2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Reality Czech]

Yes he's not getting a top 6 spot right now, but he was getting healthy scratched every once in a while unless i'm misremembering which is very possible under Bannister. I don't necessarily want him stapled into the top 6 without producing a bit more, I'm just glad he's playing and getting PP time.

I hope once Buch comes back they slide Saad down with Bolduc and Sundqvist, but in all reality, i'm not sure how much offense that line could create

Yeah he did get scratched a few times. It's already an uphill battle for offense with Sunny and Joseph, so Saad is an upgrade on that at least. But something has definitely clicked with Bolduc and he's looking more dangerous out there.

As a side note, I like the way that Kyrou, Schenn, Holloway line is going right now. Nice combination of speed, physicality and skill. The downside of Holloway on the second line is we're kinda stuck with Sunny as 3C but it's probably worth it if the second line is producing.

 

[WeWentBlues]

We have no where near the talent on the roster we had in 2019. Good enough for playoffs, sure, but comparing this year to the 2019 situation is wild. Monty was/is definitely the right choice, but its gonna take the development of multiple young pieces over the next few years before we can beat multiple top 10 teams in 7 game series.

Just you wait

 

[Brian39]

Why do you say the underlying numbers aren’t nearly as pretty? They’ve played 12 periods under Monty and have played 9 really strong periods, 1 meh period against the Flyers and two stinkers in New Jersey. They are winning HDCF by a pretty healthy margin in aggregate since the Ranger game per Natural Stat Trick. The Blues haven’t created this much offense by relying on a true possession oriented attack in years.

5 on 5 numbers under Monty:

Corsi: 44.29%
Fenwick: 43.56%
Shots: 47.49%
Expected Goals: 49.39%
Scoring Chances: 50%
High Danger Chances: 55.22%

No doubt improvement and I think that they accurately capture that most of the bad possession numbers are being fueled by low danger chances against that don't concern me much. But those aren't nearly as pretty as the 66.67% goal differential at 5 on 5 and the +8 overall goal differential in just 4 games. You're not going to capture 7 of every 8 possible points too often with those underlying metrics. The results under Monty are consistent with "convincing Cup favorite" which is not what is going on under the hood.

I like this team's play so far under Monty, which is why my post was pretty positive and talking about my opinion that the bottom isn't going to suddenly drop out. But I don't think we're about to push for the President's Trophy this year.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

5 on 5 numbers under Monty:

Corsi: 44.29%
Fenwick: 43.56%
Shots: 47.49%
Expected Goals: 49.39%
Scoring Chances: 50%
High Danger Chances: 55.22%

No doubt improvement and I think that they accurately capture that most of the bad possession numbers are being fueled by low danger chances against that don't concern me much. But those aren't nearly as pretty as the 66.67% goal differential at 5 on 5 and the +8 overall goal differential in just 4 games. You're not going to capture 7 of every 8 possible points too often with those underlying metrics. The results under Monty are consistent with "convincing Cup favorite" which is not what is going on under the hood.

I like this team's play so far under Monty, which is why my post was pretty positive and talking about my opinion that the bottom isn't going to suddenly drop out. But I don't think we're about to push for the President's Trophy this year.

Ya we have the second highest 5v5 Save% since Monty joined the team. Our goalies have played lights out in his first 4 games. Covers up a lot, but I still think we're playing so much better then what we were seeing under Bannister, and injuries have still been a factor with Broberg missing the first two, now Faulk being out, Buch is now out, and Leddy is still out.

I think its hard to get a read on this team until we see what it looks like fully healthy, but if our goalies keep this up (Which they absolutely could, as we saw last year) we'd be a tough out in the playoffs if we made it that far. Not to mention Snuggy and/or Dvo could come in near the end of the year and add a new dimension to our top 6 that we're sorely lacking atm. I don't think we're a contender, but the West is kinda soft this season. Pretty much every team has a serious weakness. If we get the goaltending we've gotten over the last four games though, boy would that be a treat.

 

[TheOrganist]

Ya we have the second highest 5v5 Save% since Monty joined the team. Our goalies have played lights out in his first 4 games. Covers up a lot, but I still think we're playing so much better then what we were seeing under Bannister, and injuries have still been a factor with Broberg missing the first two, now Faulk being out, Buch is now out, and Leddy is still out.

I think its hard to get a read on this team until we see what it looks like fully healthy, but if our goalies keep this up (Which they absolutely could, as we saw last year) we'd be a tough out in the playoffs if we made it that far. Not to mention Snuggy and/or Dvo could come in near the end of the year and add a new dimension to our top 6 that we're sorely lacking atm. I don't think we're a contender, but the West is kinda soft this season. Pretty much every team has a serious weakness. If we get the goaltending we've gotten over the last four games though, boy would that be a treat.

I agree about the improved goalie play but the point was that we have 12 periods of pretty solid even strength hockey that feels sustainable to a large degree...not "President's Trophy or contender level hockey" but definitely playoff worthy hockey that is earned and not lucked into or built on the back of ridiculous goalie play. It's early, yes...

 

[Brian39]

As a side note, I like the way that Kyrou, Schenn, Holloway line is going right now. Nice combination of speed, physicality and skill. The downside of Holloway on the second line is we're kinda stuck with Sunny as 3C but it's probably worth it if the second line is producing.

Hard to argue with 4 goals and 7 points in 4 games from Holloway. It doesn't really matter what that does to your 3rd line. When a player gives you that type of production he deserves continued top 6 time usage.

Regardless of what it all means long term, Holloway has made it impossible for Monty to bury him down the lineup right now.

 

[STLegend]

Man no love for Parayko getting the selection for team Canada... He's criminally underrated by other fan bases, everything I've been seeing is people complaining about his inclusion over others like Weegar, Montour, Dunn.

Some of these fans can only think offense and have no love for shut down defenseman.

 

[SirPaste]

Man no love for Parayko getting the selection for team Canada... He's criminally underrated by other fan bases, everything I've been seeing is people complaining about his inclusion over other others like Weegar, Montour, Dunn.

Some of these fans can only think offense and have no love for shut down defenseman.

Doesn't help when a lot of the national writers who just follow stat sheets and algorithms without actually watching the games are saying the exact same thing.

 

[Brian39]

Man no love for Parayko getting the selection for team Canada... He's criminally underrated by other fan bases, everything I've been seeing is people complaining about his inclusion over other others like Weegar, Montour, Dunn.

Some of these fans can only think offense and have no love for shut down defenseman.

I understand people viewing it as Army favoring 'his guy' but I think he is a pretty good pick. Makar is the clear pick to QB the top PP unit. Morrisey and Theodore are both decent options to QB the 2nd unit and if any of them get hurt leading up to the tournament then they can add another offensive D to the roster to replace them.

I don't think they want Makar eating a bunch of PK minutes. Petro can/will kill penalties, but that means you still need your other RD to kill penalties too. I don't think that Montour or Hamilton is your guy for that.

I think it almost certainly came down to Parayko vs Weegar and I don't think that either is a 'bad' pick.

 

[PeoriaBlues309]

The funniest thing about people blaming Army for it, is that they don’t realize that he isn’t the GM for the 4 Nations. Sweeney is lol. Army is the GM for the 2026 Olympics.

 

[BlueDream]

I love that idiots like Dom (who thinks Parayko is among the 5 worst contracts in the NHL, which is downright laughable) is crying about it.

Parayko is indeed extremely underrated at this point, and still a very good player. I love the career that he has put together, especially as a 3rd round pick. Major congrats to him and Binner for making the team and I think they will both be valuable there. I’ll be rooting for Canada in that tourney because of them.

On another note, I think it’s insane that USA didn’t pick Tage Thompson.

 

[bleedblue1223]

At least JFresh posted about why he was selected, even if he didn't agree. He gives vibes of trying to figure out what the others see, where Dom just acts like the smartest in the room when he's not.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Man no love for Parayko getting the selection for team Canada... He's criminally underrated by other fan bases, everything I've been seeing is people complaining about his inclusion over others like Weegar, Montour, Dunn.

Some of these fans can only think offense and have no love for shut down defenseman.

Yet they're constantly trying to put together trade packages to acquire him to fix their defense.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

We're tied with the Avs in Points and Points Percentage. Didn't expect that in the first week of December.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

With Broberg's continued development this year, im curious on where everyone thinks/expects his ceiling to be with us in a couple more years? Would most agree he'll become a surefire 3D, and if everything goes perfect possibly even a 2D in his prime?

 

[bleedblue1223]

With Broberg's continued development this year, im curious on where everyone thinks/expects his ceiling to be with us in a couple more years? Would most agree he'll become a surefire 3D, and if everything goes perfect possibly even a 2D in his prime?

Obviously want a bigger sample, but it's easy to see how he has legitimate #1 upside.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Obviously want a bigger sample, but it's easy to see how he has legitimate #1 upside.

This is where I am with Broberg. Looks great, but let’s give it some time.

 

[taylord22]

For him to come back from injury -with a new coach, and changing schemas- and quickly meet the level he was prior to going down is wild. Usually flash in the pan guys/stretches don't do that.

Not saying we shouldn't remain cautiously optimistic, but if we're evaluating just with the information we have, I see a clear cut 2D with loads of headroom.

 

[bleedblue1223]

For him to come back from injury -with a new coach, and changing schemas- and quickly meet the level he was prior to going down is wild. Usually flash in the pan guys/stretches don't do that.

Not saying we shouldn't remain cautiously optimistic, but if we're evaluating just with the information we have, I see a clear cut 2D with loads of headroom.

Yeah, I'm way more optimistic about his upside than I was in the summer. And not just did he come back from injury with a new coach, but also doing it with monster minutes and being put on the top pair.

He still has a crazy high PDO driven by a 95.2 sv%, so there will be some inevitable regression, but he's clearly top 4, and could even safely be called top pair by end of the season with a larger sample.

 

[TheOrganist]

For him to come back from injury -with a new coach, and changing schemas- and quickly meet the level he was prior to going down is wild. Usually flash in the pan guys/stretches don't do that.

Not saying we shouldn't remain cautiously optimistic, but if we're evaluating just with the information we have, I see a clear cut 2D with loads of headroom.

I'm blown away at how good he is defensively and his hockey IQ. Like, I'm stunned.

 

[Itsnotatrap]

Still don’t think this roster is good enough to make a real extended run, but may be wrong there. Either way, the general direction this franchise has taken since summer is legitimately compelling and exciting.

 

[Stelmacki]

With Broberg's continued development this year, im curious on where everyone thinks/expects his ceiling to be with us in a couple more years? Would most agree he'll become a surefire 3D, and if everything goes perfect possibly even a 2D in his prime?

I think he can be the #1 LD, but then you see people like below that think Broberg is doing so bad that the Blues should buy him out.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nhl/s/Ezu3keh0fX

Still don’t think this roster is good enough to make a real expended run, but may be wrong there. Either way, the general direction this franchise has taken since summer is legitimately compelling and exciting.

I agree. I think we’re another solid defenseman and goal scorer away.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I think he can be the #1 LD, but then you see people like below that think Broberg is doing so bad that the Blues should buy him out.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nhl/s/Ezu3keh0fX

I agree. I think we’re another solid defenseman and goal scorer away.

Oilers fans are still having trouble coping. Saying Broberg should be bought out might be the most braindead, 'I'm using one single advanced metric and forming an opinion' stance I've ever seen.

A complete and total absence of hockey IQ on display there.

 

[Drubilly]

Oilers fans are still having trouble coping. Saying Broberg should be bought out might be the most braindead, 'I'm using one single advanced metric and forming an opinion' stance I've ever seen.

A complete and total absence of hockey IQ on display there.

This is why you keep your children off the internet!

 

[Brian39]

With Broberg's continued development this year, im curious on where everyone thinks/expects his ceiling to be with us in a couple more years? Would most agree he'll become a surefire 3D, and if everything goes perfect possibly even a 2D in his prime?

At this points, I really don't see much argument that there isn't 1D ceiling there. I'm not saying that should be the expectation or is the most likely result, but based on what he has done through his first 15 games in the franchise (and the context of the injury being a potential de-railing moment) I just don't see an argument that he has no chance of reaching that ceiling.

As for floor or expectations, is he not already a 2D/3D?

He has 12 points in 15 games. He had major success (and IMO outplayed his partner Faulk) when his deployment was on a high-minute, offensively leaned 2nd pair. In his 3 games back from injury, he was promptly given the hardest job and the most minutes on the left side of our blue line. The underlying possession numbers don't look great there, but I've been saying for years now that the Parayko pair is the hardest deployment in the sport and isn't remotely tasked with winning the possession battle. But despite being our top LHD in a brutal role in those 3 games, he has 3 points (and is +1) while averaging 24:58 a night in those 3 games. He's on the 2nd PP unit and the 2nd PK unit.

The sample size is certainly small, but he's been "the guy" on the 2nd pair and he's been the complimentary player on the 1st pair. He's succeeding in both offensive and defensive roles. He's a point behind Parayko for the scoring lead on our blueline despite missing 12 of 27 games. His skating is top pair caliber. His outlet pass appears to be more of an asset than a liability. His hockey IQ in the offensive zone is 1st pair caliber and his hockey IQ in his own end is significantly better than what I saw when he was in Edmonton. All the tools are there to grow into a legit #1 D. That doesn't mean that he will, but the ceiling is there.

This kid has had a remarkable start to his Blues tenure. I think he's the #2 D man on this team (by merit) today and I don't see that changing any time soon. He has blown my expectations out of the water and has quickly convinced me that his upside is in line with what people thought when he was drafted.