can grind/cycle well. We also need him to be capable of being the 3rd defensive player on a line that has defensive responsibility. I haven't been too fond of his season so far, but I definitely look at this line as putting him in a position to succeed and grow simultaneously.

While Saad/Neighbours are both limited point ceiling guys, it is worth noting that they each had 18 goals at 5 on 5 last year, which was good for 2nd on the team behind Kyrou's 22. No one else hit 15. Only 41 guys league wide had more 5 on 5 goals than those two. They do more than just banging in rebounds. Both have strong shots from distance and putting them with Thomas could very well be (at least in part) an effort to get them to shoot more.

This isn't my ideal 1st line, but I do think it is a perfectly fine 1st line while making an effort to spread talent through the middle 6.

 

[Majorityof1]

I get what you are saying and it isn't a perfect line on paper, but I like it more than you do. I don't think you are giving Saad/Neighbours enough credit as shooters.

Saad was 7th among all Blues forwards in iCF per 60, but 3 of the guys he was behind played very sheltered minutes and/or a small number of games (Vrana, Bolduc, and Dean). He's not a volume shooter, but I think he is more capable/willing to shoot from distance than you are giving him credit for.

We need to be putting Neighbours in position to do more than crash the net and bang for rebounds. We need him looking to find space in other areas of the ice and then have teammates get him the puck when he does find that space. I like having him out there with a true playmaking center and a winger who can grind/cycle well. We also need him to be capable of being the 3rd defensive player on a line that has defensive responsibility. I haven't been too fond of his season so far, but I definitely look at this line as putting him in a position to succeed and grow simultaneously.

While Saad/Neighbours are both limited point ceiling guys, it is worth noting that they each had 18 goals at 5 on 5 last year, which was good for 2nd on the team behind Kyrou's 22. No one else hit 15. Only 41 guys league wide had more 5 on 5 goals than those two. They do more than just banging in rebounds. Both have strong shots from distance and putting them with Thomas could very well be (at least in part) an effort to get them to shoot more.

This isn't my ideal 1st line, but I do think it is a perfectly fine 1st line while making an effort to spread talent through the middle 6.

I said as much about putting Neighbours in a position to grow. I'm fine with testing things out this year and giving Neighbours stretch goals. I just don't expect results right away. There is a reason we keep putting the big 3 together every game.

 

[Reality Czech]

I get what you are saying and it isn't a perfect line on paper, but I like it more than you do. I don't think you are giving Saad/Neighbours enough credit as shooters.

Saad was 7th among all Blues forwards in iCF per 60, but 3 of the guys he was behind played very sheltered minutes and/or a small number of games (Vrana, Bolduc, and Dean). He's not a volume shooter, but I think he is more capable/willing to shoot from distance than you are giving him credit for.

We need to be putting Neighbours in position to do more than crash the net and bang for rebounds. We need him looking to find space in other areas of the ice and then have teammates get him the puck when he does find that space. I like having him out there with a true playmaking center and a winger who can grind/cycle well. We also need him to be capable of being the 3rd defensive player on a line that has defensive responsibility. I haven't been too fond of his season so far, but I definitely look at this line as putting him in a position to succeed and grow simultaneously.

While Saad/Neighbours are both limited point ceiling guys, it is worth noting that they each had 18 goals at 5 on 5 last year, which was good for 2nd on the team behind Kyrou's 22. No one else hit 15. Only 41 guys league wide had more 5 on 5 goals than those two. They do more than just banging in rebounds. Both have strong shots from distance and putting them with Thomas could very well be (at least in part) an effort to get them to shoot more.

This isn't my ideal 1st line, but I do think it is a perfectly fine 1st line while making an effort to spread talent through the middle 6.

Well put. I also think the fact that Bannister is playing Thomas-Kyrou-Buch together periodically throughout the game lessons the need to put other top scorers on Thomas's line. It's kind of a "have your cake and eat it too" scenario. If the Blues need a goal or if they wanna maximize the talents of those three they can put them together instantly. It reminds me of the Penguins, who would play guys like Kunitz and Dupuis with Crosby and Malkin with Kessel. Thomas can (hopefully) bring the best out of these guys. We need more than 1 line that's a serious threat to score night in and night out.

 

[PocketNines]

The reason everything has to be spread and stretched to the breaking point is there's not enough top end talent on the team. The forward group compared to the league is relatively weak and so is the D group. Armstrong needs to experience a hard year. He thinks he secretly has built a playoff team here and he needs to experience reality so he can be more comfortable letting go

 

[STLegend]

Neighbours play from preseason to now has been shockingly bad, like not even NHL caliber. Is he waiver exempt? Give him a wakeup call and send him to Springfield for a few games.

Poor Thomas has him stapled to his hip, no wonder Thomas's body language has been so obviously frustrated. He had to start the season with a 4th liner and 3rd liner on his wings.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Neighbours play from preseason to now has been shockingly bad, like not even NHL caliber. Is he waiver exempt? Give him a wakeup call and send him to Springfield for a few games.

Poor Thomas has him stapled to his hip, no wonder Thomas's body language has been so obviously frustrated. He had to start the season with a 4th liner and 3rd liner on his wings.

There's a reason almost all of his points are coming from when Kyrou and Buch are on the ice with him.

 

[PocketNines]

Neighbours and Kessel were bright spots last year and they are taking a minute to get back to that level, that is for sure. With many new roster players, there's no gelled lines yet except Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker. Saad isn't into the season yet, Texier isn't yet (hurt), Joseph scored but he isn't yet, Holloway is ok but we have no idea where he will land. On the top line with Thomas? On the second line with Buchnevich? Third line grit anchor? It's a blender on the top three lines and Neighbours not doing much is exacerbating it. I think he will get rolling, but also his number is getting circled on the other team's focus more, and he has to adapt. Kessel I am a little more concerned with his inconsistency at the moment.

 

[Stealth JD]

How over 50% of the voters thought the Blues are a playoff team is surprising to me. I agree with everything P9 said above…this team is glaringly short on talent and needs a massive infusion of top-of-the-draft skill. But adding one forward or one defenseman to this group isn’t going to fix much. They need several high-end pieces to help Thomas, Kyrou and Buchnevich.

I assume D. Armstrong is just trying to instill confidence and a sense of trust when he says this club should compete for a playoff spot. Deep down he’s got to know what an inferior group he has assembled. There are a whole lot of third and fourth line forwards on this club, and a void of 50% of the required top-6 talent.

The defense needs two more top-4 guys to be formidable and a clear #1 has to be found. Parayko and Faulk at best are 2/3’s if partnered with a stud they don’t have. Broberg and Leddy would be ok as 4’s, but ideally the latter would be your #5.

Binner is going to earn the club a lot more points than they deserve…but this is still a bottom-10 roster even with his heroics. If the wheels come off, they could be drafting top-6 and I’d be surprised none. I’d be more surprised to see them make the playoffs than I would be to see them finish 7th in the Central.

 

[TheDizee]

How over 50% of the voters thought the Blues are a playoff team is surprising to me. I agree with everything P9 said above…this team is glaringly short on talent and needs a massive infusion of top-of-the-draft skill. But adding one forward or one defenseman to this group isn’t going to fix much. They need several high-end pieces to help Thomas, Kyrou and Buchnevich.

I assume D. Armstrong is just trying to instill confidence and a sense of trust when he says this club should compete for a playoff spot. Deep down he’s got to know what an inferior group he has assembled. There are a whole lot of third and fourth line forwards on this club, and a void of 50% of the required top-6 talent.

The defense needs two more top-4 guys to be formidable and a clear #1 has to be found. Parayko and Faulk at best are 2/3’s if partnered with a stud they don’t have. Broberg and Leddy would be ok as 4’s, but ideally the latter would be your #5.

Binner is going to earn the club a lot more points than they deserve…but this is still a bottom-10 roster even with his heroics. If the wheels come off, they could be drafting top-6 and I’d be surprised none. I’d be more surprised to see them make the playoffs than I would be to see them finish 7th in the Central.

We don't need just more talent. we need the talent we actually do have to perform up to their ability, which they quite frankly fail to do more often than not.

 

[TheOrganist]

I prefer 10 game samples but in the small sample size theatre we are what we thought they are through 4 games, more or less.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I prefer 10 game samples but in the small sample size theatre we are what we thought they are through 4 games, more or less.

Yep. An inconsistent, middling, frustrating, not super horrible but certainly also not super good team.

 

[Mike Liut]

Yep. An inconsistent, middling, frustrating, not super horrible but certainly also not super good team.

I’ve seen our fans in the past go from playoffs to a top 5 pick in a 5 game span.

 

[Dr Robot]

I’ve seen our fans in the past go from playoffs to a top 5 pick in a 5 game span.

We landed basically where we all predicted last year and hated every minute of it.