He looked solid with Krug last season, and I'd imagine that pairing would receive sheltered minutes. I'd also imagine Perunovich and POJ are the most likely players to rotate in and out of the lineup, so whoever looks the best with Kessel on the 3rd pairing is likely to draw the most games.
2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.
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STL fan in MN
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- Aug 16, 2007
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Neighbours-Thomas-Kyrou
Bolduc-Buchy-Texier
Saad-Schenn-M. Joseph
Torpo-Faksa-Sunny
Leddy-Parayko
Suter-Faulk
P. Joseph-Kessel
Binnington
Scratches: Alexandrov, Walker, Perunovich
IR: Krug
Backup: Hofer
IMO Krug is not bad like Perunovich is, he's just small and easily physically outmatched by nearly anyone. Perunovich may skill wise not be bad but he's also small and doesn't have the experience like Krug has to not be as terrible.
Brian39
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- Apr 24, 2014
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I wouldn't offer a 5 year deal to Neighbours unless he was willing to take a stupid-low AAV that is just too good to pass up. A 5 year contract would walk him to UFA just a few months after his 28th birthday. Too much risk that we'd either lose him or have to pay him a huge contract to keep him. A 4 or 5 year deal that walks him to UFA at the end of his age 26 or 27 season is about worst case scenario for me.
I'm hoping that his next deal is either the 2 year bridge that we gave to Kyrou/Thomas or a 6+ year deal that takes him right to (or better yet through) the end of his 20s.
Drubilly
Registered User
Last season was the least excited I was going into a season in nearly a couple decades, since EJ was drafted I'd say. I'm feeling about the same this year, but with more hope that we will see a bit more progression and NHL presence from the new young talent the Blues have drafted. I also think there is a higher chance we'll see a trade big enough to get excited about. It could be for a draft pick, but I'd get excited about another 1st.
CaliforniaBlues310
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Brian39
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My excitement level is higher than last year. Not in the sense that my team expectations are higher, but there are more guys/spots in the bottom/middle NHL roster that intrigue me.
I'm more excited than the forward youth than I was last year. I was excited to keep watching Neighbours grow last season, but the level of which he exceeded my expectations has increased my excitement level for him entering this year. I had basically no expectation that Bolduc/Dean/Dvorsky would compete for NHL roster spots entering camp last year. I think Bolduc has a very strong chance to make the NHL team this year. Dvorsky has a more feasible path than Bolduc did last year, and Dean has a greater chance than he did last year. Last year my excitement about the 'kids' at the NHL level was limited to them simply making the team and potentially establishing themselves as full-time NHLers. As we sit here today, I see way more opportunity to earn (and hopefully succeed in) greater roles.
There is also more intrigue and excitement in the middle/bottom of the D group for me. We came out of camp last year with Krug, Scandella, Bortz, Tucker, and Perunovich all on the opening night roster. We have the same top 3 as last year, but some combo of Suter, Kessel, Joseph, Perunovich, and Tucker will make up the bottom 4-5 D spots this year (assuming Krug starts the year on IR). I count 4 guys pushing to become part of the medium-to-long term plan compared to 2 last year. I'm more excited about Kessel entering camp this year than I was either of Tucker/Perunovich last year. Krug's injury gives Perunovich more of an opening to try and stick as a bottom pair, PP1 specialist. Joseph has already been much more of a legit NHL guy than either of Perunovich/Tucker had been entering last year. The D isn't getting 'fixed' this year, but we have more guys competing for jobs to be part of that solution than we did last year.
At both forward and D, this feels like less of a stop gap year than 2023/24. I see fewer guys where we are just waiting out a contract and more young/mid 20s guys who could potentially be contributors in the medium/long term.
As for the veteran forward lottery tickets (who are more likely stop gaps), I'm about as excited for the Faksa, Texier, M Joseph, Kappy group as I was the Hayes, Vrana, Kappy, Blais group last year. I don't see anyone with the 'primary trigger man on PP1' upside that Vrana had, but I also see higher floors and playstyles that better suit a team-D identity we need to build.
I was really excited about Hofer last year, but I'm equally excited this year. My excitement last year was to see if Hofer could be a legit NHL guy through 25-30 NHL starts. Mission accomplished. But now I'm excited to see how many more starts he could take from Binner. To his credit, Binner had a hell of a year last year and showed that Hofer isn't just taking the job by default. I think we are in for a real battle for the future of the crease this year.
Last year very much felt like a stop gap with little of our medium-to-long term development taking place at the NHL level. Given where our prospect pool was at when the wheels fell off in 2022/23, this made sense. But there should be more youth this year and greater responsibilities for the youth that did stick in the NHL last year. This year might still be a stop gap to get Snuggy, and the last 2 draft classes of prospects more development time outside of the NHL. But even if that's how you view it, there should be lot more NHL development of early-mid 20s guys going on than last year.
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Snubbed4Vezina
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- Jul 9, 2022
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I have similar feelings about the team heading into the season. As we sit here today I don't see a team that's significantly more talented on paper than we were last season, but I do see a team that has multiple paths and opportunities to get to that point, many of which lie in the improvements of their young players. I think everyone pretty much knew what we were going to get out of last season's team. There just wasn't a very high ceiling for that roster. This season I believe there's much more of an opportunity for improvement.
Regardless of how things shake out in the standings this season, I think the games are going to be much more competitive and more exciting to watch than last season. It's clear they've identified the type of team that they want to be moving forward and it's the type of hockey I enjoy watching. I'm ready for some tight-checking, zone-accountable, high-pressure Blues hockey. Get back to being a pain in the ass to play against. That's all I can really ask for at this stage.
Take positive steps toward building that identity and executing that winning strategy and playoffs will likely be the expectation for the following season.
Regardless of how things shake out in the standings this season, I think the games are going to be much more competitive and more exciting to watch than last season. It's clear they've identified the type of team that they want to be moving forward and it's the type of hockey I enjoy watching. I'm ready for some tight-checking, zone-accountable, high-pressure Blues hockey. Get back to being a pain in the ass to play against. That's all I can really ask for at this stage.
Take positive steps toward building that identity and executing that winning strategy and playoffs will likely be the expectation for the following season.
Brian39
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I don't disagree with your higher-ceiling analysis with more opportunity for improvement. However, I do want to point out that I also see the potential for this team to be noticeably worse than last year even if we are 'harder' to play against. We outperformed our underlying metrics by a healthy margin last season, the goaltending was top 5 in the league, and the top half of our lineup stayed ridiculously healthy.
Linkens Mastery
Conductor of the TankTown Express
The teams actually looks like it could have an identity instead of an amalgamation of spare parts parading around as a team.
execwrite1
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- Mar 30, 2018
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Also enthused about this season. The new additions are very good as veteran players who will help with the "retooling" process, knowing they won't be here when the Blues are back in the Cup hunt.
This team could be more competitive for a playoff spot, which is always the goal for professional players and the franchise. They almost made it last year, the new kids and vets could be enough to make the cut.
One more positive down the road in the right direction for the Blues.
This team could be more competitive for a playoff spot, which is always the goal for professional players and the franchise. They almost made it last year, the new kids and vets could be enough to make the cut.
One more positive down the road in the right direction for the Blues.
Agreed. We should be harder to play against but may well still have worse record.
I agree with most of this. Particularly through the bottom six with players like Joseph, Faska, Texier and Sylvegard. You could tell Army is targeting a specific type of player. Although I do agree I still feel like our defense is an amalgamation of parts. Our cup year defense definitely had an identity, defensively responsible players with size. Now it seems like a group that has bandied together without any identity and lack of chemistry, same as last year. You can see Army's vision through the trees though, he is looking to rebuild the defense with Parayko as the leader/mentor to the young kids ascending to full time NHL roles as contracts expire.
Linkens Mastery
Conductor of the TankTown Express
I meant to put the forward group when I posted that. But, definitely agree. Defense is still wonky but with Krug and Faulk dropping to MNTC this next offseason I'm expecting one of them to be moved.
Snubbed4Vezina
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That's exactly what I had posted elsewhere last week. This team could be improved but finish with less points. The good news is that there are multiple ways this team could surprise. That's all I'm looking for. Better hockey and some hope that they could pleasantly surprise in 2024-25.
Yeah, I kind of think that's true too. I think this team is more likely to play a brand of hockey that I enjoy watching (even if they are not a playoff caliber team).
execwrite1
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While I like our bottom 6 more than last year. I still am concerned with the 2nd line. Yes, as most pointed out we are better (forward wise on paperwork) and our D was more changing chairs on a boat, but...
Can the goal tending hold up? If so, we would be marginally better. But am concerned about lack of scoring depth.
Can the goal tending hold up? If so, we would be marginally better. But am concerned about lack of scoring depth.
ChicagoBlues
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- Oct 24, 2006
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My main concern, going into this season is, Which Schenn are we going to see? If Schenn is feeling healthy and energetic, then I will feel better than I currently do about the Blues.
Saad is gonna Saad and that's not bad, but Schenn needs to dial it in.
I agree with this. He looked ineffective as the 2C last year, it is just apparent he didn't have the legs for it. Maybe he comes back with force this year but at this point I see him as a middle six winger and expect that to drop to bottom six winger as that contract goes on and better younger players graduate to the roster. The good news is his play style is one that can move down the roster and play effectively in that role.
Reality Czech
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- Apr 17, 2017
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This is why I love hockey podcasts. I can't get enough of stories like these. Can only imagine all the crazy things that have happened behind the scenes that we never hear about.
